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Recommendation to receive and file a report on the Cannabis Equity Program; direct City Attorney to prepare an ordinance to allow shared-use cannabis manufacturing in Long Beach; and, direct staff from the City Manager Department to prepare a feasibility analysis on licensing and regulating non-storefront (delivery-only) cannabis retail facilities in Long Beach. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On July 7, 2020, the City Council requested staff to explore ways to further strengthen the cannabis equity program to expand equitable business ownership opportunities in the City of Long Beach (City). In response to this request, on August 5, 2020, staff released a memorandum to the City Council, which identified policy options for the City Council to consider for improving cannabis ownership opportunities locally (Attachment A).
On December 1, 2020, the Economic Development and Finance (ED&F) Committee received a presentation from staff regarding the cannabis equity program. Following this presentation, the ED&F Committee referred the following recommendations to the City Council:
1. Direct the City Manager to work with the City Attorney to prepare an Ordinance to allow shared-use manufacturing in the City of Long Beach; and,
2. Direct the City Manager to prepare a feasibility analysis for the licensing and regulating of non-storefront (delivery-only) cannabis retail facilities in the City of Long Beach.
The ED&F Committee also requested staff to return to the committee for future discussion on the possibility of creating additional adult-use cannabis storefront retail licenses in Long Beach for equity applicants. City Council action on adult-use cannabis storefront retail is not recommended at this time, pending further consideration by the ED&F Committee.
Additional information on the ED&F Committee recommendations regarding shared-use manufacturing and non-storefront (delivery-only) cannabis retail is provided in Attachment A to this letter.
In addition, staff r...
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