Arcata’s New Cannabis Ordinance Takes Effect July 6

This is a press release from the City of Arcata:

Arcata, CA, June 15, 2018 – The City of Arcata has adopted new standards regarding adult-use cannabis retail sales and services, which will take effect on Friday, July 6.

At the Arcata City Council meeting held on June 6, 2018, the City Council voted unanimously to adopt City Ordinance No. 1501, which amended zoning regulations pertaining to cannabis retail sales and services. These zoning changes are a result of new state laws legalizing recreational adult-use cannabis and community input provided over the past year.

The new ordinance allows retail cannabis sales and services in commercial and light industrial districts including downtown and central Arcata, Northtown, Valley West, the industrial areas of South G Street, the Creamery District, West End Road/Aldergrove and the neighborhood commercial areas.

Businesses primarily conducting cannabis retail sales and services are now required to receive a Use Permit from the City’s Planning Commission. The permit process will allow the community to provide input on a cannabis business’s potential impacts to the public’s health, safety and welfare before the permit can be issued. In addition, all businesses, whether cannabis is the primary activity or a small part of the business, will be required to have a City Commercial Cannabis Activity Permit and California state license.

The ordinance limits the number of Use Permits to 15 businesses within the Arcata city limits. It also prohibits businesses on the Plaza that primarily focus on adult-use cannabis retail sales and services. In addition, no more than one cannabis retail and service-based business will be allowed to operate in each neighborhood commercial district including the Westwood, Sunny Brae, Greenview and Bayside districts.

The ordinance allows non-cannabis retail stores to have a small inventory of cannabis accessory products. Cannabis accessory sales are not limited to the 15-permit cap, and will be allowed in most commercial zones including the Plaza and Cannabis Innovation Zones.

All business selling cannabis products are required to apply for all state and city licenses, including those that provide retail sales of both medicinal and adult-use cannabis directly to consumers, and businesses providing a service to individuals that includes the use of cannabis products.

Cannabis consumers are limited in where they are able to use cannabis products since state law prohibits cannabis from being consumed or used in public, and the City of Arcata also prohibits smoking tobacco and cannabis products in places of employment. The new standards allow for on- and off-site cannabis consumption or use as allowed per California state law, but the new ordinance did not revise the City’s “places of employment” smoking prohibition.

The City of Arcata Community Development Department will begin accepting Use Permit and Commercial Cannabis Activity Permit applications for cannabis retail sales and service businesses on Friday, July 6, when the new standards take effect.

For more information, please call 707-825-2139.

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Alt Right For Life
Guest
Alt Right For Life
5 years ago

Open drug consumption will destroy what little remains of a decent future for children.

Dealing drugs will be looked back on as a period of great shame before the masses rise against the drug crazed liberal.

One way to look at this is we are giving the liberal all the rope it needs.

Very sad days for our country.

Hmmmmm!
Guest
Hmmmmm!
5 years ago

What about alcohol? Alcohol CAN be consumed in public. This cannNOT. Are you sane?
Let’s all go by your rules 🤪

THC
Guest
THC
5 years ago
Reply to  Hmmmmm!

It is actually a misdemeanor / or an infraction , it’s considered a wobbler to drink in public in California and if you consume enough alcohol to be over the legal limit, it is considered drunk in public which is an additional charge.

But then you say, that’s not true because I see people drinking in public all the time. Well when I drive through Garberville,Redway and Eureka I see people using illegal drugs all the time such as heroin and methamphetamine, I’ve also witness people defecating on the street. These are both also illegal yet they don’t seem to get arrested. Sitting in Cadillac Wok having lunch with my wife, we both witnessed a bum defecating on the steps of the church across the street next to the post office. I called the sheriff, Kenny at the time, to complain and he said what do you want me to do about it?

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.losangelescriminallawyersblog.com/amp/2010/09/will-a-california-drinking-in.html

http://chrisleelaw.com/open-container-laws-in-california-business-and-professions-code-25620/

http://qcode.us/codes/sunnyvale/view.php?topic=9-9_66-9_66_010

Dan
Guest
Dan
5 years ago
Reply to  THC

Relcome to Shitty Wok!

CA
Guest
CA
5 years ago

Seek help. Seriously.

Humloc
Guest
Humloc
5 years ago

You must be miserable living in Humboldt County, CA. There are many non-psychoactive beneficial medical uses for children & adults from this ancient plant. None of the businesses are allowed open consumption and individuals who go to these businesses are law-abiding, paying taxes and supporting the local economy… whether you like it or not. People dumping capital, following the rules to open a legal business & their patrons are the least of my concern. There are far too many man-made chemical drugs and other crimes that are more concerning than law abiding citizens. Many conservatives are invested, own and patronize this industry and a main factor why it is now being legalized.

THC
Guest
THC
5 years ago
Reply to  Humloc

Just because a drug has medical benefits doesn’t mean it’s use needs to be tolerated in public spaces. Methamphetamines, opiates and difference cocaine variances have all been and are still used for medicines. Personally I don’t think any drugs should be illegal, if you want to kill yourself by using drugs that’s your own choice. Just don’t expect me to pay for the damage you do or your medical costs. I do smoke pot, drink occasionally and have been known to take mushrooms but that’s about it. That doesn’t mean I think the rest of the people in this world should be subject to my drug use by having to witness it or deal with my Outburst because of it. What you do in privacy is one thing, forcing everybody else around you to endure it just because you want to is completely different.

Humloc
Guest
Humloc
5 years ago
Reply to  THC

Issues with the many pharmacies? Cognitive Dissonance THC.

Cannibisadrug
Guest
Cannibisadrug
5 years ago

But… but … cannibis is legal?

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago

Arcata now changes from metaphorically stinking to literally stinking. I suppose you can get used to anything. The generation after this will be fighting the same battle over pot that this one fought over tobacco. COPD anyone?

In my 1911 I trust
Guest
In my 1911 I trust
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Tobacco, the original gateway drug…

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago

Alcohol.

THC
Guest
THC
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Damn rotten fruit started it all..

Scooter
Guest
Scooter
5 years ago

Kind of off topic, but ten abatement notices posted last night in Whitethorn and Ettersburg.

Kym Kemp
Admin
5 years ago
Reply to  Scooter

If anyone who got one of these would contact me at [email protected], I would appreciate it.

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
5 years ago
Reply to  Scooter

Weren’t you just wishing for some abatement love for that neighborhood Scooter?

Please use your apparently great power wisely. 😉

ED Denson
Guest
ED Denson
5 years ago

Whoever got an abatement notice should do two things immediately: get all the cannabis off the property, and call an attorney. If you miss the 10 day period for response you’re entirely in the power of the Code Enforcement Unit and it’s going to cost you tens of thousands.

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
5 years ago
Reply to  ED Denson

Also, purchase lube. The county doesn’t bring any. BOHICA.

Listen up
Guest
Listen up
5 years ago
Reply to  ED Denson

Ed is exactly right, these fines are way worse than anything camp or commet would have imposed on you….. 10,000 a day and up… Adds up real quick, the county will sit back and let the bill add up before they eradicate…

Redwood dan
Guest
Redwood dan
5 years ago
Reply to  Listen up

A realtor told me one of her clients has had over $900,000 in fines.

T
Guest
T
5 years ago
Reply to  ED Denson

B.S., i got one last year in july, they gave no shits, still did deps and full sun, fines threatened but never imposed

Kym Kemp
Admin
5 years ago
Reply to  T

If you are interested in talking to me about this, my email is [email protected]

THC
Guest
THC
5 years ago
Reply to  T

Will you post a redacted picture of your abatement order? my neighbor got one a couple months ago and I can assure you the county is taking it very serious, he filing an appeal so it is locked up in court but they are still pursuing any and all fines they tried levying against him. The initial fine was $30,000 plus $10,000 a day until he came into compliance with all the code violation, including but not limited to runoff from illegal grading, unpermitted buildings, unpermitted water diversion any kind of public nuisance on the property Etc.

THC
Guest
THC
5 years ago

Yes, get a lawyer and immediately have them file an appeal, this will stop any fines from accruing and give you time to set things right.

Rooster
Guest
Rooster
5 years ago

Arcata fails again. The plaza has a dozen liquor permits and a homeless problem but a 21 and over shop with a requisite guard checking IDs is a bridge too far?

The council talked about concerns of retail rent going up but didn’t give a crap about dislocating no fewer than 20 west End/Aldergrove businesses when they made the artificial real estate bubble with the MIZ.

Typical Arcata.

T
Guest
T
5 years ago

Kicked out the growers when the industry was healthy with a huge pg&e tax that cost arcata a fortune to impose. Now begging them to pay to come back now that the industry is dead.
Oh Arcata! You fool!

Hmmmmm!
Guest
Hmmmmm!
5 years ago
Reply to  T

Except that this is about retail presence and retail sales. It’s not about growing cannabis. So it isn’t inviting anyone “back.”

That is, if I read it correctly.
Did you read it?

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  T

One fire after another was kind of expensive for the city too.

John
Guest
John
5 years ago

All of the above comments, all of the pointless polemic aside, cannabis is over-rated. And, despite all of the arguments about the beneficial effects, I suspect that it does little but make users stupid. Less people non-users have to compete against in the day-to-day evolutionary struggle.

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago

This Great Principle of higher law is recognized and witnessed in
Billing v. Hall, 7 Cal. 1, 6 (1857). “Section first of Article 1, of the
Constitution of California, declares that ‘all men are by nature
free and independent, and have certain inalienable rights,
amongst which are those of enjoying and defending life and
liberty, acquiring possession, protecting property, and pursuing
and obtaining safety and happiness.’ This principle is as old as
the Magna Charta. It lies at the foundation of every
constitutional government.”

“Get a lawyer” – aiding and abetting foreign jurisdiction on American soil.

Juniper Jim
Guest
Juniper Jim
5 years ago

they hope everyone will soon be too stoned to remember Josiah and the statue. hehehe

Me_too
Guest
Me_too
5 years ago

Does it really matter? Ever since legalizing marijuana people smoke, toke, vape everywhere they want. It was evident at oyster fest that people consider it their right to get high anywhere they want.