Cannabis

Notice and Announcement

 Businesses Awarded the Limited Right to Apply for a

Cannabis Operating Permit

December 17, 2019

On November 7, 2017, the City Council adopted an ordinance permitting a limited number of commercial cannabis uses in Alameda.  The ordinance was effective January 18, 2018. Later, the City Council created and expanded the cannabis zoning districts; amended the cannabis ordinances to refine definitions; allowed testing, manufacturing and cultivation businesses to apply for permits on a first-come-first-serve basis; allowed “Adult Use” (recreational cannabis); increased the number of retail dispensaries from two to four; and required two dispensaries to provide delivery services as part of the Cannabis Business Operator’s Permit (CBOP).

As part of the commercial cannabis regulatory framework, implementing regulations were promulgated by the Planning, Building and Transportation Department Director.

The City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for retail dispensary businesses on April 22, 2019.

The City required a two-part process in order for retail dispensaries to qualify for the right to conditionally apply for a CBOP:

• Submittal of a Letter of Intent (LOI) securing the location.
• A proposal if applicant met the minimum requirements of the LOI.

Applicants who applied for more than one permit had to meet the above requirements for each location.

A total of 19 businesses submitted LOIs for 22 locations. Thirteen (13) met the minimum requirements of the LOI process qualifying them to submit proposals.

Proposals were evaluated based on a rubric set forth in the RFP. Eighty (80) points were available for the written portion of the process: (a) sixty-five (65) points for required questions, and (b) 15 points for optional questions. Applicants with evaluation scores of 75% or above qualified for an oral interview with the panel. 

The panel consisted of the following categories of members:

1. Technical Support to Panel (non-voting)

2. Real Estate/Property Management

3. Finance

4. Health

5. Planning

6. Other City Department (Unrelated to Cannabis)

Of the 13 proposals submitted, nine (9) scored sufficiently to move to the interview phase. Following the oral interviews, the top-rated applicants, subject to the number of available permits at the time, received a notice informing them of the right to apply for a CBOP.

Based on final scoring, including points awarded for the interview phase, the following businesses have a limited right to apply for a Retail Dispensary Cannabis Business Operating Permit.

In accordance with the RFP, the following businesses have been added to a waiting list. This waiting list will be maintained for two (2) years from the date of this notice/announcement, unless extended at the discretion of the City: