Pacific Grove mulls hiring cannabis consultant for first dispensary

The city of Pacific Grove is considering hiring a cannabis consultant to help the city select and launch its first cannabis dispensary. “It’s been a long, long road and council’s following through on the will of the voters,” said Pacific Grove Mayor Bill Peak.Two years after Pacific Grove voters said OK to cannabis sales, the city is now closer than ever to opening its first dispensary. Tuesday night, the council was scheduled to consider giving the city manager the green light to hire a cannabis consultant.“We want, obviously, a well-qualified, good retailer to have this license and that’s the key objective,” said Peak.According to a city ordinance approved by the council last December, any dispensary must be 1,000 feet from youth centers, schools and day cares. The city has designated Forest and Central avenues as locations for a dispensary.However, the application and selection process can be complicated and beyond staff expertise, which is the reason behind seeking an outside consultant.“We’ll do it right and, and protect the population and make it as safe (as possible), and so only responsible people are able to purchase cannabis,” Peak said.At the moment, Pacific Grove is looking at only one dispensary. With the hiring of a consultant, the hope is applications could be accepted beginning early next year.“They want to be able to shop local shop, PG of course, I can totally agree with that and also reap the sales tax benefits, and of course, that’s open to our tourists as well as residents from neighboring towns on the peninsula,” Peak said.According to the ballot measure passed by Pacific Grove voters in 2023, the tax on cannabis sales would be at a rate of 6% of gross receipts. However, even the mayor questions how many potential operators might be filing applications for one cannabis license.“Well, that is yet to be seen; that’ll be down the road and know that the industry is falling on difficult times lately with the collapse of cannabis prices, but we’re taking the step the voters wanted us to take,” Peak said.

PACIFIC GROVE, Calif. —

The city of Pacific Grove is considering hiring a cannabis consultant to help the city select and launch its first cannabis dispensary.

“It’s been a long, long road and council’s following through on the will of the voters,” said Pacific Grove Mayor Bill Peak.

Two years after Pacific Grove voters said OK to cannabis sales, the city is now closer than ever to opening its first dispensary. Tuesday night, the council was scheduled to consider giving the city manager the green light to hire a cannabis consultant.

“We want, obviously, a well-qualified, good retailer to have this license and that’s the key objective,” said Peak.

According to a city ordinance approved by the council last December, any dispensary must be 1,000 feet from youth centers, schools and day cares. The city has designated Forest and Central avenues as locations for a dispensary.

However, the application and selection process can be complicated and beyond staff expertise, which is the reason behind seeking an outside consultant.

“We’ll do it right and, and protect the population and make it as safe (as possible), and so only responsible people are able to purchase cannabis,” Peak said.

At the moment, Pacific Grove is looking at only one dispensary. With the hiring of a consultant, the hope is applications could be accepted beginning early next year.

“They want to be able to shop local shop, PG of course, I can totally agree with that and also reap the sales tax benefits, and of course, that’s open to our tourists as well as residents from neighboring towns on the peninsula,” Peak said.

According to the ballot measure passed by Pacific Grove voters in 2023, the tax on cannabis sales would be at a rate of 6% of gross receipts. However, even the mayor questions how many potential operators might be filing applications for one cannabis license.

“Well, that is yet to be seen; that’ll be down the road and know that the industry is falling on difficult times lately with the collapse of cannabis prices, but we’re taking the step the voters wanted us to take,” Peak said.

No Byline Policy

Editorial Guidelines

Corrections Policy

Source