West Hollywood’s Business License Commission will conduct a public hearing tonight regarding a variance request submitted by Zen Healing Collective Corporation.
The hearing will address the company’s request to transfer 100 percent of its ownership in the Cannabis Adult-Use Retail and Cannabis Medical Use licenses to Tristan Schukraft, who operates through GQ Holdings LLC. Additionally, the company is seeking approval to relocate its business from its current address at 8464 Santa Monica Boulevard to a new location at 802 San Vicente Boulevard. The existing site has been deemed no longer viable due to increased cannabis competition in the vicinity.
Zen Healing’s current request, submitted in July 2024, seeks to transfer full ownership of both its Cannabis Adult-Use Retail License and Cannabis Medical Dispensary License to Tristan Schukraft. Schukraft is an experienced entrepreneur who owns The Abbey and The Chapel, two well-known establishments in West Hollywood’s hospitality scene. Additionally, Schukraft operates MISTR, a telemedicine service providing access to HIV treatment. Under his ownership, Zen Healing would be managed by Green Qween, an LGBTQ+ mission-driven cannabis company that has already made a name for itself with its operations in Los Angeles. Green Qween, founded by Andres Rigal, operates two cannabis retail storefronts—one in operation and one under construction—both located in Los Angeles.
Zen Healing Collective has a long-standing presence in West Hollywood, having operated a medical cannabis dispensary since the mid-2000s. The business initially gained its cannabis licenses following the passage of Proposition 64 and subsequent amendments to the city’s Cannabis Code. The company was ranked as one of the top applicants in the 2019 screening process for cannabis medical-use retail and delivery licenses, allowing it to obtain these licenses before the West Hollywood Business License Commission.
In 2020, the Business License Commission approved Zen Healing’s request for a Cannabis Medical-Use Retail License and a Cannabis Delivery Service License. However, later that year, amendments to the city’s Cannabis Business License Code imposed new conditions on the city’s cannabis businesses. Among these changes was the creation of a Legacy Medical Business License category that applied to the four existing medical cannabis businesses in the city. These licenses came with significant restrictions, including reduced operating hours, limits on ownership transfers, and provisions barring businesses from rebranding or relocating.
As the regulatory landscape shifted, Zen Healing had to navigate additional challenges. In February 2022, one of the top-ranked applicants from the 2018 screening process failed to secure approval for three business licenses, resulting in a forfeiture of the opportunity. This forfeiture opened the door for the next-ranked applicants to apply for the vacated licenses. Zen Healing, being the next highest-ranked applicant, applied for and ultimately received an Adult-Use Retail Cannabis Business License, which was approved by the Business License Commission in March 2022. This approval superseded the Legacy Medical Business License and re-established Zen Healing’s Medical-Use Business License under the commission’s previous resolution.
As part of the transfer request, the Business License Commission will review whether the proposed new ownership meets several specific criteria. First, the commission must determine whether the new owner, Schukraft, and his management team can maintain the same standard of business operations as Zen Healing’s previous owners. According to the variance application, Green Qween’s experience managing cannabis retail stores, along with Schukraft’s extensive background in the hospitality industry, would allow for a smooth transition. Green Qween brings more than fifteen years of combined cannabis experience to the table, which aligns with the level of expertise originally outlined in Zen Healing’s 2018 screening application.
Second, the commission will evaluate whether the new ownership has a comparable level of cannabis experience to that conveyed in the original license application. Schukraft’s management team includes notable figures such as Andres Rigal, who has over two decades of experience in creating LGBTQ+ inclusive nightlife spaces, and Taylor Bazley, who has a decade of experience in public affairs and business management. Bazley transitioned from public service to leading Green Qween’s business operations, bringing a unique blend of public and private sector expertise. Additionally, Jack Watson, with fifteen years of experience in cannabis retail management, including time at another West Hollywood dispensary, brings critical operational insight. The team is rounded out by Jenn Viridis, who provides CFO services to Green Qween through her company, Ethical Profits. Viridis has 24 years of experience working with startups and small to medium-sized enterprises, ensuring that Green Qween’s financial management is in full compliance with regulatory standards.
Third, the commission must decide whether the proposed ownership transfer would promote the public interest and uphold the integrity of the city’s 2018 cannabis license application process. Green Qween’s mission to create a queer, socially conscious retail environment is rooted in community service and social justice. The company draws inspiration from the early medical cannabis dispensaries in San Francisco’s Castro district, which provided cannabis to individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Green Qween has committed to investing in LGBTQ+ public art, sponsoring local events, and providing grants to local initiatives. Additionally, the company prioritizes shelf space for queer-owned consumer brands, a move aimed at diversifying the cannabis industry.
Finally, the commission will review whether the original findings that supported the issuance of Zen Healing’s cannabis licenses can still be upheld. Based on city staff analysis, the new ownership and management structure not only meets but exceeds the standards set by the original license conditions. The business plan remains consistent with the promises made in Zen Healing’s initial application, and the new management team brings a high level of expertise and commitment to compliance. City staff has also confirmed that there are no grounds for denial of the variance request, as both Schukraft and Green Qween’s management team have passed the necessary background checks, and the proposed business location is not situated in a sensitive area.
In addition to the ownership transfer, Zen Healing is seeking approval to relocate its cannabis retail operations from 8464 Santa Monica Boulevard to 802 San Vicente Boulevard. The new location, situated in West Hollywood’s entertainment district, offers a strategic advantage in terms of visibility and customer traffic. The proposed site consists of a 900-square-foot, two-story building, with the retail and medical-use areas located on the first floor and office space on the mezzanine. The new location has already received zoning clearance from the city’s Planning Division, confirming that it meets all distance requirements from sensitive-use areas.
Security and odor control measures will remain in place at the new location. Zen Healing’s security plan includes hiring on-site security personnel through ATG Guard Staffing, with two security guards on duty during business hours. One guard will be stationed at the front entrance to conduct age verification, while the second guard will patrol the surrounding neighborhood. Additionally, the business will implement a video monitoring system that meets or exceeds state and local regulatory standards. The building will also be equipped with a Daikin ventilation and exhaust system to ensure that cannabis odors do not escape the premises.
City staff has reviewed Zen Healing’s request and conducted independent research to verify that the proposed ownership transfer and relocation meet all necessary criteria. Staff believes that the variance request is in line with the city’s regulations and the terms of the 2020 stakeholder settlement agreement and is recommending the commission approve the transfer.
