TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file a report on the cannabis non-storefront retail (delivery) and storefront retail (dispensary) feasibility analyses;
Direct City Attorney to prepare an ordinance to allow cannabis delivery and equity dispensary facilities in Long Beach; and
Increase appropriations in the General Fund Group in the City Manager Department by $325,000, offset by an increase in cannabis business license taxes, for software development to support the Cannabis Social Equity Program, and stakeholder engagement services and direct technical assistance funding for the equity dispensary licensing program. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On July 7, 2020, the City Council requested staff to explore ways to strengthen the Cannabis Social Equity Program (Equity Program) to expand equitable business ownership opportunities in Long Beach. In response to this request, on August 5, 2020, staff released a memorandum to the City Council identifying policy options for the City Council to consider for improving cannabis ownership opportunities locally (Attachment A). These policy options included licensing and regulating shared-use manufacturing, non-storefront retail (delivery), and additional storefront retail (dispensary) businesses, and prioritizing or making them exclusive to verified equity applicants in the Equity Program.
On July 31, 2020, staff released the feasibility analysis on shared-use cannabis manufacturing to the City Council (Attachment B). On January 5, 2021, the City Council directed the City Attorney to prepare an Ordinance to allow shared-use cannabis manufacturing in Long Beach and directed staff to prepare a feasibility analysis on licensing and regulating cannabis non-storefront retail (delivery) facilities in Long Beach. As part of its motion, the City Council requested staff explore reserving Phase 1 of cannabis delivery licenses to equity applicants and explore the feasibility of a cap on delivery licenses. On March 16, 2021, the City ...
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