Two Major California Cities Set Up Recreational Marijuana Sales Laws
Sonora, CA — It looks like two of California’s largest cities could have recreational marijuana for sale the first week of January.
San Francisco mayor Ed Lee approved legislation Wednesday that sets up a permitting system and lays out where future pot shops can be located. All marijuana businesses need a local permit in order to apply for a state license that is required to operate in 2018.
City officials note that the city will not be ready for sales on New Year’s Day when recreational weed becomes legal statewide. More than 40 city outlets now authorized to sell medical marijuana could start selling adult-use pot Jan. 6 if they meet local and state requirements.
The Los Angeles City Council also approved its rules for commercial sales Wednesday.
Jurisdictions across the Mother Lode have been struggling to get local laws in place. None plan to allow recreational marijuana sales come January.
Angels Camp recently enacted an urgency ordinance that allows for out of county deliveries with special provisions, including that the services making the drops register with the local police department and submit to a background check with Angels Camp police.
The Calaveras County supervisors are still hammering out how to pass either a very restrictive regulatory permanent ordinance or a ban to replace its urgency ordinance, which is set to expire next February. On or before Dec. 19 the board anticipates making a decision.
