Claremont, California Extends Cannabis Ban

[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]C[/dropcap]laremont, California leaders have decided to extend the city’s moratorium on cannabis businesses instead of developing a new ordinance or set of regulations as anticipated when commercial cannabis businesses were originally banned in 2016.

The bright side to the Claremont City Council‘s decision to extend the ban is that it gives decision makers and staff  more time to reflect upon possible local policies fit for commercial cannabis businesses in the city, given that they had a two years of lessons to learn from.

In October 2016, the council prohibited commercial cannabis businesses. Back then, prohibition was meant to be temporary in the hope that an ordinance would likely be developed during this two-year interim. “Everyone at that point thought the two years would be enough to find that out. But no one thought those regulations would only be released out a few months ago,” Colin Tudor, Claremont’s assistant city manager, told the Daily Bulletin.

Prior to 2016, the city’s municipal code banned medical cannabis dispensaries, delivery services and cultivation but allowed personal use. The current code also doesn’t prohibit personal use.

Former Councilman Joe Lyons is a longtime advocate of cannabis and commented on the situation by saying, “I think it’s one that’s getting mixed up and unfortunately put on hold because of the recreational use. … I was hopeful by this time that medical side would have in fact been addressed.”

Meanwhile, a lot of cannabis supporters including business owners like Nicole Lanni of the holistic business Feeling Groovy Wellness and Cafe, would like to see a change in the system. “I think you’re missing a big piece of this. I think this is dis-serving so many people, especially in the community,” she told the council.