Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
Salinas recently issued another cannabis business permit, making it the ninth permit for the city. Harkins Grow Inc. received a cultivation permit for its location at 1156 Harkins St. after appealing to the city's Planning Commission.
Harkins was initially denied the permit because of its proximity to an alcohol-related use, specifically the Alvarado Street Brewery and Tasting Room. Harkins is also a part of Grupo Flor, the Salinas-based investment firm, which is a consortium of cannabis-centric businesses including oil extraction and testing labs.
"We are pleased to receive our permit for Harkins Grow and share the same commitment to sustainability as the city of Salinas," said Omar Bitar, a co-founder of Grupo Flor. "We will be using the latest state-of-the-art technology to dramatically decrease our water usage through our recaptured watering system and LED lighting will reduce the energy used by over 50 percent,"
A total of five companies have now received permits:
-Cypress Manufacturing (manufacturing, cultivation, dispensary)
-Monterey Bay Alternative Medicine (manufacturing, cultivation, dispensary)
-CannaCruz (dispensary)
-Harkins Grow (cultivation)
-710 Combinator (manufacturing)
"The process for the existing permits is completed, except for the delivery services for which no permits will be issued," said City Attorney Chris Callihan.
Businesses issued permits say they are focused on making sure all necessary business-related permits are in order, and their facilities comply with city codes. Based on the existing ordinance, businesses have one year to meet compliance standards and get up and running, but can apply for a 90-day extension.
Weakley, co-founder, and CEO of Altai Brands – a Salinas-based medical pot manufacturing company that specializes in edibles – said being issued a permit is just the beginning.
"It's a lot of getting ramped up and, for us, we have two licenses on Work Street that are ground up projects that are long term projects," said Weakley, noting that design and permitting are on the table. Weakley said the businesses are likely to be up and running in the first half of 2018. Altai Brands currently has a total of 90 employees for Altai Brands and cultivation, and are supplying nearly 700 dispensaries in the state.
Companies renew their permits on a yearly basis, but won't go through the same initial competitive application process, said Andy Myrick, the city's economic development manager who is taking the lead on the city's cannabis initiative.
Amended ordinance
That said, the existing cannabis ordinance could soon be replaced with an amended ordinance that could nearly double the number of permits issued, add distribution as a category and also create a new process for any new permits issued.
It could also mean issuing permits to finalists who came close to making the final round in the initial application process.
At the July 11 Salinas City Council meeting a lively discussion ensued after an amended cannabis ordinance was presented to the council for consideration. The item returns to the council for a vote at the next city council meeting on Aug. 15.
Myrick said several matters will be addressed at the upcoming meeting including what a new application process looks like, and how new permits will be allocated.
"There were questions on how we should treat applicants who didn't get last round and some questions about operations," said Myrick.
The current selection committee that vetted the applicants could be replaced by a new selection committee, which may include the Chief of Police or a representative from the police department and the process will be overseen by the City Manager's Office and the City Attorney's office.
The current committee includes Myrick; Megan Hunter, the city's community development director; Matt Pressey, the city's finance director; and David McPherson, the Cannabis Compliance Director for HdL, the consulting company the city had hired to take it from start to finish when it comes to setting up the city's cannabis industry.
Myrick said the city's contract with HdL is complete and that it would only reach out to the firm on a needs basis when it comes to cannabis.
If the amended ordinance passes on Aug. 15 (requiring a 4-3 vote) it would take effect on Sept. 14, 30 days after the vote. Myrick said companies who were already issued permits would not be affected.
In other cannabis-related news:
Plasha Will, a seasoned political consultant who has worked for locally elected officials including Dave Potter (the former Monterey County Board of Supervisor) is now consulting for the cannabis industry including Grupo Flor.
Will launched the Monterey County Cannabis Industry Association and calls it a "baby project of mine." She is working on the membership structure and said membership is open to those outside of the industry too.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: CANNABIS: Salinas issues another cannabis permit
Author: Amy Wu
Contact: Contact Us | Salinas Californian
Photo Credit: Amy Wu
Website: The Californian News Section
Harkins was initially denied the permit because of its proximity to an alcohol-related use, specifically the Alvarado Street Brewery and Tasting Room. Harkins is also a part of Grupo Flor, the Salinas-based investment firm, which is a consortium of cannabis-centric businesses including oil extraction and testing labs.
"We are pleased to receive our permit for Harkins Grow and share the same commitment to sustainability as the city of Salinas," said Omar Bitar, a co-founder of Grupo Flor. "We will be using the latest state-of-the-art technology to dramatically decrease our water usage through our recaptured watering system and LED lighting will reduce the energy used by over 50 percent,"
A total of five companies have now received permits:
-Cypress Manufacturing (manufacturing, cultivation, dispensary)
-Monterey Bay Alternative Medicine (manufacturing, cultivation, dispensary)
-CannaCruz (dispensary)
-Harkins Grow (cultivation)
-710 Combinator (manufacturing)
"The process for the existing permits is completed, except for the delivery services for which no permits will be issued," said City Attorney Chris Callihan.
Businesses issued permits say they are focused on making sure all necessary business-related permits are in order, and their facilities comply with city codes. Based on the existing ordinance, businesses have one year to meet compliance standards and get up and running, but can apply for a 90-day extension.
Weakley, co-founder, and CEO of Altai Brands – a Salinas-based medical pot manufacturing company that specializes in edibles – said being issued a permit is just the beginning.
"It's a lot of getting ramped up and, for us, we have two licenses on Work Street that are ground up projects that are long term projects," said Weakley, noting that design and permitting are on the table. Weakley said the businesses are likely to be up and running in the first half of 2018. Altai Brands currently has a total of 90 employees for Altai Brands and cultivation, and are supplying nearly 700 dispensaries in the state.
Companies renew their permits on a yearly basis, but won't go through the same initial competitive application process, said Andy Myrick, the city's economic development manager who is taking the lead on the city's cannabis initiative.
Amended ordinance
That said, the existing cannabis ordinance could soon be replaced with an amended ordinance that could nearly double the number of permits issued, add distribution as a category and also create a new process for any new permits issued.
It could also mean issuing permits to finalists who came close to making the final round in the initial application process.
At the July 11 Salinas City Council meeting a lively discussion ensued after an amended cannabis ordinance was presented to the council for consideration. The item returns to the council for a vote at the next city council meeting on Aug. 15.
Myrick said several matters will be addressed at the upcoming meeting including what a new application process looks like, and how new permits will be allocated.
"There were questions on how we should treat applicants who didn't get last round and some questions about operations," said Myrick.
The current selection committee that vetted the applicants could be replaced by a new selection committee, which may include the Chief of Police or a representative from the police department and the process will be overseen by the City Manager's Office and the City Attorney's office.
The current committee includes Myrick; Megan Hunter, the city's community development director; Matt Pressey, the city's finance director; and David McPherson, the Cannabis Compliance Director for HdL, the consulting company the city had hired to take it from start to finish when it comes to setting up the city's cannabis industry.
Myrick said the city's contract with HdL is complete and that it would only reach out to the firm on a needs basis when it comes to cannabis.
If the amended ordinance passes on Aug. 15 (requiring a 4-3 vote) it would take effect on Sept. 14, 30 days after the vote. Myrick said companies who were already issued permits would not be affected.
In other cannabis-related news:
Plasha Will, a seasoned political consultant who has worked for locally elected officials including Dave Potter (the former Monterey County Board of Supervisor) is now consulting for the cannabis industry including Grupo Flor.
Will launched the Monterey County Cannabis Industry Association and calls it a "baby project of mine." She is working on the membership structure and said membership is open to those outside of the industry too.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: CANNABIS: Salinas issues another cannabis permit
Author: Amy Wu
Contact: Contact Us | Salinas Californian
Photo Credit: Amy Wu
Website: The Californian News Section
