CLEARLAKE >> With 2018 creeping closer, Clearlake city staff are still looking for direction on how they should develop the Commercial Cannabis Ordinance.
The city has been approached by various entities to start up cannabis related businesses City Manager Greg Folsom said. This gives the city some potential to create revenue through legal cultivation and sales.
“There have been a lot changes in the laws recently and there are some things coming up in 2018 with regards to the state and cannabis licenses and we are trying to get ahead of the curb on that and discuss certain commercial aspects,” Folsom said.
Before moving forward, Folsom said he wanted to make sure an ordinance is what the city would want to incorporate and to work with the Marijuana Ad Hoc Committee on building it.
“The Marijuana Ad Hoc Committee has met several times to discuss potential ordinances and they are generally in favor of allowing Commercial Cannabis businesses,” Folsom said.
Currently, the city allows up to three retail dispensaries. They have also been approached by people who do not want to open a storefront, but rather would deliver the product to places out of Clearlake.
Folsom said there are various levels of businesses that could be considered incorporating in the development of the ordinance.
Clearlake Mayor Russel Perdock, who is also part of the Marijuana Ad Hoc Committee, said what they have focused on is the upcoming proposition, legislation that has been passed and how does the city fit into the laws.
“I think we have a very qualified and good group and I look forward to meeting on this issue more,” Perdock said. “We also want to be restrictive and make sure the face of our city hasn’t changed despite allowing everything,”
He added that putting in place an ordinance and allowing the various businesses to come in is not just about the tax revenue, but making sure there is smart growth in the city.
City Council member Nick Bennett said he remembers when he was an officer arresting people for having marijuana seeds on the floor bed of their car.
“I don’t like marijuana, I don’t like it at all and I think it’s a dumbing down of our nation and society. However, the reality is it’s legal now in the state of California and probably will be in our country. It is in other states, and we have to be realistic about it,” Bennett said.
If the city is going to implement an ordinance and regulate commercial use of marijuana, Bennett said he needs it to be done correctly. This is to protect and benefit the community and follow the Strategic Plan that is in place.
“One of the city’s strategic goals within its Strategic Plan is to ensure fiscal sustainability and, it’s (the marijuana industry) not a gold mine, but it is a resource of funds to our city. So I think our Ad Hoc committee needs to be very conscious that our community needs to be number one,” Bennett said.
Previously, Bennett had denied an ordinance for marijuana because he felt it put the city in danger and did not benefit them but if this ordinance goes through and helps protect the community he might have a change of tune.
With the direction from the council to move forward with drafting an ordinance before the next year, the Clearlake city staff will draft one to be heard by the Planning Commission in the future.
