Ordinance Would Allow 6 Martinez Commercial Cannabis Operations

MARTINEZ, CA — Martinez city staff will be introducing a commercial cannabis ordinance to the City Council for a public hearing and first reading of the proposed ordinance Wednesday evening, at which time community members will have an opportunity to comment.

In its current iteration, the proposed ordinance would permit two in-town retail cannabis operations with delivery options, one manufacturing facility, one cannabis testing laboratory, one delivery-only retail operation and one cannabis distribution center with no retail sales for a total of six cannabis operations within city limits.

The ordinance would also permit an unlimited number of out-of-town delivery services. Those businesses would have to apply for and be granted a permit to do business within city limits, however.

In terms of zoning, the permitted businesses would be allowed to operate wherever similar operations are already allowed, with retail businesses in retail spaces, manufacturing and laboratory businesses in commercial spaces that already accommodate manufacturing and laboratories.

Those businesses would not be permitted to operate in residential areas, on Main Street or on Ferry Street. They would also be unable to secure a license within 600 feet of a school, daycare or youth center as required by state law, according to city staff.

Detailed maps of those setback zones are available at https://bit.ly/2TNleWD.

Permits would be awarded and renewed on an annual basis to allow businesses that cooperate with regulators - and foster a good business environment - to continue operating, while giving the city the option of revoking the license of businesses that are not run "in a safe manner
consistent with the regulations of the ordinance and the conditions of their operating permit," according to a staff report available at https://bit.ly/2TNki4K.

A proposed process by which applicants might be selected and specified has been outlined, and in the future, the city council may be able to modify the regulations as needed.

Martinez city officials say they held two public workshops in April 2018, but attendance at each was estimated at roughly 15 members of the community.

The City Council meeting is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at 525 Henrietta St.

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— Bay City News Service