Title
Receive a report on the status of the development of medical marijuana regulations for the unincorporated area of Monterey County
(Medical Marijuana Ordinance - REF150048)
Body
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Receive a report on the status of the development of medical marijuana regulations for the unincorporated area of Monterey County.
SUMMARY:
A Board of Supervisors' ad hoc committee has been diligently working with staff over the past six months on developing regulations for how the County of Monterey addresses medical marijuana businesses in the unincorporated areas. This ad hoc committee was formed in response to a referral from Supervisor Phillips in June of 2015. The following is a brief summary of major milestones that have occurred since that time:
* On July 7, 2015, the Board adopted Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 5254 to temporarily prohibit new collective or cooperative medical marijuana cultivation and dispensaries in Monterey County.
* On July 28, 2015, the Board extended the Interim Urgency Ordinance for 10 months and 15 days until and through July 5, 2016 (Interim Ordinance No. 5256).
* Since July 2015, RMA staff has worked with staff from multiple County agencies and an ad hoc committee of the Board of Supervisors to draft medical marijuana regulations (See Attachments A, B and C). Draft regulations will be considered at stakeholder meetings in the month of February.
* In October 2015, the State passed the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act (AB266, AB243, SB643). This bill included a deadline of March 1, 2016 to enact regulations permitting or prohibiting marijuana cultivation or the State would become the sole licensing authority for cultivation in that jurisdiction. Monterey County's interim ordinance (5254/5246), prohibiting new cultivation activities, meets this condition. The new legislation includes direction for developing State regulations; however, the State has ind...
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