City hosting discussion on recreational marijuana
–In November 2016, Proposition 64 was passed in the State of California to regulate and tax marijuana for recreational use. As a part of Prop 64, each city is able to establish their own regulations for their community. Prop 64 allows for the adult use of Cannabis and sets up a state licensing process for cultivation, manufacturing, testing, and sales of cannabis for adult and non-medical use. The state is planning to issue licenses for all forms of recreational marijuana businesses beginning January 1, 2018, therefore each City needs to adopt regulations ahead of that date.
In an effort to establish these regulations, the City of Atascadero hosted a series of public open house events to discuss Prop 64 with the community on an individual basis versus in a public forum. From these meetings, feedback from community members was gathered on a series of land use issues associated with the recent passage of Proposition 64. The City Council will be discussing this feedback and giving staff input on adult use marijuana at their regular council meeting on April 25 with the intent to formulate direction towards developing code amendments that respond to Prop 64. The city must have code amendments in place prior to the end of 2017 in order to respond to the new State licensing process. Although prop 64 does not allow the city to ban private adult consumption and limited personal cultivation, the city can ban or regulate any commercial activities or can regulate where personal consumption and cultivation may occur.
For more information, please contact Terrie Banish at (805) 470-3490.
