Socially Equitable Cannabis Program
Cannabis Updates
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receive updates and announcements about future engagement
opportunities and outreach events. Visit the Socially Equitable Cannabis Program page on
Engage.SanDiegoCounty.gov for more information.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
What is the Socially Equitable Cannabis Program?
The County’s Socially Equitable Cannabis Program (Cannabis Program) will allow for new commercial cannabis businesses in the County of San Diego’s unincorporated area. The Cannabis Program establishes safe access to cannabis, helps stop the unlicensed cannabis market, and provides an equitable path to cannabis business ownership and employment.
PROGRAM ELEMENTS
The program includes: regulatory requirements, a licensing and permitting framework, environmental impact considerations, and support for equitable access to cannabis-related business opportunities.
Regulatory Requirements: Current policies will be revised to allow for new and expanded commercial cannabis businesses in the unincorporated area of the county. These include revisions to the County’s regulatory code and zoning ordinance to establish where and how cannabis businesses may operate.
Licensing and Permitting System: Structures and procedures will be put in place to issue the necessary local licenses and permits to run a cannabis business.
Environmental Impact Report: There will be an analysis of the potential environmental impacts of new regulatory requirements related to the Cannabis Program. Ways to reduce impacts will also be identified.
Social Equity Program: This part of the overall program is focused on providing support to eligible persons to successfully establish or gain employment in a cannabis business. This includes efforts to address the adverse impacts that cannabis criminalization has had on people and their communities.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Community engagement is a key component of the Cannabis Program. The County has solicited input on all aspects of the program throughout the process and will continue until all program components are fully developed and in place. Visit the Socially Equitable Cannabis Program page on Engage.SanDiegoCounty.gov for more information about upcoming engagement opportunities.
TIMELINE
The County initiated work on the Cannabis Program in early 2021. Since that time, the County has accomplished several steps in program development. These include:
- Established a tax on cannabis businesses
- Completed the requirements to ensure eligibility for state grants to support a social equity program
- Developed and initiated the social equity program to support future cannabis business entrepreneurs. Conducted eligibility checks and initiated support activities with eligible applicants.
- Researched multiple factors for consideration in developing the draft regulatory requirements and licensing and permitting system
- Analyzed potential environmental impacts from the proposed Cannabis Program and initiated the development of a Draft Program Environmental Impact Report
- Completed the draft regulatory requirements and Draft Program Environmental Impact Report. Both items are available for public review and comment January 30 - March 31, 2025.
As of winter 2025/2026, the next steps include:
- Prepare the Final Program Environmental Impact Report
- Complete the draft licensing and permitting system
- Present the proposed Cannabis Program to the Planning Commission for their recommendation
- Present the final proposed Cannabis Program to the Board of Supervisors for their consideration
The Cannabis Program will be fully implemented after the Board of Supervisors (Board) approves the necessary regulatory changes and certifies the Environmental Impact Report at a future Board hearing anticipated for winter 2025/2026. In the meantime, new cannabis businesses are not permitted in the county's unincorporated area.
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