Learn about recent changes to municipalities that are updating their cannabis regulations.
In this edition we have updates across California that include new retail storefronts proposed, public official announcements on vaping, Humboldt small farm cultivator licenses for 2020, state-chartered financial institutions for banking relationships, and other ordinance updates.
Dive right in and take a look at the recent changes in municipalities we are tracking.
All Municipality / City Regulation Update Posts
- September 24, 2019 Updates: Oxnard, Santa Rosa, Thousand Oaks, Sacramento, Colton, Novato, Sonoma County, Fairfax, Davis, Humboldt
- October 1, 2019 Updates: Illinois Adult-Use Cannabis License Application Details & FAQs
- October 2, 2019 Updates: Humboldt County, Long Beach, Sonoma County, Washington State
- October 14, 2019 Updates: Culver City, City of Berkley, El Dorado, Humboldt, Washington State, Fort Bragg, Sonoma County, Morro Bay
- October 22, 2019 Updates: Fairfax, Humboldt County, Mendota, La Mesa, Culver City, Oxnard, Ventura City, Marysville
- October 29, 2019 Updates: City of Marina, Culver City, City of San Anselmo, City of Barstow, City of San Luis Obispo, Santa Rosa, Fresno, and Port Hueneme
- November 26, 2019 Updates: Stanton, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, Benicia, Sacramento, Marysville, Pomona, and San Fernando City
October 14, 2019 – Municipality / City Cannabis Regulation Updates
Culver City Update
- Two Cannabis Retail Storefront Community Meetings on 10/15 and 10/17:
- Meeting #1 – Applicant: SweetFlower Culver LLC – Proposed Business Location: 10000 Culver Blvd.
Meeting Location: Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Garden Room, 4117 Overland Avenue, Culver City, CA, 90230. Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. Contact: Timothy Dodd, community@sweetflower.com or (310) 254-9731 - Meeting #2 – Applicant: TGS CC Ventures, LLC – Proposed Business Location: 3800 Sepulveda Blvd.
Meeting Location: Culver City Elks Lodge #1917, 11160 Washington Place, Culver City, CA 90232 (Please enter the Elks Lodge through the rear entrance off of Elks parking lot.) Thursday, October 17, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. Contact: Trent Woloveck, (614) 271-4349, trent@jushico.com or Blake Brower, bbrower@jushico.com, (513) 886-8613
- Meeting #1 – Applicant: SweetFlower Culver LLC – Proposed Business Location: 10000 Culver Blvd.
City of Berkley Update
- Public Health Officials Urge Everyone to Stop Vaping – State and city public health officials urge everyone to refrain from vaping any substance until current investigations regarding vaping-related illness are complete.
City of El Dorado Update
- El Dorado County Makes Commercial Cannabis Operation Applications Available Online.
- Pre-applications can be filled out and submitted now; full applications will be taken starting November 18th.
- For retailers that were issued temporary licenses from the Bureau of Cannabis Control by July 17, 2018, their Use Permit and Annual Operating Permit must be submitted between November 12th -14th.
- There are three phases to the application process: the pre-application phase which is used to determine basic eligibility of the proposed commercial operation and identify potential challenges as early in the process as possible. It includes a non-refundable fee of $1,480; phase two includes the submittal of the full application to ensure compliance with the commercial cannabis ordinances and environmental reviews; phase three allows successful applicants to work with the Commercial Cannabis Permitting Office to ensure all conditions of approval and operational requirements of a commercial cannabis business operation are met and approvals are granted. This phase also includes a monitoring program to ensure key milestones are reached by applicants are on track to renew their Annual Operating Permit. F
- or more information or questions, interested parties can email staff at cannabisinfo@edcgov.us
- On September 10, 2019, the County Board of Supervisors adopted the following Zoning Ordinance Commercial Cannabis Amendments: Ordinance 5109 (Measure N-Permitting & Enforcement); Ordinance 5110 (Measures P & Q-Outdoor Uses); Ordinance 5111 (Measures R & S-Indoor Uses); and Ordinance 5112 (Matrix of Allowed Uses)
- #5109 https://edcgov.us/Government/planning/ordinances/Documents/Cannabis%20Ordinance%205109%20%28Measure%20N-Permitting%20and%20Enforcement%29.pdf
- #5110 https://edcgov.us/Government/planning/ordinances/Documents/Cannabis%20Ordinance%205110%20%28Measures%20P%20and%20Q-Outdoor%20Uses%29.pdf
City of Humboldt Update
- Small farm cultivators can get applications processed in time for 2020 grow season.
- If you are a small marijuana cultivator, without a county permit, please know there is still time to submit an application and have a permit approved in time for the 2020 cultivation season. The county is committing to small farmers that if you are applying for approval of 3,000 square feet or less, have a non-diversionary water source, and can submit a complete application, county staff can process the applications to decision in time for the 2020 cultivation season.
- County staff are finding that for these types of “2.0” applications the total county application cost is less than the required initial deposit of $3,445.
- Under the commercial cannabis land use county ordinance, applications submitted for pre-existing cultivation qualify at 50% of the cultivation area in existence between Jan. 1, 2006 and Dec. 31, 2015. No new applications for pre-existing cultivation will be accepted after Dec. 31, 2019.
- Please contact the county Planning and Building Department at 707-445-7541 for assistance in preparing your application.
- Humboldt County Seeking Cannabis Marketing & Branding Proposals
- The selected consultant will develop a distinct national and industry “brand” for Humboldt County grown cannabis and cannabis-related products and services, will provide a range of professional marketing services, and engage in effective promotion of the Humboldt County Cannabis as a unique, high quality product sourced solely in Humboldt County, California. The consultant will also include recommendations for strategic use of a county stamp program. The deadline for proposals to be received is Nov. 30 at 1:30 p.m.
View Humboldt County Real Estate Available
Washington State Update
- In the Washington State Board of Health meeting, the Board of Health took action on Gov. Inslee’s Executive Order 19-03: Addressing the Vaping Use Public Health Crisis. It instituted emergency rules that direct action on Oct. 10, 2019, by both cannabis licensees and vapor product licensees.
- Four actions have come forward that licensees and the LCB can do now while public health officials conduct their investigation:
1. Signage. Prominently post this warning sign in retail locations. This required sign is co-branded with the Washington State Department of Health. A Spanish version, also available, may be posted as an additional sign.
2. Clarify rule regarding additives on packaging and labeling. There is some confusion among industry members that certain additives, like terpenes, imported CBD, and other cannabinoids do not need to be disclosed on packaging. Current rules require all product components on packaging (WAC 314-55-105).
3. Disclose to LCB all compounds (including ingredients, solvents, additives, etc.) used in the production and processing of products that are vaped and vaping devices themselves. Public health officials have requested assistance in gathering additional information about ingredients in vapor products.
4. Cooperate with the ongoing epidemiological investigation. Local, state and federal health agencies are looking into which products have been involved with Washington cases of disease. We ask for your cooperation if you are contacted by someone from a state or federal epidemiology team and/or a representative from your local health jurisdiction.
- Four actions have come forward that licensees and the LCB can do now while public health officials conduct their investigation:
View Washington State Cannabis Real Estate Available
City of Fort Bragg
- NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Fort Bragg City Council will conduct a public hearing on TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2019.
- The public hearing will concern the following item: Receive Report, Conduct Public Hearing, Receive Planning Commission Recommendation, Consider Adoption of City Council Resolution Adopting a Negative Declaration for Inland Land Use and Development Code Amendment 1-19, and Consider Introducing by Title Only and Waiving the First Reading of Ordinance 952-2019 Amending Article 2 (Zoning Districts and Allowable Land Uses), Article 4 (Standards for Specific Land Uses), and Article 10 (Definitions) of Title 18 (Inland Land Use and Development Code) of the Fort Bragg Municipal Code Relating to Cannabis Regulations.
- ORDINANCE NO. 932-2019: https://cityfortbragg.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=7756175&GUID=0FC4A93E-9EA6-4A90-9A0B-34BC32569F55
- https://cityfortbragg.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=718437&GUID=86F6B57A-48F6-429F-8A46-2E09F509C3F1
- Department of Business Oversight: DBO Issues Cannabis Banking Guidance. The Department of Business Oversight has issued guidance to state-chartered financial institutions regarding banking relationships with cannabis-related businesses as more banks and credit unions choose to bank the industry.
- The guidance, issued October 3 in the form of an extensive questionnaire used by examiners, is part of the DBO’s continued effort to assist banks and credit unions that serve cannabis-related businesses in California and will help financial institutions make appropriate risk assessments and comply with federal guidelines.
Sonoma County Update
- On September 29, 2019 the Planning Agency heard a presentation from staff about the Cannabis Ordinance Update including the current status of cannabis permits, goals for the Ordinance Update, and the timeline for the update. Click here to find video update: http://sonomacounty.ca.gov/PRMD/Newsletter/September-2019/
The City of Morro Bay Update
- The City of Morro Bay, in accordance with Morro Bay Municipal Code Chapter 5.50, has issued commercial cannabis (medical) retail permits to Natural Healing Center and Perfect Union.
- These two firms were selected by the City Manager for permits following a three-step review process: 1) Review of application materials by an outside firm and the Planning Director for initial screening of applicants 2) Review of application materials and interviews by the City’s cannabis permit committee (Police Chief, Fire Chief and Finance Director) of those applicants who passed the initial screening, and 3) Review, interview and site visits by the City Manager of the two finalists.
- Perfect Union and Natural Healing Center will begin building modification on their respective Morro Bay store fronts, and can initiate operations after completion of a thorough background check. These firms are also completing community benefit agreements with the City, which will help bring important improvements to the business corridors where they will operate their businesses. The City has released the permits on the City website as well as the City Manager’s Final Determination.
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