Socially Equitable Cannabis Program
Project Contact: Don Chase | PDS.AdvancePlanning@sdcounty.ca.gov | Phone (858) 505-6677
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Public Meetings
On Wednesday March 3, 2021, the Board of Supervisors (Board) will receive an update from staff on the Board direction provided on January 27, 2021. The update includes staff research, analysis of other jurisdictions’ program development, and stakeholder input to date, and for the Board to provide direction on how the Program is built.
Item #11
Board Letter
For public participation regarding this item, please see the Clerk of the Board Website for instructions.
Project Overview
On January 27, 2021 (Item #4), the Board of Supervisors directed County staff to develop Cannabis and Social Equity programs for implementation in the County’s unincorporated areas. Over the coming months, County staff will be drafting new ordinances and regulations for the Planning Commission’s and Board of Supervisors’ considerations later this year. If adopted, these ordinances will create a permitting system to allow cannabis retail, cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, and testing in certain zones in the unincorporated area. Additionally, if adopted, the Social Equity Program will provide people that have past cannabis arrests or that live in areas disproportionally impacted by the War on Drugs with greater opportunities to secure a County operating permit.
To help guide our effort, County staff will be reaching out to Community Planning Groups, Community Sponsor Groups, social and racial justice advocates, industry members, farmers, potential cannabis permit holders, and others. We hope to hear your thoughts about the new programs and answer any questions you may have.
For additional details and program specifics, please refer to the Board Letter submitted by the Supervisors of Districts One and Four. The Board’s Minute Order, which expresses the Board’s direction provided during the January 27 hearing, is also accessible at this link.
Stakeholder Engagement
Group Meetings:
February 11th, 2021: Community Planning and Sponsor Group Chair
Meeting
February 11th, 2021: Cannabis Industry
Professionals
February 12th, 2021: Farm Bureau - Cannabis Sub
Committee Meeting
February 22nd, 2021: Campo Lake Morena
Community Planning Group
February 24th, 2021: Regional Cannabis
Legal Community
February 24th, 2021: Rainbow Community Planning
Group
February 25th, 2021: Fallbrook Community Planning Group
Cannabis Ad Hoc Subcommittee
February 26th, 2021: American
Cancer Society & American Heart Association
Individual Meetings:
February 12th, 2021: Dallin Young – Blue Water Government
Affairs
February 12th, 2021: Richard Westfall – Retired
Planner
February 23rd, 2021: Rudy Reyes – Medical Cannabis
Advocate
March 2nd, 2021: Phil Rath – United Medical Marijuana
Coalition
March 2nd, 2021: Shryne Group
Additional State Resources
In addition to the County’s future operating permits that are under development, a state license is also required to engage in commercial cannabis activity. For more information on state licensing programs, please visit the following links.
State of California
Cannabis Portal
Bureau of Cannabis Control
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