City Council
MEETING DATE: 1/27/2016
TITLE:
Title
Interim Urgency Ordinance Establishing Regulations for Medical Cannabis Businesses
End
FROM:
Charlie McClendon, City Manager
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Ordinance No. ____, an urgency ordinance adopting regulations on the sale and cultivation of medical cannabis
Body
BACKGROUND:
Cathedral City currently regulates dispensaries but not cultivation through the issuance of conditional use permits, but has not adopted regulations for other types of marijuana businesses. Recent state legislation, the California Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act ("MMRSA") provides for the licensing and regulation of medical cannabis businesses, including dispensaries and cultivation, in California and gives local governments the authority to enact laws or regulations pertaining to such businesses pursuant to zoning powers. Under the MMRSA, the State will become the sole licensing authority for medical cannabis cultivation in any local jurisdiction that has not enacted land use regulations or ordinances regulating or prohibiting medical cannabis cultivation on or before March 1, 2016. Therefore, Cathedral City must adopt land use regulations on medical cannabis cultivation by the March 1, 2016 deadline or the City could lose regulatory authority over these businesses permanently. This Urgency Ordinance, along with the proposed amendments to Title 5 of the Cathedral City Code, would meet the state's deadline and preserve Cathedral City's regulatory authority by regulating medical cannabis dispensaries and cultivation facilities.
DISCUSSION:
Ordinance Number ____, which adds Chapter 5.88 "Medical Cannabis Businesses" to Title 5 of the Cathedral City Code licensing and regulating medical cannabis businesses, was approved by City Council on first reading on January 13, 2015 and will be heard for second reading on January 27, 2015. This or...
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