Cannabis Policy
Proposed Code Amendments
Rules Committee meeting
May 27, 2026
1 CITY COUNCIL PRIORITY
Slide 2
PREVIOUS COUNCIL & COUNCIL COMMITTEE ACTIONS
May 19, 2025:
Council awards 4th operating permit and directs staff to bring to Rules Committee a potential expansion of the number of licenses and the related process for awarding them and to treat other dispensary operators comparably
June-December 2025:
Rules Committee deliberates on potential code changes
December 10, 2025:
Rules Committee directs staff to advance the project forward for full City Council consideration March 9, 2026:
Council considers Rules Committee recommendations and directs staff to send topic back to Rules Committee for further discussion and direction
April 22, 2026
Item agendized at Rules Committee meeting; Committee continues the topic to May meeting Slide 3
3/9 CITY COUNCIL TAKE-AWAYS
Council consensus:
• Supported allowing for the issuance of two additional cannabis operating permits (for a total of 6) • Supported allowing setback modifications to account for physical barriers, such as freeways or waterways Council Lack of consensus:
• sensitive use distancing requirements
• modified zoning districts
• cannabis retail downtown
Slide 4
PRIOR RULES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
Slide 5
• Codify clearer definition of Youth Center, mirroring City of Alameda.
Sample DRAFT definition:
"Youth centers" means any public or private facility that is exclusively used to host recreational or social activities for minors (under eighteen (18) years of age), such as, private youth membership organizations or clubs, social service teenage club facilities, or amusement facilities. "Youth centers" does not include any building, location, or facility where any programs, activities, or services: (a) are offered at private residences, (b) involve martial arts/combat sports, cultural or similar education, or physical fitness, or (c) are offered for fewer than five hours per day each day the building, location, or facility is open. Notwithstanding the foregoing, youth centers shall also mean any facility determined by the Recreation and Parks Department to be a recreation center in a city park.”
Slide 6
• Draft distancing provision:
A dispensary must be located at least 600 feet from sensitive receptors as identified in San Leandro Municipal code section 4-33-200(d). The minimum distance may be reduced if the approval authority finds that a significant physical or geographic barrier (e.g., a freeway, waterway, etc.) or site-specific features exist that would block access between the dispensary and the other use.
PRIOR RULES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION (CONT’D)
PRIOR RULES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
Slide 7
• Allow two additional permits:
DRAFT code provision:
§ 4-33-200DISPENSARY PERMIT REQUIRED AND APPLICATION FOR PERMIT. (c) The City shall issue no more than four six valid permits for the operation of dispensaries in the City.
REGIONAL CONTEXT &
STAFF
RECOMMENDATION
Slide 8
San Leandro Zoning Districts that allow
a Cannabis Dispensary with a CUP:
Industrial Zones
• IG - Industrial General
• IG (AU) – Industrial General
(Assembly Overlay)
• IP - Industrial Park
• IT - Industrial Transition
Commercial Zones
• CC - Commercial Community
EXISTING MAP VS. RECOMMENDED MAP COMPARISON*
*viability could be further impacted by individual site constraints; excludes youth center overlay Slide 9
RULES COMMITTEE QUESTION
Slide 10
• What are the distancing requirements from liquor stores Land Use Residential
Zones Schools Houses of Worship
Parks/
Playgrounds/
Rec Centers
Youth
Centers Libraries Child Care / Day Care
Cannabis Dispensary (Existing) 500 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 Cannabis Dispensary (Proposed) None 600 600 600 600 None 600 Beer & Wine Stores None 1,000 None 1,000 None 1,000 None Convenience Stores None 1,000 None 1,000 None 1,000 None Liquor Stores None 1,000 None 1,000 None 1,000 None
Bars None None None None None None None
Other Land Uses Requiring Separation from Sensitive Land Uses (in feet):
COMMITTEE DIRECTION NEEDED
Slide 11
Rules Committee provide direction to staff on the following:
• sensitive use distancing requirements
• modified zoning districts
• cannabis retail downtown