With 10 Dispensary Licenses on the Table, San Diego Reaches Out to Those Disproportionately Affected by War on Drugs

San Diego has 26 cannabis dispensaries operating within the city, as of May 2022, with another 10 licenses awaiting their applicants. To provide a measure of equity to the burgeoning industry, city officials will hold nine “listening sessions” with community members.

“Your voice will help us develop a blueprint for a future equity program that provides fair pathways for all to enter the legal cannabis industry throughout the city,” according to the announcement.

With a thriving illicit market in southern California, major cities like San Diego and Los Angeles have pushed social equity proposals to the forefront—with mixed results. The San Diego initiative aims to place the perspectives of its residents right in the middle of any future policy.

The sessions run May 23 – June 16 at locations throughout the city. "The areas selected have been ones that have historically seen disinvestment," Lara Gates, the Cannabis Business Deputy Director for San Diego, told the local CBS affiliate.