Title
Staff Report for Amendments to the Medical Cannabis Dispensary Ordinance
Staffreport
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council review and adopt the proposed amendments to the City's Medical Cannabis Dispensary Ordinance. The proposed changes are designed to achieve the following goals: 1) to allow a second dispensary permit to be awarded by the City Council; 2) to align the City's local ordinance with the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act; and 3) to incorporate minor amendments to facilitate industry best practices as well as requests from the first dispensary permit awardee to ensure the smooth operation and effective local regulation of dispensary facilities.
BACKGROUND & ANALYSIS
Following extensive dialogue with the community and numerous City Council discussions, on December 16, 2013, the City Council approved a medical cannabis dispensary ordinance to facilitate the approval, regulation and operation of medical cannabis dispensaries in San Leandro. Contained within that ordinance was Section 4-33-200(c), which states: "The City shall issue no more than one (1) valid permit for the operation of dispensaries in the City." On September 8, 2015, the City Council subsequently awarded the City's first dispensary permit to Harborside San Leandro (HSL).
Based upon subsequent City Council direction provided at its December 21, 2015 meeting, on February 16, 2016, staff brought forward for the Council's consideration proposed amendments to the ordinance that would be necessary to facilitate the award of a second dispensary permit. Staff also recommended various other technical changes to the ordinance that were identified by the City Manager's stakeholder team in order to ensure best practices. At that meeting, the City Council voted to continue the item to a future meeting, and directed staff to work with HSL and incorporate their feedback into the proposed amendments. Since that time, City staff has w...
Click here for full text