Title
Adopt an ordinance amending Chapter 7.90 of the Monterey County Code to streamline administrative processes of the commercial cannabis permit, and better align the Chapter to state law and other portions of the Monterey County Code.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Adopt an ordinance amending Chapter 7.90 of the Monterey County Code to streamline administrative processes of the commercial cannabis permit, and better align the Chapter to state law and other portions of the Monterey County Code.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Chapter 7.90 of the Monterey County Code controls the issuance, renewal, and operational requirements for a cannabis business to hold a commercial cannabis permit. This permit has an annual term, and can be obtained after a property owner obtains all necessary land use entitlements for the applicable commercial cannabis activity. Based on previous direction from the Board of Supervisors, staff has prepared a draft ordinance amending Chapter 7.90.
The draft ordinance was presented to the Monterey County Cannabis Standing Committee on September 30, 2019. The Board Cannabis Committee approved the draft ordinance with certain amendments. Specifically, the Committee asked that a mechanism be added so when a business has a partial change in ownership, the business can apply to modify their existing permit as opposed to obtaining a new permit. This change would align the Chapter with the state licensing requirements, and give the Cannabis Industry more flexibility when making business changes. The Committee also suggested minor changes to the existing amendments that have been incorporated into the current draft ordinance before the Board of Supervisors.
Chapter 7.90 was last amended in December 2017, and numerous changes have taken place since that time that require additional amendments. These changes include the following:
* The commercial cannabis permit issuance and renewal processes transf...
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