Should coastal SLO County towns get cannabis shops? Supervisors are interested

On Nov. 12 the Board of Supervisors gave a preliminary thumbs-up to the idea of a pilot program for retail cannabis dispensaries in coastal county towns. The vote was 3 to 2.

Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg is promoting the idea of the pilot program for unincorporated coastal towns like Avila Beach, Oceano, Los Osos, Cayucos and Cambria that do not have retail marijuana dispensaries. Staff released a map showing properly zoned parcels in each of those communities where retail establishments could open.

Supervisor Bruce Gibson noted that few complaints have been received regarding the operation of cannabis dispensaries in incorporated towns like Grover Beach, San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay.

Ortiz-Legg also pointed out that these potential new stores could bring in more tax dollars to the county.

”Quite frankly, we are losing business,” she said.

There are now three dispensaries in Grover Beach, just down the block from Oceano. Morro Bay has two. Those municipalities are getting the tax dollars from cannabis.

Defending the idea of a pilot, she said, “It’s important to go step-by-step,” given that the coastal area is where tourism is.

By contrast, Supervisor Debbie Arnold said SLO County is already suffering red ink and that the county cannabis program allowing growing, manufacturing and delivery has yet to make a profit.

Supervisor John Peschong read a recent state court ruling that suggested federal law stands in the way of cannabis availability and opposes any expansion of activity here.

With the vote, staff will return to the board with draft findings and a resolution that would allow such a pilot program.

“This just the first step” in handing the project off to the county planning department to come up with potential regulations and setbacks, noted Gibson.

John Lindt is the editor of the news website Sierra2theSea.net.

This story was originally published November 29, 2024 at 10:00 AM.