Title
Staff Report for Amendments to the Medical Cannabis Dispensary Ordinance to Facilitate the Issuance of a Third Dispensary Permit
Staffreport
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council review and consider for adoption 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 third dispensary permit to be awarded by the City Council; and 2) to eliminate the requirement that dispensaries be located at least 1,000 feet from another dispensary.
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 stated: "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 direction provided at the December 21, 2015 and February 16, 2016 regular meetings, the City Council on June 6, 2016 adopted an amendment to the ordinance to allow the award of a second dispensary permit. As part of that action, the Council also adopted various other changes to align the ordinance with the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act (MMRSA), and incorporate suggestions from the first permit awardee that would better support the smooth operation of dispensaries once they open their doors to patients, along with various other changes designed to ensure best practices.
Following an application vetting process, the City Council issued the City's second medical cannabis dispensary permit on July 18, 2016 to the Davis Street Wellness Center.
At the September 6, ...
Click here for full text