Politics & Government
Delivery-Only Medicinal Marijuana Licensing Approved In Marin
The ordinance only affects medicinal marijuana regulations in the unincorporated areas of Marin County.
MARIN COUNTY, CA – Delivery-only medicinal marijuana businesses can now apply for licenses in Marin County.
The county's Board of Supervisors Tuesday unanimously approved a new delivery-only medicinal marijuana licensing ordinance. The ordinance requires retailers to be closed to the public and dispense medicinal marijuana exclusively by delivery.
"The timing is right on this issue with the changes in state law," Supervisor Damon Connolly said. "We have put together a solid, balanced program."
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Board President Judy Arnold agreed. Arnold and Connolly served on a board subcommittee on medicinal marijuana.
"This has been a lot of work, and we’ve had a huge learning curve as regulations and laws have changed," Arnold said.
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"This ordinance provides a balance between addressing community concerns and providing patients in Marin County access to medicinal cannabis," she said. "During the previous attempt to license storefront dispensaries we heard numerous concerns from the public. Neighborhood compatibility, traffic and potential exposure to youth were issues that were raised. Based on this input, we devised the delivery-only concept."
Delivery-only retailers will have to be located at least 600 feet from schools, day care centers, youth centers and playgrounds. The locations could be in industrial zones, office properties and commercial zones.
The ordinance, which replaces a dispensary ordinance adopted in 2015, only affects medicinal marijuana regulations in the unincorporated areas of Marin. Towns and cities create their own regulations, although Fairfax has a permitted medicinal cannabis businesses operation.
The Marin County Community Development Agency will develop application submittal requirements.
A proposed application fee schedule will be brought before the board on Dec. 5. The board is scheduled to take final action to repeal a previous medicinal marijuana ordinance on the same day.
Staff expects the application process to open in January 2018.
Image via Shutterstock
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