The Bellflower City Council unanimously approved renewal of multiple cannabis business permits at a special meeting on Dec. 11, 2025, agreeing staff recommendations that the businesses met local and state licensing requirements.

City planning staff, led by Mister Lee, told the council the city received timely, complete renewal applications in October and that most applicants hold active state licenses and have no open code-enforcement cases. "They are in good standing with the state and with the city as well," Lee said when summarizing Catalyst Bellflower LLC's file. Lee noted minor packet typos about prior renewal dates and a license expiration year but confirmed the substance of staff’s recommendations.

The council first considered Catalyst Bellflower LLC and its related distributor permits. Catalyst's on-site representative, Luis, discussed recent calls for service and security arrangements, saying a single incident involving a customer slapping a security guard and taking a phone occurred in the parking lot and was reported to police. He described the company’s remote monitoring system, NetWatch, which reviews multiple stores overnight and helps distinguish false alarms. After questions, the council moved and voted to approve Catalyst's dispensary and distribution renewals; the clerk recorded all present councilmembers voting Aye.

The council approved Medicine Woman Group LLC's dispensary renewal after representatives from the business described modestly projected sales declines tied to nearby new competitors and higher local taxes. Medicine Woman representatives asked the city to continue conversations about tax competitiveness; an outside CPA said lowering local sales tax can, in some cities, drive higher overall revenue. Council then approved the permit renewal by unanimous roll call.

Joint Forces LLC also received unanimous approval to renew its three permits (dispensary, distribution and cultivation). Applicant representatives described security staffing (a 24-hour physical guard), extensive camera coverage and procedures that can occasionally produce false alarms.

The votes were procedural and unanimous: the council recorded yes votes from the same set of members on each renewal. Mayor Sanchez acknowledged the approvals in brief remarks after the roll calls.

Council and staff said the city will continue to monitor calls for service, tax compliance and any enforcement issues raised during the renewal process. The meeting adjourned at 10:58 a.m.