The City of Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation announced the release of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) on Friday, seeking business development services to assist in the evolution of the city’s Social Equity Program (SEP), a part of LA’s cannabis licensing and regulatory system.
The SEP provides priority application processing and business support for those who have been disproportionately affected by cannabis criminalization.
According to the RFQ, Los Angeles is looking for one or more consultants to help develop and conduct business development curriculum, licensing and compliance assistance, training, and other services to aid qualified participants in the SEP.
“The Social Equity Program is one tool the City of Los Angeles is using to begin to acknowledge and repair the harm caused by the War of drugs and the disparate enforcement of cannabis prohibition,” says Cannabis Regulation Department Executive Director, Cat Packer. “The goal of the Social Equity Program is to promote equitable ownership and employment opportunities in the cannabis industry in order to decrease disparities in life outcomes for marginalized communities, and to address the disproportionate impacts of the War on Drugs in those communities.”
Mayor Eric Garcetti says that the SEP is a priority for his office as well as the City of Los Angeles, and he hopes that the program will create a level playing field for those impacted by prohibition.
RFQ applicants have until 2:00 p.m. on July 12 to submit applications, and those wishing to apply for the current round of SEP eligibility verification, which began on May 28, have until July 29.
The Los Angeles City Council has designated $3 million per year for three years to fund the SEP and services offered by the RFQ.
