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Onward Ho! Hayward

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[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]T[/dropcap]he pace of cannabis reform in Hayward is now set on fast-forward. Hayward City Council gave the thumbs up to grant permits to three dispensaries on July 17, providing access to recreational and medical cannabis. Only Councilmember Mark Salinas voted against the permits, and Councilmember Marvin Peixoto voted in favor, but expressed hesitation.

The approved dispensaries are Hayward Station, Jiva Life and Aunty Honey’s. Hayward Station will be located at 1004 B St. and Jiva Life will be located at 1223 A St. At the time of writing, Aunty Honey’s had not yet finalized a location.

Last Oct. 30, 2017, the Hayward City Council adopted Ordinances 17-13 and 17-15, adding Article 14 to Chapter 6 of the Hayward Municipal Code, which set up a plan to approve cannabis businesses in the area. Earlier this year, the city council approved a six percent tax on gross receipts. On June 26, 11 cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, delivery and testing facilities were approved, but no dispensaries. It took slightly longer to get approvals for storefront dispensaries, given the amount of concerns expressed by neighbors.

So far, there hasn’t been much pushback from neighboring businesses. “I did vote in favor of the three permits because local business owners support it,” City Councilmember Francisco Zermeno told CULTURE in a statement. Zermeno listed other reasons for supporting it, including the addition of local hires, a prevailing wage and the careful, transparent and long process of permitting. It also helps union partnerships, and it allows participation from police with checks and balances in the event that business owners break the rules, he said.

The three dispensaries could create up to 50 jobs and generate up to $4.8 million in local revenue. Interestingly, each dispensary promised to pay their employees fair living wages. In addition, the variety of businesses will allow Hayward to seize upon multiple facets of the cannabis industry.

“Hayward developed a competitive process to attract quality in each segment of the cannabis industry,” City Manager Kelly McAdoo told CULTURE. “The city council approved licenses for 15 cannabis related businesses, including three dispensaries. Our next step in the process will be to work with these companies to identify allowable locations and develop suitable conditions of operation from a security and quality-of life standpoint.”

Dispensary operators will still need to secure land-use approvals, which require public hearings before the Hayward Planning Commission and city council.

“I did vote in favor of the three permits because local business owners support it.”

 

Not all communities in the area have been as progressive as Hayward. “As one of our city councilmembers noted, this is an experiment,” McAdoo stipulated. “It is an experiment our Hayward voters indicated their support for in the 2016 election where cannabis was legalized in California. The approval and regulatory regime we are creating here in Hayward is going to allow us to adapt to the changing nature of this emerging industry and to fine-tune as we go.”

McAdoo doesn’t want Hayward citizens to sleep on the opportunities that cannabis can provide. “It was important for us to be proactive and shape the future rather than to sit back and let others do it for us,” she said.

Some of the dispensary operators have indicated that they will be donating a small portion of proceeds to nonprofit efforts. Jiva Life, for instance, plans to help set up the “Tri-City Association for Cannabis Education,” and educate others on the realistic dangers of cannabis. Along with Hayward, Fremont and Union City will participate in the program.

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