Identifying California cannabis market opportunities takes a lot of time and effort. It is the very important information for you to stay ahead of the curve and it will certainly benefit your business decisions.
CREC offers one stop shop consulting services nationwide from licensing, financing, compliance, legal, and more. Market research is one of the most important tool we use to help our clients. Our Market Research Analyst Mitch Kraemer is up to date everyday with nationwide cannabis regulations so YOU can make the best decision for your business.
Mitch’s Picks is where he shares his valuable research in the industry with you!
In this blog post, we’ll present you the California Retail Opportunities.
1. Barstow, CA
Why: Barstow is one of the most recent cities to pass an adult-use cannabis ordinance and is set to open for applications soon for a wide array of cannabis uses. Barstow will be one of the only cities located on a key freeway between Los Angeles and Las Vegas open for cannabis business and will allow the statewide maximum canopy size for cultivation.
Uses: Indoor Cultivation, Delivery, Retail, Manufacturing, Distribution, Testing
Application Period: December 1st – January 31st, 2022
Tax Rate: By Development Agreement
2. National City, CA
Why: National City is one of the most recent cities to allow adult-use cannabis businesses in the San Diego area and will be the only one to allow consumption lounges. The city has not yet begun its application process, making it the perfect time to secure a location.
Uses: Indoor and Mixed-Light Cultivation, Manufacturing, Testing, Delivery, Distribution, Consumption Lounges, Retail Ancillary/Accessory Use
Application Period: Coming Soon!
Tax Rate: By Development Agreement
View National City Real Estate & Cannabis Regulations
3. Fresno, CA
Why: Fresno will be soon opening up again for a second round of non-retail cannabis applications. Applicants hoping to qualify for social equity status will be required to submit eligibility documentation by January 15, 2022.
Uses: indoor cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, or (non-retail) microbusiness
Application Period: December 1st – February 4th, 2022
Tax Rate: Cultivation: 12$ per square foot canopy space. All other uses: 10% gross receipts.
4. Santee, CA
Why: The city of Santee is currently working on an adult use ordinance to allow retail and non-retail cannabis uses in the city. With anticipation of an upcoming cannabis program, this is the perfect time to begin searching for a location before competition gets too burdensome.
Uses: Retail (up to three licenses), testing, cultivation, distribution, manufacturing and microbusiness.
Application Period: TBD
Tax Rate: TBD
5. Madera, CA
Why: Madera recently adopted an adult use ordinance and is poised to soon launch an application period for cannabis licences and will be one of the only cities in the Fresno area with retail licenses available. Operators with 3 non-retail cannabis permits which includes manufacturing, distribution, and at least one cultivation license will be eligible to operate a retail or non-storefront retail business even if the city is capped for retail!
Uses: Retail, Manufacturing, Distribution, Cultivation, Testing, Microbusiness
Application Period: TBD
Tax Rate: By Development Agreement.
6. Manteca, CA
Why: Manteca’s planning commission recommended that the city move forward with three retail licenses in the city. After going through a retail application process the city will circle back to consider other adult use cannabis businesses.
Uses: Retail
Application Period: TBD
Tax Rate: TBD
7. Red Bluff
Why: After over a year of deliberation over multiple proposed cannabis ordinances, the city of Red Bluff is finally approaching a finalized adult use cannabis program. City staff expects a final ordinance to pass soon and this is a perfect time to start securing a location.
Uses: Storefront Retail (5 maximum), Nonstorefront retail, Volatile and nonvolatile manufacturing, Indoor cultivation, Distribution, Testing, Microbusiness
Application Date: Coming Soon!
Tax Rate: By Development Agreement
8. San Benito County
Why: San Benito County’s Planning Commission recently made recommendations to the board of supervisors to allow storefront retail and outdoor cultivation in the county, in addition to lifting the cap on non-storefront retail in the county.
Uses: Retail, Indoor Cultivation, Mixed Light Cultivation, Outdoor Cultivation, Distribution, Manufacturing
Application Date: TBD. An ordinance amendment still must be brought forward and voted on by the board of supervisors. There is no current timeline for when applications will be received but we can expect updates in the near future on a potential application period.
Tax Rate: Cultivation: $5 per sq/ft canopy. Distribution and Manufacturing: 4% gross receipts. Retail: TBD
9. Pittsburg, CA
Why: The City of Pittsburg in the Bay Area recently passed an ordinance amendment to allow adult use retail and cultivation in the city in addition to its previously allowed uses. The city will allow one retail license for every 25,000 residents. The city has an open ended application period for cannabis licenses.
Uses: Retail, Indoor Cultivation, Mixed Light Cultivation, Outdoor Cultivation, Distribution, Manufacturing
Application Date: TBD. An ordinance amendment still must be brought forward and voted on by the board of supervisors. There is no current timeline for when applications will be received but we can expect updates in the near future on a potential application period.
Tax Rate: By Development agreement.
10. Encinitas, CA
Why: Encinitas passed an adult use ordinance to adult use cannabis businesses in the affluent North County San Diego Area. The city is currently waiting on a final ruling from the California Coastal Commission before they can move forward with an application process
Uses: Retail (include delivery), Mixed-light and Indoor Cultivation, Non-volatile Manufacturing, Cannabis Kitchens, Distribution
Application Date: TBD
Tax Rate:
View Encinitas Real Estate & Cannabis Regulations
11. Brisbane, CA
Why: The city of Brisbane is considering expanding its allowed cannabis uses to include retail licenses.
Application Timeline: the city is in the very early stages of considering adult-use retail and does not yet have a draft ordinance.
About Mitch Kraemer
Mitch is a market research analyst at Cannabis Real Estate Consultants. He brings a desire for research and has a strong sense on market movements and emerging markets for cannabis real estate / business opportunities.
Mitch’s analytical mindset and the robust CREC Portal allow him to stay up to date on jurisdiction, municipality, and state changes for cannabis regulations. Mitch’s research is vital to our real estate brokerage due to his vast knowledge and understanding of upcoming or current cannabis regulations.
Contact us to for further analysis of CA retail opportunities to get out ahead of the game, with the knowledge to make more effective, and less risky decisions for your expansion strategy.
