Title
REF150048 - INLAND & REF160042 - COASTAL
OUTDOOR COMMERCIAL CANNABIS (MARIJUANA) CULTIVATION
Consider options for regulating outdoor cannabis cultivation in the unincorporated areas of Monterey County.
Location: County-wide
Proposed CEQA action: Draft regulations for outdoor cannabis cultivation would be evaluated pursuant to the requirements of CEQA.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
1. The Board Cannabis Committee recommends that the Board of Supervisors provide direction to staff on outdoor cannabis regarding whether to begin drafting regulations in Monterey County.
2. If the Board directs staff to pursue outdoor commercial cannabis regulations, staff has identified some initial parameters for the Board to consider for a pilot program based on:
a. Specific zoning (e.g., Watershed and Scenic Conservation zoning district in Big Sur), or appellation (e.g., Santa Lucia Mountains);
b. Canopy area of outdoor cultivation (such as smaller specialty cottage or specialty cultivation sizes only); and/or
c. Historic cultivation operations that can demonstrate they were legally established prior to a specific date, TBD (registration and verification process).
SUMMARY:
The Cannabis Committee directed staff to seek direction from the Board on whether outdoor cannabis cultivation regulations should be pursued now, or revisited at a later date. If so directed, staff would include this ordinance work as part of the work program. Staff would request direction on how this relates as a priority for limited staff resources in conjunction with other Board directed priorities (cannabis setbacks, STR, ADU, affordable housing, homeless, DES, GPU implementation, etc).
Developing regulations for outdoor grows would involve providing the Cannabis Committee with additional information and progress updates to seek policy direction where appropriate. Regulations such as these are complicated and will warrant considerable staff time for consideration of new tax rates for outdoor cultiv...
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