Medical cannabis access is on the horizon for Hollister residents.
At Monday’s study session, council members ironed out specific details relating to signage, odor mitigation, security protocols and more for upcoming marijuana regulations. The entire council went through the proposed rules page by page.
Hollister council members passed a medical cannabis ordinance at their Dec. 19 meeting, and it went into effect Jan. 18. The ordinance lifted the city’s ban on medical cannabis facilities within city limits. Language in the ordinance caps the number of dispensaries to two facilities. The ordinance addressed medical facilities, but not adult or recreational use allowed by Proposition 64.
Special Legal Counsel Pamela Epstein was ready with her computer during the meeting and made updates to the regulations as the meeting progressed.
Some changes included the decision to prevent medical cannabis facilities from using A-frame street signs, as well as people holding signs or passing out fliers. Changes were also made to the point system used for ranking facility applicants.
Council members settled on a 30-day regulatory permit process, which was originally 90 days.
“You can decide when the regulatory permit process will open and when it will close,” Epstein said to council members.
Councilman Karson Klauer and Mayor Ignacio Velazquez questioned whether 90 days was too long.
“I think, being that we’re only allowing two (dispensaries), I don’t see a reason to leave it open for even 30 days,” Velazquez said. “I think if somebody hasn’t decided within 30 days, then they probably aren’t going to be coming in or making the application process.”
Ultimately, council members decided to open the process on March 15 and close it on April 17, as April 15 falls on a Saturday.
Near the end of the study session, Councilwoman Mickie Luna asked everyone in the council chambers to remember their individual responsibility.
“Just a reminder to everyone that we’ve taken a lot of time reviewing this ordinance and going over the regulations,” Luna said. “But in the long run, keep in mind the responsibility is going to fall on every person who has this item at home. It’s not going to be the responsibility of the city or the residents to be able to control anything. People have to be more responsible. You’re seeing it in the news; you’re seeing it everywhere. So I would just like to make that comment because after all the discussions we’ve had here today, we feel responsible for everybody in the city. But please remember you are responsible when these items get to your home.”
