City of La Mesa Set To Discuss New Adult-Use Commercial Cannabis Ordinance

September 24, 2019

Tonight the La Mesa City Council will consider a draft Ordinance that proposes to allow new Adult-Use Commercial Cannabis businesses to operate in the City. As currently drafted, the Ordinance will have no cap on the number of licenses that will be issued. If passed, La Mesa would be the first City in San Diego County without a limit on the number of commercial cannabis licenses.

In 2016, City voters passed, Measure U, which allowed medicinal cannabis dispensaries and the medicinal cultivation and manufacturing of medical marijuana to operate with an approved Conditional Use Permit. As proposed, the Ordinance would allow Measure U compliant businesses to apply to co-locate as Adult-Use commercial cannabis businesses.

In addition to the co-location option, the Ordinance proposes to allow new Adult-Use commercial cannabis businesses including: Cultivation Type 1A, Nursery Type 4, Manufacturing, Distribution/Transportation, and Testing Facilities. Distribution and Testing facilities were not allowed uses under Measure U.

The proposed Ordinance will have two phases in the application process for the Adult-Use only commercial cannabis businesses. Phase I proposes to vet applicants by evaluating the facilities, ownership, operations, plans and location. Phase II will look more closely at the physical location, security measures, owner requirements, and operational requirements. Licenses will be valid for two years.

Currently, the cities of San Diego, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, Vista, and Oceanside have all issued or are in the process of issuing commercial cannabis licenses. However, all of those jurisdictions have a limit on the number of commercial cannabis licenses that can be issued.

If you are interested in attending, tonight’s City Council meeting it will be held at 6:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers, La Mesa City Hall, 8130 Allison Avenue, La Mesa, California.

If you are interested in finding out information about commercial cannabis licensing in the City of La Mesa, or other California jurisdictions, please contact Kelly Hayes at khayes@murchisonlaw.com – (619) 544-6838.