Pubdate: Sat, 25 Jun 2016
Source: Salinas Californian, The (CA)
Copyright: 2016 The Salinas Californian
Contact: http://www.thecalifornian.com/section/CUSTOMERSERVICE03
Website: http://www.thecalifornian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3900
Author: Amy Wu

CITY OF SALINAS HOPEFUL POT BUSINESSES WILL COME IN

Commercialized medical pot is a go in Salinas, but businesses are a 
ways from hanging a shingle.

Since it started accepting applications for commercialized medical 
marijuana on June 6, the city has not received any applicants. The 
deadline for applications is Wednesday, July 6. But City Attorney 
Chris Callihan said he isn't worried.

"The interest has been high. There are a lot of phone calls inquiring 
about the process," Callihan said.

In late January, city council approved an ordinance that allows for 
the sales and cultivation of medical marijuana, and at its May 17 
meeting city council passed business guidelines for the industry. The 
city's ordinance permits a total of 12 permits, three permits each 
for dispensaries, growing operations, distribution/delivery systems 
and pot product manufacturing.

The application has four stages and includes a background and 
criminal history check, a medical cannabis expertise exam and a 
point-based ranking system on everything from business plan to safety 
and security plan. Leading applicants are interviewed by a selection 
committee. In the final phase, the top five applicants in the 
categories are vetted at a public meeting and by a selection committee.

Callihan said he isn't surprised by the lack of applicants, "given 
the complexity of the application and the need for the submittals to 
be accurate."

Rob Weakley the CEO and co-founder of Salinas-based Altai Brands - a 
medical pot manufacturing company that specializes in pot-infused 
candies and chocolates - is applying. Altai, which has 42 full-time 
employees, has been operating under a regular business license since 
it opened a warehouse facility in Salinas in June 2015.

Weakley said he is in the process of going through the application's checklist.

"It's relatively straightforward but does take a lot of time. It's a 
lot of information and a lot of stuff to pull together," said 
Weakley, who supports the detailed process. Last year, Altai and 
Ethnobotanica/Potdeli, a Watsonville-based medical marijuana delivery 
service that also cultivates marijuana, joined the Salinas Valley 
Chamber of Commerce.

The application also comes with a hefty price tag of $2,673 for 
eligible businesses. City Manager Ray Corpuz Jr. said the money will 
pay more administrative costs.

Medical marijuana is a hot button topic across California and Salinas 
is no exception. In creating a local ordinance, Salinas, like many 
cities across the state, worked hard to meet a March 1, 2016 deadline 
that the state had put in place, which said municipalities had until 
that date to come up with their own guidelines or adhere to those 
established by the state.

Monterey County is in the process of putting together a finalized 
ordinance for the sales and cultivation of medical marijuana.

City staff are hopeful that commercialized medical marijuana will 
attract tax revenue to Salinas. At July's City Council meeting, 
council members are expected to vote on whether to place a proposed 
tax of up to 10% on the November ballot. If approved, residents will 
vote on the special tax.

City staff expect applications will roll in just before the deadline, 
and Callihan said he doesn't think there will be no applicants.

"I do not anticipate that will happen, but if it does we will try and 
figure out why and if there is a problem with the system, then work 
to correct it," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom