California has 58 counties and 482 incorporated cities across the state, each with the option to create its own rules or ban marijuana altogether. In this California Cannabis Countdown series, we cover who is banning cannabis, who is waiting to see what to do with cannabis, and who is embracing California’s change to legalize marijuana — permits, regulations, taxes and all. For each city and county, we’ll discuss its location, history with cannabis, current law, and proposed law, all to give you a clearer picture of where to locate your California cannabis business, how to keep it legal, and what you will and won’t be allowed to do.
Our last California Cannabis Countdown post was on Alameda County, and before that Oakland, San Francisco, Sonoma County, the City of Davis, the City of Santa Rosa, County and City of San Bernardino, Marin County, Nevada County, the City of Lynwood, the City of Coachella, Los Angeles County, the City of Los Angeles, the City of Desert Hot Springs, Sonoma County, the City of Sacramento, the City of Berkeley, Calaveras County, Monterey County and the City of Emeryville.
Today’s post is on the City of Hayward.
Welcome to the California Cannabis Countdown.
Location. Hayward is a city in Alameda County that borders the East Bay cities of San Leandro, Fremont, and Pleasanton. Though Hayward doesn’t have the worldwide recognition of San Francisco or Oakland, it is an affordable city near the water with a strong manufacturing base.
History with Cannabis and Current Cannabis Laws. Right now you might be asking yourself: Hayward? Sure Hayward at first might not seem like a jurisdiction in which to locate your California cannabis business, but in the other states in which we have cannabis lawyers (Oregon and Washington), we long ago learned that the most glamorous cities are not necessarily the most profitable ones.
Historically, Hayward’s stance towards cannabis probably aligns closer with U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions than with most Californians. Hayward’s unfriendly approach to cannabis — absolute prohibition through an exclusionary zoning ordinance — was even starker when compared to the other progressive cities in the East Bay (Oakland, Berkeley, and Emeryville). Hayward’s slow march towards progress began in November of 2016 when approximately 60 percent of Hayward voters supported Measure EE and 56 percent voted for the Adult Use of Marijuana (a/k/a Prop 64). Measure EE set up a tax structure allowing the city of Hayward to tax cannabis businesses up to fifteen percent of their gross sales. The Measure specified that the tax could apply to medical and adult-use cannabis businesses and cover seed to sale license types (cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, and retail). Let’s give credit when it’s due as Hayward’s city council took notice of their residents’ wishes and just recently proposed and voted on a new cannabis ordinance.
New Cannabis Laws: On September 14, 2017, the Planning Commission held a hearing to discuss regulations for cannabis business and on October 17, Hayward’s City Council introduced an ordinance amending their municipal code. The proposed ordinance removed Hayward from the dark ages of complete prohibition. On October 30th, the City Council approved a final version of their cannabis ordinance. Here’s a list of the some of the highlights (and some lowlights) of Hayward’s cannabis ordinance:
- Allows medicinal and adult-use commercial cannabis businesses.
- Will permit seed to sale license types, including laboratories. Commercial cannabis cultivation operations under 5,000 square feet will only need an administrative use permit, bigger operators will need to obtain a conditional use permit.
- Outdoor commercial cannabis cultivation is prohibited.
- Volatile manufacturing is prohibited.
- Caps the number of retail dispensaries to no more than three.
- Onsite consumption is prohibited although an exception could be granted for qualified medical patients.
- Temporary special events that involve onsite cannabis sales and consumption may be allowed if the applicant receives a special event permit.
- Multiple cannabis businesses can be permitted per site so long as the businesses are located on separate and distinct premises.
- Creates an ancillary option for retail sales. The retail sale of cannabis and cannabis products is allowed only as a component of a microbusiness operation. The operator must hold a microbusiness (Type 12) license issued by the state Bureau of Cannabis Control. The cumulative floor area of the retail activity shall not exceed 10 percent of the first-floor area of the industrial building and all cannabis and cannabis products for sale must have been cultivated, produced and manufactured on-site.
- All individuals that participate in the production of edible cannabis products must be state certified food handlers.
- Security cameras will have to allow for remote access to be provided to the Hayward Police Department.
- All cannabis businesses shall be subject to a 600-foot minimum setback from schools, day care centers, youth centers, and open space areas or designated parks used towards children’s activities. The setback for public parks and open spaces may be reduced by the Planning Commission.
- Applications for a cannabis business permit will be evaluated by the City Manager.
As a whole, this is a pretty substantial first step by Hayward to regulate the cannabis industry. Sure, we’d prefer if there weren’t a cap on dispensaries but the city is showing some creativity by creating an ancillary sales option. This modified microbusiness model could be an attractive option for many California cannabis business owners. We’ll still have to wait to see how Hayward implements this ordinance, but it’s safe to say that you won’t find Hayward on this list anytime soon. Well done Hayward, well done.
source https://www.cannalawblog.com/california-cannabis-countdown-the-city-of-hayward/
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