Title
Ad hoc Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee, in coordination with the Chief Administrative Office, recommending the Board receive and file a presentation from HdL companies. A similar presentation was provided to the ad hoc Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee on September 19, 2016, focusing on revenue and enforcement options regarding medical marijuana. (Est. Time: 1.5 Hr.)
FUNDING: N/A
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DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
Ad hoc Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee, in coordination with the Chief Administrative Office, recommending the Board receive and file a presentation from HdL companies. A similar presentation was provided to the ad hoc Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee on September 19, 2016, focusing on revenue and enforcement options regarding medical marijuana.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On September 19, 2016, the HdL companies provided a presentation to the El Dorado County ad hoc Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee, which has periodic meetings open to the public regarding marijuana policy in El Dorado County. The presentation provided the group with revenue and enforcement options around the State of California. The presentation provided more context on the issue for the attendees and was recommended for the full Board of Supervisors. (Only two members of the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors are on the ad hoc Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee.)
Background Information on the Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee
The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors created the ad hoc advisory committee at its March 15th, 2016 special meeting regarding medical marijuana. During the special meeting, the Board of Supervisors were provided an overview on the current medical marijuana laws and reports from County departments, stakeholder groups, and the public on how medical marijuana policy decisions could affect them. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Board of Supervisors created the ad hoc Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee to collect more information on different medical marijuana topics (e.g. cultivation, dispensaries, compliance, etc.).
The County did not conduct meetings regarding medical marijuana in 2015 due to the major statutory overhauls undertaken by the State of California that resulted in the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act (MMRSA), signed in October 2015 and amended in February 2016. The County decided to wait before pursuing updated medical marijuana ordinances to ensure that any updates were consistent with the new State laws and regulations.
To date, the Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee has met on seven occasions: May 2, 2016 on the structure of the future meetings, June 20, 2016 on cultivation, June 27, 2016 on niche medical marijuana businesses (e.g. dispensaries, nurseries, etc.), August 22, 2016 on compliance procedures regarding medical marijuana rules, September 19, 2016 on taxation and fees for medical marijuana, December 12, 2016 on the reasons for moving forward to study conceptual changes to code compliance procedures in regards to medical marijuana, and March 27 , 2017 on what is allowed and not allowed under Proposition 64 and for what decision points local governments are responsible.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board can decide not to recevie and file the presentation that was provided to the ad hoc Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee on September 19, 2016. However, doing so would not allow the full Board of Supervisors to hear the information provided to the ad hoc Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Sheriff’s Office; District Attorney; County Counsel; Community Development Agency; Agriculture, Weights and Measures; Treasurer-Tax Collector; and Air Quality Management District.
CAO RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
N/A
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Public Safety
Healthy Communities
Good Governance
CONTACT
Creighton Avila, Principal Administrative Analyst