Title
Public Hearing to Consider Introduction of Ordinance Amending the Alameda Municipal Code by Repealing Section 30-5.15 (Medical Marijuana Dispensaries and Cultivation) in Its Entirety and Adding a New Section 30-10 (Cannabis) to Conditionally Permit Specific Types of Cannabis Businesses in Certain Zoning Districts. (City Manager 1010)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jill Keimach, City Manager
Re: Public Hearing to Consider Introduction of Ordinance to Amend the Alameda Municipal Code to Conditionally Permit Specific Types of Cannabis Businesses in Certain Zoning Districts
BACKGROUND
Over the past year, the City Council approved two referrals directing staff to study updated regulations for, and potential taxation of, commercial cannabis activities. The referrals directed staff to propose regulations to permit convenient and safe cannabis businesses in Alameda including dispensaries, cultivation, manufacturing, purity and potency testing labs and quality control facilities.
On September 5, 2017, the City Council held a public meeting to review draft amendments to the Alameda Municipal Code (AMC) to implement the Council referrals. On October 21, 2017, the City Council held a special public meeting to continue review and discussion of the proposed amendments. At that meeting, the Council requested a series of changes to the draft amendments and directed staff to prepare final ordinances incorporating those changes for adoption.
On November 7, 2017, the City Council introduced on first reading two ordinances:
* An ordinance amending the AMC to add a new Article XVI (Cannabis Businesses) to Chapter VI (BUSINESSES, OCCUPATIONS, AND INDUSTRIES). This new article covers all aspects of regulating the operations of cannabis businesses ("regulatory ordinance").
* An ordinance amending AMC Sections 24-11 (Smoking Prohibitions in Places of Employment and Unenclosed Public Places) and 24-12 (Smoking Prohibitions in Housing) t...
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