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Latest Update: November 28, 2018

Of the five measures on the November 6, 2018, ballot related to cannabis business, the “nursery” ordinance (allowing growing of only cannabis “starts,” or seedlings), and the cannabis tax measure passed. The measures on commercial cultivation, retail sales, and manufacturing of cannabis products (which were all advisory measures) did not pass. 

Both the tax ordinance and the nursery ordinance are now in effect. The City is exploring the best approach to enforce the ordinances, and is working on the licensing application materials.

Cannabis "White Paper"
At the City Council’s direction, earlier in 2018 Half Moon Bay commissioned a "white paper" study on the impacts observed and experienced by other jurisdictions that had previously allowed commercial cannabis operations within their jurisdictions, including case studies of several such cities and counties. The City selected the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) to assist in this effort. 

The completed study, “Local Impacts of Commercial Cannabis,” includes: 

• Research on a range of areas of impact including Economic Development, Public Safety, Public Health, and the Environment
• Recommendations to local government agencies which are considering regulating commercial cannabis operations. 
• Nine case studies from cities and counties in California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska, which illustrate the impacts observed in these areas where cannabis has already been legalized.

Last year the City also hired the firm Hinderliter, de Llamas and Associates (HdL) to complete a fiscal analysis of the commercial cannabis industry and tax revenue projections specifically for Half Moon Bay. This document was presented to the City Council at their June 19, 2019 meeting.

Community members are encouraged to review the “Local Impacts of Commercial Cannabis" study by ICMA, an associated "snapshot document," and the HdL Fiscal Analysis. Please contact Matthew Chidester, Deputy City Manager, with any questions about these documents.