Paso Robles revisits stalled cannabis policy. Will it allow recreational delivery?
Of the three registered cannabis businesses in Paso Robles in recent years, only one has survived the City Council’s ongoing dilemma of what to do about recreational delivery.
But thanks to a discussion at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Paso-owned deliveries could be one step closer to becoming a reality that could consequently relieve local marijuana businesses of financial hardship.
“I just want the council to understand that we’ve been patient for many, many years, and every time cannabis gets brought up, the votes are always there, but there’s no action,” Dubs Green Garden owner Grace Hall told the City Council on May 19. “We have to wait months and even years. ... Just understand how financially detrimental this has been to our business.”
Paso’s history with recreational cannabis delivery
The issue of adult-use, or recreational, delivery in Paso Robles dates back to October 2022, when the City Council approved an ordinance that allowed a maximum of three registered medical marijuana services at the time to also deliver for non-medical adult use, but that temporary policy was only in effect for a year, until November 2023.
Since then, only deliveries from outside the city’s jurisdiction are allowed thanks to a law that legalized recreational delivery state-wide.
It wasn’t until 2025 that the City Council asked staff revisit its policy, requesting a new ordinance to allow existing medical cannabis delivery business to deliver adult-use cannabis and create a community outreach plan to potentially authorize cannabis retail storefronts within the city.
According to the May 19 City Council agenda, the potential amendments could “level the playing field” so businesses located in Paso Robles are not at a disadvantage by not being allowed to deliver the same category of cannabis as those coming in from other surrounding jurisdictions.
How’s the city moving forward?
Associate city planner Katie Banister told the council at the May 19 meeting that staff had a few concerns when it came to updating the city’s views on recreational deliveries since it was last discussed in February.
Staff suggested multiple alterations, Banister said, like removing the city’s cap on registered marijuana businesses, which is currently set at three.
“Staff is actually recommending we don’t have a limit at all. In cities with no cap, we don’t see an over-concentration,” Banister said. “Having a cap has put an unnecessary force on the market that has created a false competition, a sense of entitlement to those permits, and also creates the appearance of a vested right to a future dispensary.”
Banister said neighboring cities like Atascadero and Morro Bay have no set limit and haven’t experienced any issues with competition.
Staff also requested amendments to the city’s permits allowing medical marijuana sales versus recreational.
“There is nothing in those conditional use permits that would require the new regulatory permit,” Banister said. “So staff is recommending that any existing medicinal cannabis delivery business that would like to also deliver adult-use cannabis should be required to return to the Planning Commission and amend their conditional use permit, so we can fine tune their conditions and make sure we have all the regulations in place.”
At public comment, Dubs Green Garden owner Hall urged the council to set a timeframe for staff to return with its recommendations.
“I appreciate the council’s time and the Planning Commission on this topic, because I know there are many other things that could be possibly considered more important than this,” Hall said. “But this is our livelihood, this is our business, so just please take that in consideration.”
Unanimously, the City Council requested staff proceed with the amendments and present to the council within 90 days. Then, the council will vote on how to move forward.
Tuesday’s conversation also did not consider the topic of storefront dispensaries.
