The Oakland, California City Council has unanimously approved temporary regulations for recreational cannabis industry operations in the city, positioning the city to allow adult-use sales when the new law takes effect Jan. 1, East Bay Times reports. The amendments were authored by Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan who said they were necessary to meet the state deadline and ensure permits don’t get stalled in “cross-departmental delays.”
“Our city has successfully provided permitted medical cannabis dispensaries for over a decade — leading the nation in this effort,” Kaplan said in the report, noting that Oakland voters “overwhelmingly” supported Prop 64. “Now, as adult use cannabis sales are about to become legal in California, Oakland has built on this work by providing for adult use sales, in compliance with state and local laws.”
The approvals will allow businesses to qualify for both state and local permits – required to operate in the industry.
According to a San Francisco Chronicle report last week, Oakland has received 255 applications from potential cultivators, retailers, distributors, and transporters; 78 of which for indoor cultivation businesses, and 55 for delivery operations. So far, none of those applications have been approved but officials expect to approve a handful in time for the Jan. 1 rollout.