Lawsuit alleges SoCal city extorted licensees

As the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) tries to expand the number of cities and counties with cannabis businesses, an April lawsuit details how local officials in one SoCal city allegedly blocked a group of cannabis businesses from opening for nearly six years. It further accuses nine city officials of illegally conspiring to extort illegal payments.

As the industry often hasn't delivered promised local tax windfalls, the suit allegedly shows how local officials can still wield substantial influence over how, or if, state-licensed businesses operate.

Cudahy, a small city in southeastern Los Angeles . . .