Sonora panel to discuss recreational pot

The Sonora Planning Commission will consider approving an ordinance legalizing retail sales and manufacturing of cannabis for recreational use at a meeting on Tuesday.

The meeting is public and will be held digitally over a Zoom call due to COVID-19 regulations (see box for details).

Jeff Muzio, owner of the medical marijuana dispensary Hazy Bulldog Farms on Mono Way in Sonora, said he is “extremely optimistic” about the eventual approval of the ordinance despite some previous apprehension from city officials.

“The cannabis industry has been extremely responsible and has had a low negative impact on the city,” Muzio said. “I do think they’re starting to see the good side of things and that the cannabis industry has stayed away from any of the nefarious activities they’re worried about.”

The draft ordinance was presented to the City Council in September. Sonora currently allows for two retail cannabis dispensaries, manufacturing facilities or testing laboratories in the three-square miles of the city limits. The proposed recreational ordinance would expand that to three.

Commercial cannabis activity remains banned in the unincorporated area of the county.

The council will host public hearings for the first and second readings of the ordinance. It was previously noted the ordinance would take effect in December if approved.

Hazy Bulldog is the only operating medical cannabis dispensary under the current

ordinance. A second dispensary approved to move forward has been delayed.

Sonora Chief of Police Turu Vanderwiel said he still held public safety concerns about recreational marijuana legalization related to an increase in crime, an increase in exposure to youth, the creation of a competitive black market and DUIS.

“Having said that, whether we have medical marijuana or recreational marijuana dispensaries, I recognize the advantages of potential tax revenues which may increase the ability of city services to regulate those types of businesses,” Vanderwiel said.

He said as the ordinance proceeds, he will work with other city officials to update safety requirements for potential recreational dispensaries.

City Administrator Mary Rose Rutikanga could not be reached for comment.

She previously said the city expects to receive $150,000 in revenue from Muzio’s business this year. That number could increase by 75 percent if he could expand to recreational use, she said.

Medical dispensaries in the city operate under the condition that they pay a public benefit fee of $10,000 per month, or five percent of gross sales for that month, whichever is greater.

After the commission’s meeting, the council is tentatively scheduled to have a public hearing for the first reading of the ordinance on Nov. 2 A second reading and public hearing for possible final approval would be Nov. 16.

The ordinance would take effect in December if approved.