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Oct. 1, 2019, update on the permitting of marijuana/cannabis facilities.
The City of San Diego has adopted local laws authorizing marijuana/cannabis businesses within the City limits.
As mandated by the passage of The Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act (Prop 64) on Nov. 8, 2016, San Diego Municipal Code regulations and ordinances now outline the City’s definition and requirements for marijuana/cannabis businesses, including Marijuana Outlets, Marijuana Production Facilities and testing facilities.
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These facilities include operations involving:
Restrictions
Permit Process
A Conditional Use Permit is required in accordance with a Process Three decision by the Hearing Officer. The Hearing Officer’s decision is appealable to the Planning Commission. For more details, including a summary of the MPF permitting process, and links to helpful information, refer to Information Bulletin 171.
Pending Applications
The List of Pending MPF Applications list includes MPF Conditional Use Permit applications that have been deemed complete and are currently in review as of the first business day of the month. For more detailed information, search for the status of each project.
Permitted Locations
This map identifies the addresses of Marijuana Production Facilities with approved Conditional Use Permits as of the first business day of the month.
(Previously known as Medical Marijuana Consumer Cooperatives)
Marijuana Outlets are establishments (retail, medicinal or combination) operating with a Conditional Use Permit where marijuana, marijuana products and marijuana accessories are sold to the public.
Restrictions
Permit Process
A Conditional Use Permit (CUP) is required in accordance with a Process Three decision by the Hearing Officer. The Hearing Officer’s decision is appealable to the Planning Commission. For more details, including a summary of the Marijuana Outlet permitting process, and links to helpful information, refer to Information Bulletin 170.
Pending Applications
The List of Pending Marijuana Outlet applications by Council District (previously MMCCs) includes Marijuana Outlet Conditional Use Permit applications that have been deemed complete and are currently in review as of the first business day of the month. For more detailed information, search for the status of each project.
Permitted Locations
This map identifies the addresses of Marijuana Outlets (previously MMCCs) with approved Conditional Use Permits as of the first business day of the month.
MMCCs are facilities that sell medical marijuana to qualified patients or primary caregivers. These were the first facilities allowed to sell only medical marijuana within the City. This use has been replaced with the marijuana outlet use.
The 15 previously approved MMCCs are allowed to operate as marijuana outlets for the remaining term of the CUP without need for amendment pursuant to Ordinance No. O-20793 and would allow the sale of retail marijuana upon obtaining the required State license.
Testing for scientific research (including cannabis testing) that leads to the development of new product and processes is allowed as an Industrial Use. Testing Labs are permitted in limited commercial and industrial zones. Because these types of uses are allowed by right in specified zones and do not require the issuance of a development permit, these applications are not specifically tracked.
March 25, 2014 - The City adopts Ordinance No. O-20356, which implements zoning regulations for MMCCs.
November 8, 2016 - San Diego voters pass Measure N, Non-Medical Cannabis Tax, which imposed a gross receipts tax on non-medical cannabis businesses that operate or provide services within the City. The tax applies to non-medical cannabis business activities, including but not limited to transporting, manufacturing, cultivating, packaging or retail sales. Businesses are initially taxed at a rate of 5 percent of monthly gross receipts and will increase to 8 percent on July 1, 2019. This increase cannot exceed 15 percent of gross receipts. Learn more at the Cannabis Business Tax web page.
November 9, 2016 - Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act becomes law and allows for recreational cannabis sales in California by January 2018.
February 22, 2017 - The City adopts Ordinance No. O-20793, which replaces the MMCC use with a new retail sales use category, Marijuana Outlet. It became effective in areas of the City of San Diego outside of the Coastal Overlay Zone on April 12, 2017 and within the Coastal Overlay Zone on Oct. 12, 2017.
September 11, 2017 - Ordinance No. O-20859 is introduced, to regulate the marijuana industry relative to commercial cultivation, manufacturing, storage and distribution of medical and recreational marijuana and marijuana products, and to allow by right marijuana testing labs. It became effective on November 17, 2017 in areas of the City of San Diego outside of the Coastal Overlay Zone, and on February 8, 2018 in areas located within the Coastal Overlay Zone.
Marijuana Production Facilities with an approved Zoning Use Certificate and a Business Tax Certificate issued before January 31, 2017 are allowed to operate until October 17, 2019.
Ordinance No. O-20793 - Related to Marijuana Outlets Ordinance No. O-20858 - Related to MPFs and the distribution and transport of marijuana and marijuana products Ordinance No. O-20859 - Related to testing and MPFs
