10-09-2024 Workshop Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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products. However, the city may restrict the hours of operation and prohibit businesses from being within 1,000 feet of a school or 500 feet from any attraction regularly used by minors, such as a park. 4. Expedited complaint process for local governments. The expedited complaint process requires OCM to provide an initial response to a local government complaint within 7 days and perform necessary inspections within 30 days. However, nothing in the statute prohibits the city from enforcing a local ordinance. GENERAL SUMMARY OF ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS IN THE 2024 CANNABIS LAWS: 1. Social Equity Applicants. The point scoring process for reviewing social equity applications and assigning priority has been abolished and replaced with a minimum qualifications standard. A lottery system has been established in the event there are more bona fide applicants than the maximum allowable licenses. 2. Preapproval license. The 2024 Cannabis Laws created a preapproval program for social equity applicants which only allows them to apply for and obtain a “license preapproval.” A license preapproval will convert to a license once those licenses are available. This preapproval does not allow them to open or operate a cannabis business early, instead it allows the applicant to demonstrate to others (lenders, landlords, etc.) that OCM has determined the applicant qualifies as a social equity applicant AND qualifies to hold a license. The preapproval application deadline was August 12 and 1,817 applications were received. Applicants who meet all requirements will advance to a lottery that will be scheduled once all applications have been vetted. Applicants selected through the lottery and who complete final required steps will be awarded license pre-approval and be able to finalize business operations in anticipation of market launch after the adoption of rules in early 2025. OCM has a maximum number of social equity licenses it may issue before July 1, 2026 (see below). Going forward, at a minimum the licenses must be equal between social equity applicants and all other applicants. License Type Max # of preapprovals that can be issued Number of preapproval applications received Cannabis Cultivator Licenses 13 57 Cannabis Manufacturer License 6 45 Cannabis Retailer Licenses 38 578 Cannabis Mezzobusiness Licenses 25 372 Cannabis Microbusiness Licenses 100 586 Cannabis Wholesaler Licenses 20 9 Cannabis Transporter Licenses 20 11 Cannabis Testing Facility Licenses 50 5 Cannabis Delivery Service Licenses 10 154 3. Cannabis Cultivator Early License. The 2024 Cannabis Laws technically allows social equity applicants with a preapproval for a cannabis cultivator license and any required local approval to grow cannabis plants, provided they can meet the existing rules for medical cannabis cultivators. 4. Municipal cannabis retail shops. a. Unless OCM finds that market stability requires denial, OCM must issue a license to a city or county seeking to establish a single municipal cannabis store.