The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has taken a new step to crack down on illegal cannabis dispensaries.
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On Tuesday, they passed a motion to “deplatform” these unlicensed businesses, meaning they’re asking big sites like Google and Yelp to remove listings and ads for dispensaries that aren’t operating legally.
Supervisor Lindsey Horvath introduced the measure, which requires several county agencies to come up with reports within three months on how they can tackle unauthorized cannabis advertising—especially online—in the unincorporated areas of the county. The goal is simple: help consumers figure out which dispensaries are legal and which aren’t.
The board unanimously approved the measure (5-0) as part of their consent agenda. This motion also directs key county leaders to send a letter to sites like Google, Yelp, and other popular platforms, urging them to voluntarily stop promoting illegal cannabis dispensaries.
The idea is to encourage platforms like Google, Yelp, and others to start differentiating between licensed and unlicensed cannabis businesses so that people can make better choices about where they shop. After all, it’s tough for consumers to know which shops are legit and which ones are not.
While companies like Alphabet (Google’s parent company) and Meta (which owns Facebook and Instagram) have stepped in before to remove content related to political misinformation, it hasn’t always been easy to get them to act in other areas. In fact, New York recently faced similar struggles. In February, Governor Kathy Hochul asked Google and Yelp to delist unlicensed cannabis shops to help kickstart the state’s legal cannabis industry, but results were less than stellar. Many illegal dispensaries stayed online, while some of the newly legal ones were mistakenly removed.
Although Alphabet and Meta didn’t respond to requests for comments, Yelp shared its perspective. A spokesperson explained, “Yelp believes consumers have a First Amendment right to read and share information about all businesses, even if unlicensed. Allowing users to contribute and see information (including complaints) about unlicensed businesses serves the public interest and provides a resource for regulators to determine whether any particular business has appropriate licenses.”
One of the big issues is that illegal dispensaries have an unfair advantage over licensed ones. They skip out on important regulations like testing and licensing, don’t pay taxes, and undercut prices, which makes it hard for customers to tell which shops are operating legally.
“Unfortunately, distinguishing between licensed and unlicensed dispensaries is now more difficult than ever,” the motion states. It goes on to point out that when people search for cannabis dispensaries on platforms like Google or Apple Maps, the results often include unlicensed shops without making it clear which ones are legal. “This legitimizes problematic establishments,” the motion argues.
A report from the Pew Research Center, cited in the motion, shows just how widespread the problem is. As of February, there were nearly 1,500 dispensaries in L.A. County, but only 384 of them were properly licensed.
Other places, like San Diego County, have managed to keep illegal dispensaries in check. According to a June report, San Diego made it a priority to shut down unlicensed shops and has nearly wiped them out. Meanwhile, L.A. County’s law enforcement team only manages to raid two to four illegal dispensaries per month, and many of those businesses reopen just weeks after being shut down.
Michigan offers another example of success. The Times reported that Michigan’s cannabis industry is thriving, and illegal dispensaries are a rarity thanks to strict enforcement that closed many unlicensed retailers in recent years.
Several people shared their thoughts on the issue during the public comment period. One resident, Daria Brooks, expressed her concerns, writing, “All advertising campaigns should be removed from social media for illegal cannabis shops operating in unincorporated areas. … Advertising on social platforms brings more crime, traffic issues, and unwanted loiterers into our neighborhoods.”
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