With the November 8, 2016, passage of Proposition 64, California voters legalized the adult-use of marijuana (also referred to as cannabis) under state law and directed state agencies to develop a regulatory and licensing program for commercial cannabis activities. Local governments have the authority to further regulate these commercial cannabis activities (both medicinal and adult-use) within their jurisdictions. Pursuant to initial City Council direction, the City of Half Moon Bay is studying options for regulating and licensing limited commercial cannabis businesses at a few sites within the City. This web page will provide the community with information about upcoming and previous meetings and opportunities for input, City Council direction and actions, and other news and materials.
Latest Update:
At the City Council meeting of November 21, 2017, staff presented an update on the development of the ordinance, along with a timeline for implementing and incorporating the research and outreach requested at the September 13, 2017 meeting. Following extensive public comment and deliberation by the Council, staff was directed to move forward with additional research, including a tax analysis, white paper study on the impacts of commercial cannabis operations, and a community survey. Following this additional information, the City plans to create ballot measures to allow voters to decide on which commercial cannabis activities, if any, they would allow in the City. A tax measure would also be created to create a potential revenue stream from any authorized commercial activities. These ballot and tax measures would be included in either the June or November 2018 elections. The Council also directed staff to prepare a draft ordinance that would only allow the cultivation of nursery starts, as a potential option for limited entry into commercial cannabis activities.
Please visit the City's Information on Cannabis Regulation web page for an overview of the issue’s background, and information on Half Moon Bay’s meetings and actions on the potential local regulations and licensing related to adult use and medicinal cannabis businesses within the City.