***CITY LETTERHEAD***
June 29, 2022
The Honorable Marc Berman
Chair, Assembly Committee on Business and Professions
1020 N Street, Room 379
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: SB 1186 (Wiener) Medicinal Cannabis Patients’ Right of Access Act.
Notice of OPPOSITION (As Amended April 25, 2022)
Dear Assembly Member Berman,
The City of Commerce writes in opposition to SB 1186 (Wiener). This measure would undermine the framework carefully negotiated between the Legislature and local governments to ensure counties and cities can set regulatory standards associated with local land-use authority.
We believe that local control must be sustained to ensure counties and cities can set regulatory standards associated with local land-use authority. This includes the ability to restrict or prohibit commercial cannabis activities or impose stricter local standards than those afforded in State regulations. SB 1186 would undermine the intent of the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA) by (1) eliminating a local jurisdiction's ability to prohibit medical cannabis retail activities, regardless of the needs or conditions in the jurisdiction, and (2) restricting the ability for the large number of jurisdictions that permit and regulate cannabis retailers to set appropriate local regulations which are developed in a public process.
The City of Commerce has thoughtfully adopted regulations based on the community’s overall opinions on cannabis-related commercial activity within the City. The data collected during the community outreach allowed City Council to authorize cannabis-related activities and businesses to operate in the City, provided that the location and manner of such activities and businesses be subject to stringent local regulation.
Local jurisdictions are a critical partner in cannabis regulation, without their willing participation, this program cannot succeed. SB 1186 would disregard both the intent of the state’s regulatory framework and the reality that local jurisdictions in California have vastly different needs.
For these reasons, the City of Commerce strongly opposes SB 1186.
Sincerely,
Oralia Rebollo
Mayor
City of Commerce
cc: Members, Assembly Committee on Business and Professions Your Senator and Assembly Member
Kristine Guerrero, League of California Cities, [email protected]