Danville To Consider Allowing Storefront Cannabis Sales

DANVILLE, CA — The Danville Town Council will hold a study session Tuesday to continue exploring the possibility of allowing storefront cannabis retail in town. No votes will be taken.

The council first met in January in response to the closure of America’s Finest Hemp Co., a downtown hemp shop that was forced to close due to new state regulations requiring most cannabinoid products, including hemp, to be sold through licensed dispensaries regulated under the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act. Danville currently does not allow dispensaries to operate within town limits, and the business was forced to close.

Town staff will provide additional materials gathered in response to questions raised last month, including copies of cannabis ordinances from nearby cities, permit application materials, and maps showing how required distance buffers would affect retail locations. Under state law, cannabis retailers must be located at least 600 feet from K-12 schools, day care centers, and youth centers. Danville’s existing tobacco retail ordinance also requires a 1,000-foot buffer from schools, parks, playgrounds, and libraries.

The report also addresses licensing options, including whether residential delivery could be restricted locally. Staff also reached out to other Contra Costa cities to ask about crime, staffing demands, and revenue associated with cannabis retail.

The council is expected to review the materials, take public comment, and direct staff whether to move forward with drafting an ordinance. A future ordinance would require additional public meetings, Planning Commission review, and the formal approval of the council.

See here for more information, and here for the full agenda.

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• Danville Hemp Shop Forced To Close Due To State Law; Town May Explore Cannabis Rules