San Rafael, CA – Four businesses have until May 7 to turn in site review applications as they look for County of Marin approval to open delivery-only medicinal cannabis operations in the unincorporated parts of the county.
The Board of Supervisors may approve up to four delivery-only medicinal cannabis retailers in the unincorporated parts of the county. The Marin County Board of Supervisors approved the
Medicinal Cannabis Delivery-Only Retailer (MCDORe, or “McDory”) licensing ordinance in November 2017 and followed in February 2018 with a County fee schedule for applicants. Businesses turned in applications for the first phase of review in spring and early summer 2018, and several fell short of the requirements. A lottery took place on January 7, 2019, and four businesses are moving to the Site Review application round. They are, in alphabetical order:
- Marin-based Buttercup and Spring, doing business as Ona.life
- Marin-based Elite Herbs, Inc., doing business as E-leaf
- Marin-based Express2You, Inc., doing business as Canna-fly
- Arizona-based Mohave Distribution
The Board may approve up to four retailers.
The Site Review application will pinpoint proposed locations for the delivery-only businesses. The County ordinance prohibits such businesses from being closer than 600 feet to a school, daycare center, youth center or playground. To qualify for consideration, a proposed site must be within an area zoned for commercial, office or industrial uses. Signage outside the businesses will be strictly limited.
“Although the deadline is May 7 for the Site Review applications to be submitted, we could move forward earlier if they are all submitted earlier,” said Inge Lundegaard, the cannabis program manager for the Marin County Community Development Agency (CDA). “The Board of Supervisors would like to agendize this as soon as we’re ready.”
Lundegaard estimated that CDA staff would need about six weeks to review the proposals and handle the required public noticing for a public meeting.
The MCDORe ordinance requires retailers to be closed to the public and dispense medicinal cannabis exclusively by delivery.
Applicants were subject to a $3,000 fee for the initial review phase, and the four qualified applicants pay an additional $7,000 fee. The fee structure assures that taxpayers are not responsible for subsidizing County costs in selecting the best-qualified operators and sites for the businesses. Applicants awarded a license would pay an annual license deposit of $7,000 that would cover the costs of monitoring compliance of the business.
The County will not assess a local tax for medicinal cannabis retailers at this time, although retailers are required to collect state sales and excise taxes for medicinal cannabis sales in unincorporated Marin.
All other medicinal cannabis commercial activities are prohibited in unincorporated Marin. Towns and cities create regulations in their own jurisdictions.
Although cannabis is considered an illegal drug by the federal government, state legislation ensures that Californians have the right to obtain and use cannabis for medical purposes upon receiving a recommendation from a physician. The MCDORe ordinance is consistent with state cannabis laws and regulations.
Learn more at www.marincounty.org/cannabis. The public is encouraged to register for emailed updates about medicinal cannabis through its e-subscription service.