How Green Pro Overcame the obstacles and got Licensed
EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA
Green Pro Enterprise is an emerging medicinal cannabis company with plans for cultivation, distribution and manufacturing in El Monte, California. Like many cannabis startups, they’ve faced monumental hurdles along the way.
After applying through a local lawyer, their initial permitting application was denied. With the clock ticking, Green Pro had a small window to re-apply or face long delays. The problem was, they didn’t know which paperwork went first, last, or where to begin, so they reached out to Be Green Legal (BGL) for help. BGL crafted a stellar business plan and got the permits approved fast. Since then, they’ve helped Green Pro overcome many more challenges, including community opposition that threatened to sideline the project. Here’s what Green Pro COO Chris Rabine had to say about the experience:
CLIENT TESTIMONIAL
“Be Green Legal has provided us a pathway and answers to very, very difficult questions. They’ve been there for every step, they’ve answered every question we may have had, they have helped us with paperwork. They helped with licensing [and made the process] extremely smooth, I couldn’t think of anybody better to work with.”
Chris Rabine, CEO, Green Pro Enterprises
Green Pro now has the necessary permits and licenses to build out its vertically integrated cannabis business. Continue reading to learn how BGL helped Green Pro avoid disaster and solidify its place in the El Monte cannabis industry.
Project
Goals
- Obtain business permit approval from state and local governments
- Obtain land use permit approval
- Obtain temporary business license
- Obtain approval for construction phase
Project
Highlights
- Re-draft original business plan
- Re-submit business permit application
- Re-submit business permit application with manufacturing included
- Apply for city business license
- Receive planning commission approval
- Assist in PR campaign against public opposition
Obstacles To
Overcome
- Overlapping local and state laws
- Short window to re-apply for permits
- Heavy local opposition
RECEIVING BUSINESS PERMIT APPROVAL
Green Pro first reached out to BGL in March 2018 after receiving an incomplete notice for their cultivation and distribution proposal.
After drafting a revised edition in less than three weeks, BGL had it approved by July.
Then in August 2018, Green Pro asked to expand their business plan to include manufacturing.
After strategic analysis, BGL re-submitted the permit application and got it approved.
SUBMITTING LAND USE PERMIT AND SECURING TEMPORARY BUSINESS LICENSE
Green Pro submitted their land use permits in September 2018, but there was still one last obstacle to overcome…
Due to an unexpected change in legislation, state temporary cannabis business licenses would no longer be issued effective January 2019.
This could have delayed the project by a full year, but BGL lobbied the city for conditional approval and one month later their temporary business license was approved.
OUTCOME
- Obtained business permit approval – 2018
- Obtained business license approval – 2018
- Submitted land use permit approval – 2018 (approval pending)
- Obtained approval from planning commission after public hearing – 2019
- Obtained city council approval after public hearing – 2019
FUTURE PLANS
Green Pro is currently in the process of receiving final approval for their building permits. Once these are completed in February 2020, it’ll be full steam ahead. There continues to be a lot of controversy surrounding cannabis businesses, and BGL expects this same battle to be fought many times over in the coming years as California transitions from a grey and black market cannabis environment to a legal one. Fortunately, Chris has long-standing relationships with local officials throughout the state. Green Pro CEO Jason Chen is relieved and ecstatic about the way things have planned out and plans to work with BGL indefinitely.
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We help businesses from start to operation, including searching for the right properties, getting through local and state approvals, designing and building facilities, setting up operations, and growing through marketing, branding, and vertical integration.