The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday selected four prospective operators of storefront retail marijuana dispensaries, and seven hopeful operators of cannabis cultivation businesses to move forward in a permitting process for the county’s first adult-use cannabis stores and commercial grow operations in unincorporated areas.
These 11 operators have been given the nod to go through the county conditional use permit process — one that Supervisor John Gioia estimates to be a six- to 12-month process.
The process for choosing the retail storefronts was competitive; 21 operators submitted proposals to the county, all but one of which were determined to be eligible by county grading standards.
Chosen Tuesday to move forward in the process were The Artist Tree in El Sobrante, near Richmond; Authentic 925 in Pacheco; Embarc in unincorporated Martinez; and Element 7 in Bay Point.
Supervisors stressed that all chosen candidates have 90 days to secure the properties where they would do business. And Supervisors Karen Mitchoff and Diane Burgis said they favored letting the county ranking
process guide their choices.
“We’re picking from a lot of great applications,” said Burgis, who nonetheless agonized over the choice.
The city of Martinez recently selected Embarc to operate a retail dispensary on Alhambra Avenue. That selection has been controversial because the proposed site is about two and a half blocks from Alhambra High School.
More than 60 speakers offered either support or criticism of the various retail and cultivation plans. Several labor union officers supported either specific proposals or the desirability of cannabis businesses in general; other speakers said they would be grateful to have cannabis, including medical, closer to their homes.
By far the most vociferous opposition Tuesday was reserved for Element 7 Chestnut, whose growing operation would be off Chestnut Street in an agricultural area east of Brentwood. Several nearby residents, including seven members of one family, complained that operation would bring traffic, crime, strong odors, lighting and other unwanted things to their rural homes, and could indeed forever alter their lifestyle. Pot, they said, is the wrong kind of grow in their fertile ag zone.
Chestnut Street resident Shelly McMahon said she loves waking up to the small of fresh-cut alfalfa. “Now we’re going to wake up to the stench of cannabis.”
15 comments
Will the Board of Supervisors be doing any taste testing of the products? I’m pretty sure at least a couple of them are regular customers.
So what if the BoS consumes cannabis? The way your comment comes off makes it sound like it’s bad if someone does consume cannabis.
Drugs make things okay that aren’t.
Who cares if they are regular customers dispensary customers?
I’m sure they on vote on who and how many can apply for liquor stores as well! Just because they’re public officials I am sure they don’t quit consuming alcohol if that is there vice of choice.
I do not drink nor do l consume cannabis but I believe it’s the same as having a beer or two bthese days. You should not drink and drive nor smoke and drive period! Everyone who participates should take responsibility but if you’re at home I view weed and alcohol about as equal at the same. Although I have never heard of someone getting violent or don’t from cannibis! Just sayin’
In case you missed this:
“Owner Phil Blurton said he pays a fortune in taxes and fees, including a $22,600 annual licensing fee to Sacramento, a $96,000 annual licensing fee to California. Last year, his business operation tax was $400,000, which he said most traditional businesses only pay $5,000.”
https://www.kcra.com/article/california-boosts-pot-taxes-shocking-unsteady-industry/29901159#
Is ex- Congressman Miller’s son, grandson of the legendary State Senator, going to be applying to get one of these stores? He has got a pot franchise in now in Martinez I’m reading.
What a disgrace this Miller kid is, his grandfather has got to be rolling over in his grave. I recall his grandfather being one of the greatest legislators in the history of California, he is responsible for these great community colleges we have, state colleges too. The Miller name, historically, has been associated with good government, a thriving middle class, good schools, clean air and water, and civil rights for everybody. Equal opportunity for everybody.
His son, ex-Congressman George Miller, was a great legislator too, no question about that. Personally I found him to be a total jerk, haughty and arrogant beyond belief – an ego like a Roman Emperor ( that happens to people when the first job they ever had was Congressman), but he too was a great legislator, a mover and shaker in Washington like no other; in his 40 years in Congressman he was Chairman of Natural Resources AND Education and Labor Commitees.
What happened to this kid of his? He so broke he has to sell drugs for a living? that disgraceful. As I understand it, he also owns a highly profitable lobbying firm in Sacramento, where he makes all this money representing greedy special interest groups.
Given this you think he could abstain from becoming a drug dealer, but apparently not. Congressman Miller get’s an “A” as a legislator, but as a parent he’s deserves an “F”. Instead of doing good in the community, this kid of his is stuffing wheel barrows full of cash, none of it earned, into his bank accounts, along with encouraging peole to get stoned and stupid, and possibly getting hooked later on.
Lars would you be ok if he opened up a convenience store that sold alcohol and cigarettes? Would you post the same rant?
Unlike marijuana, tobacco and alcohol are legal in the United States.
Lars is right to complain about George Miller.
Tired of active and retired politicians who claim to serve the people actually using their influence to enrich themselves, and their family. This is a problem with both parties. Former republican house speaker John Boehner is now a lobbyist for the cannabis industry, and we all have heard of the corruption associated with democrat Joe Biden’s son in Ukraine.
Once she had trashed the city as its mayor, former Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, (and her doctor husband) received approval to open a marijuana dispensary in San Francisco in 2017. My guess is that these individuals have well-paid financial advisors who are telling them they can get in on the ground floor, make a fortune, and live well the rest of their lives by getting in now. They will get the very best return on their investment by entering the drug trade, and we know by the condition she left Oakland in she had very little moral compunction to begin with. It is nothing more to them than a way to get rich and stay that way, consequences be damned.
Embarc is the George Miller Jr. Edition one.
newsflash-med mj has been legal in ca since 96,rec pot legal since 2018. get over your old tired reefer madness bs.booze,tobacco much worse on society,harmful to users and others
Yes, it’s obviously helped your clarity of mind…
OMG. What century are some of you complainers from? Legal pot store owners are drug dealers? I’ve smoked since I was 17 when I started college. I retired a few years ago after a 45 year career as an insurance broker servicing multi million dollar national and international clients, most with names you would recognize. I was successful. Never once did my recreational, illegal, use of pot cause any issues in my personal or professional life. I’m a responsible and smart woman. Nearly every person I’ve met at dispensaries in 4 states struck me as similar to my background. Street type druggies don’t hand their drivers license over and walk thru metal detectors and highly secure facilities. People like me do. Educate yourself.
Good luck with those carcinogens.
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