WATSONVILLE — As the sale of marijuana for recreational use becomes legal in California on Jan. 1, Watsonville will look to start a process within the city Tuesday that reflects the new law.
The Watsonville Planning Commission will consider recommending that the city’s licensed cultivators and manufacturers can produce and sell marijuana not only for medical purposes, but for recreational use as well. That recommendation will be sent to the city council for approval at a future date.
Proposition 64 passed with 57 percent of the vote in the 2016. It allowed personal users to grow marijuana on Nov. 9, 2016, and will allow the sale and taxation of recreational marijuana beginning Jan. 1, 2018.
In January 2016, the city council allowed medical marijuana to be cultivated within the city. It later allowed the manufacturing of it.
Nearly a year ago, the council banned the sale and manufacturing of recreational marijuana in the city, citing a need for more time to come up with regulations.
According to a report by Community Development Director Suzi Merriam, the term “medical” would be removed at various places in the city’s cannabis ordinance, allowing existing licensed cultivators and manufacturers to produce and sell cannabis for both medical and adult-use markets, should it be approved by the city.
Also during Tuesday’s meeting, the planning commission will consider an appeal of a medical cannabis manufacturing facility that was denied by the city.
The facility, proposed for 18 Hangar Way, Suite C, was denied because of “false and misleading statements and omissions” during the application process, according to a report by Merriam.
In an appeal to the city, applicant Mark Jones outlined his responses to the city’s comments.
“We respect the city’s merit-based application procedure,” the letter concluded. “However, I believe that during my interview, I may not have articulated my answers very clearly.”
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The Watsonville Planning Commission will meet Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 275 Main St., fourth floor. To view the agenda, visit tinyurl.com/y9yqraka.
