San Diego MMJ dispensaries could sell rec cannabis under proposal

Don’t miss our MJBiz LinkedIn Live covering “Women Leaders in Cannabis: Shattering the Grass Ceiling” on Wednesday, March 27, at 2 p.m. ET. Visit LinkedIn to register!


Following last month’s passage of Proposition 64, San Diego has proposed allowing the city’s 15 medical marijuana dispensaries to sell recreational cannabis once it becomes legal in California in January 2018.

The city is the only one in San Diego County that has signaled it intends to permit adult-use sales, the San Diego Union Tribune reported.

San Diego officials issued their proposal last week. It came about after dispensary owners urged the city to allow them the first crack at recreational licenses. The city’s planning commission is set to discuss the proposal Thursday.

Currently, eight of the 15 dispensaries are up and running. The rest are working through different stages in the permit process.

San Diego’s zoning and security regulations for dispensaries are stringent, with rules against opening and operating in certain proximity to schools, churches, parks, housing and other sensitive areas. They also spell out security and safety requirements. The city has cracked down on illegal dispensaries recently.

The proposal would loosen some of the more strict provisions in the regulations – including what is defined as a park – but would tighten restrictions on signage and deliveries.