Santa Barbara, Merced, Thousand Oaks, Benicia and the California State Licensing Board Weekly Update

With 2018 comes an abundance of opportunity as new cities and counties are allowing for additional cannabis licenses. Acting in a swift, vigilant but detailed manner is essential to securing your desired cannabis license. Here are several cities with pending and quickly approaching application deadlines.

• Santa Barbara, California has begun accepting applications February 1, 2018 and will continue through March 30, 2018 for the competitive evaluation process for commercial cannabis businesses. On January 23, 2018, the City Council established a maximum of three (3) Retailer-Storefront Commercial Cannabis Businesses to be allowed within the City at any given time. Applications for Retailer-Storefront Commercial Cannabis Businesses will be scored and ranked after evaluation. Although the application process is for retail sales (including delivery only), manufacturing, distribution, indoor cultivation, and testing, use Category code 45300 – Miscellaneous Store Retail when registering for any CCB permit type. Submit your bids and find all application associated information at the link.
• Merced, California announces the initial application period for commercial cannabis business permits begin Monday, March 5, 2018 through Monday, March 26, 2018. The initial application period is for both Merit-based (dispensaries/retail sales) and Non-Merit-based (all other cannabis businesses). Download all applications here.
• Thousand Oaks, California will be accepting applications to operate a commercial cannabis business from February 13 to March 8, 2018 at 4 p.m.  Proposals received after 4 p.m. on March 8, 2018 will not be considered. To obtain an application packet, you must register by sending an email to cannabis@toaks.org and providing a contact name, phone number, email address, and business name (if applicable). Click to download all additional applications and find further information.  
• Benecia, California held a meeting on February 6, 2018. They are introducing ordinances that could potentially allow for commercial cultivation, laboratories and testing, manufacturing, distribution, delivery, microbusiness and retail. The next meeting will be held February 20. We will continue to update you on the city of Benicia’s progress.
• The California State Water Board has new requirements for commercial and personal medical use cannabis cultivation with the goal of reducing the impact of water waste. State Water Board cannabis cultivation regulatory programs are now in effect and cannabis cultivators should apply online for the necessary permits. Please read below if you cultivate cannabis, or divert surface water to irrigate your cannabis cultivation.
  • The Cannabis Cultivation Policy includes requirements to reduce the impact from waste discharge and water diversions associated with cannabis cultivation.
  • Cannabis cultivators must obtain coverage or a waiver under one or both State Water Board cannabis cultivation regulatory programs.
  • The Cannabis Small Irrigation Use Registration Program is an expedited way to obtain a water right for cannabis cultivation. Many cultivators still need to obtain Small Irrigation Use Registration by April 1, 2018 and some cultivators that have initial water right forms to the State Water Board, still need to file for a Small Irrigation Use Registration. Consult California Cannabis CPAs to walk you through the State Water Board’s regulations and registration program.

We will continue to update you on various city and county license application openings on a weekly basis. We’ve guided many of our clients through the arduous paperwork and licensing process, and we are happy to do the same for you. Contact California Cannabis CPA today to ask how we can help your business.
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