Fullerton Developing Cannabis Regulatory Process
After almost four years since the legalization of recreational cannabis in California, two-thirds of California municipalities ban cannabis facilities within their borders. To date, only 172 of California’s 482 municipalities and 26 of 58 counties allow any form of legal commercial cannabis activity within their borders. Of the municipalities that license commercial cannabis businesses, many of them set up selective regulatory structures to ensure they license only the best-in-class cannabis operators. Due to the resulting legal patchwork across California’s municipalities, Global Go presents this local jurisdiction series to simplify the complicated and take a deeper look at how emerging jurisdictions are structuring their rules for cannabis operations. Today, we take a look at Fullerton.
The City of Fullerton has banned all cannabis-related uses including dispensaries (medical or recreational), manufacturing, testing, delivery, and cultivation, since December 2017. More recently, the City has been developing a plan to create a regulatory process for cannabis business activities in the city. Although the City is in the early planning stages, cannabis activities will likely be restricted to industrial zones only and require a 1,000 foot buffer from state-mandated sensitive uses and residential zones.
According to the City of Fullerton’s analysis of the illicit cannabis market in California, Orange County has a cannabis business license shortage of 122, which means the local city bans on cannabis businesses have created a gap in supply to meet the residents’ growing demand for cannabis businesses. With safe, licensed cannabis businesses in neighboring cities, Fullerton has lost significant potential tax revenue to these cities by banning legal, cannabis businesses. The lack of a thriving legal, cannabis business industry has also created an environment for illicit cannabis businesses to continue to thrive, draining tax dollars in law enforcement and criminal justice. A regulatory framework to license and regulate cannabis businesses will increase tax revenue, bring job opportunities, revitalize the local economy, and reduce criminal activity.
This Thursday, May 14, 2020, the City will host a virtual panel discussion regarding cannabis activity, with an emphasis on public safety and community and economic development. Panelists will also be available to answer pre-submitted questions, so we encourage getting those questions in soon.
Although license applications are not yet open, we can help clients take early steps to prepare for a successful application by identifying real estate (in compliance with the city’s zoning restrictions), drafting a business plan, and creating compliant standard operating procedures. We have a 99% success rate in license applications across 16 states and know exactly what municipalities are looking for when selecting cannabis businesses for their cities.
If you plan on opening a cannabis business in Fullerton, learn more about Global Go’s world-class consulting services below and get in touch to start working on your Fullerton cannabis business today!
Simone Sandoval
Partner / Director of Licensing and Compliance
Simone focuses on cannabis licensing and compliance and has extensive experience in understanding and deciphering complex cannabis regulations. Prior to entering the cannabis industry, Simone worked in Washington, D.C. as an intern for Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36). During her time on the Hill, she worked on legislation, and researched policy on renewable energy, healthcare, and tribal relations.
About Global Go
Global Go provides sophisticated consulting services to the global cannabis and hemp industry. In tandem with strategic allies around the world, Global Go serves clients throughout the world from offices in Bogota, Chicago, Desert Hot Springs, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Mexico City, New York, Silicon Valley, and Toronto. Powered by a team of cannabis industry pioneers and world-class consultants, Global Go helps leading cannabis funds and companies assess and enter new markets; acquire assets; raise capital; launch new product lines; improve SOPs; comply with regulations; implement technology and security systems; find talent; diagnose and execute solutions to growth obstacles; and apply for cannabis licenses (with a 99% success rate on over 150 cannabis license applications across the United States). Learn more at https://globalgo.consulting.