Report Prepared by: Kim Espinosa, Planning Manager, and Ken Rozell, Senior Deputy City Attorney
Title
SUBJECT: Public Hearing Regarding Proposed Amendments to the City of Merced's Zoning Ordinance Relating to Medical Marijuana, Medical Marijuana Dispensaries, Delivery of Medical Marijuana and Cultivation of Medical Marijuana
REPORT IN BRIEF
Consider the adoption of an ordinance relating to medical marijuana that would either allow or ban medical marijuana dispensaries, allow or ban the delivery of medical marijuana under specific circumstances, and either allow the cultivation of small amounts of medical marijuana under specific circumstances or ban the cultivation of all medical marijuana within the City's boundaries.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion approving one of the three following options:
A. Adopt a Categorical Exemption and Introduce Ordinance 2455 (as recommended by the Planning Commission) that would allow medical marijuana dispensaries in specific commercial zones, allow delivery of medical marijuana under specific circumstances and allow limited growth of medical marijuana (12 plants or less per lot) for a qualified patient:
"An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Merced, California, Adding Chapter 20.84, "Medical Marijuana and Cultivation" and amending Sections 20.20.040 "Conditional Uses," 20.24.040 "Conditional Uses," and 20.28.040, "Conditional Uses," of the Merced Municipal Code regarding the zoning of medical marijuana dispensaries as conditional uses".
OR
B. Adopt a Categorical Exemption and Introduce Ordinance 2454 (originally presented to the Planning Commission on December 9, 2015) that would prohibit all commercial medical marijuana uses and activities, including delivery, within the City of Merced and prohibit the cultivation of any amount of marijuana for medical use by a qualified patient or primary caregiver in the City of Merced:
"An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Merc...
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