San Rafael, CA – Fees for medicinal cannabis retailer business applications and licenses are going before the Marin County Board of Supervisors for consideration on February 13.
Once medicinal cannabis businesses are open in the unincorporated parts of Marin, they will be limited to delivery-only distribution of their products.The Supervisors unanimously approved the Medicinal Cannabis Delivery-Only Retailer (MCDORe, or “McDory”) licensing ordinance in November 2017, and establishment of fees is the next step. The ordinance establishes a regulatory framework and local delivery options for patients to safely access medicinal cannabis consistent with a state law approved in June 2017. Later in February, the Marin County Community Development Agency (CDA) plans to announce the opening of the application period.
The proposed fee structure serves two key purposes, said CDA Assistant Director Tom Lai. “It balances the dual goals of removing barriers to entry for potential businesses while making sure that the taxpayers are not responsible for subsidizing the costs incurred by the County in selecting the best-qualified operators and sites for the medicinal cannabis delivery businesses”.
CDA proposes a fee of $3,000 for the applicant review phase. Qualified applicants selected at that phase would move on the site review phase, with a proposed fee of $7,000.
Applicants awarded a license would pay an annual license fee, which is proposed at $7,000. The annual fee would cover the costs of monitoring compliance of the business. Since CDA is just starting the program, the actual staff costs of monitoring and managing the program are an estimate, so the license fee is presented as a deposit. If monitoring of a business turns out to cost less, the balance of funding could roll over to the next year.
The ordinance requires a retailer to be closed to the public and dispense medicinal cannabis exclusively by delivery. Retailers will have to be located at least 600 feet from schools, day-care centers, youth centers and playgrounds. Locations could be within industrial-zoned and office properties in addition to commercially zoned districts.
The MCDORe ordinance, only affects medicinal cannabis regulations in the unincorporated areas of Marin; towns and cities create regulations in their own jurisdictions.
Learn more at www.marincounty.org/cannabis. The public is encouraged to register for emailed updates about medicinal cannabis through its e-subscription service.