California undergoes an average of 7,500 wildfires per year, according to The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Of the over 16,000 structures and over 47,000 acres destroyed in the recent rash of wildfires in Southern California, many cannabis businesses were included—mostly suffering from smoke damage, which quickly destroys the flower, and power blackouts. The most recent wildfire disaster in Los Angeles was one of the costliest in U.S. history.
On Wednesday, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order providing resources and relief to those affected, ordering a one-year fee deferral to state's Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) license holders that have fees due before July 1. It applies to are located mostly in the Lost Angeles area in the following zip codes: 90041, 90049, 90265, 90272, 90290, 90402, 91001, 91024, 91103, 91104, 91107, 91367, and 93536. Some dispensaries were in evacuation zones or had to close, like Rise in Pasadena, run by Green Thumb Industries, or 99 High Tide in Malibu.
It's the latest round of attempts to help cannabis businesses impacted one of California's worst wildfire disasters. On Jan. 8, the DCC issued an announcement that license holders can request disaster relief from the agency. But business owners said they were confused about the wording, particularly the definition as to who was affected by the fires.
Read more at forbes.com