CLOSE

Twenty-nine states and Washington D.C, have legalized the use of medical marijuana and on top of that, nine states have legalized recreational pot. Why was it illegal in the first place?

Ventura

The application window for cannabis retailers to open in Oxnard closes this week. That means the city is about a year away from having its first retail marijuana business open to the public.

Originally the city had a March deadline for accepting applications, but it was extended because of the coronavirus and extended once again when the city was hit by a computer virus. The deadline is now 4 p.m. Friday.

The process to be among the first cannabis businesses to open in the county’s biggest city will be a competitive one. The city was expecting about 30 retailers to apply. So far, it has accepted more than 40 applications and expects to have about 50 by the end of the week.

About eight retailers will be selected. Jeff Lambert, community development director, said eight retailers have been authorized although the City Council may be asked to authorize 10 or more. Some of the retail permits may be reserved for local businesses as part of an equity program. Details for the program are still being worked out.

Lambert said once the completed applications are in, applicants will be reviewed and picked to be interviewed. The applicants will be ranked based on their business and security plans.

Marijuana news: Voters could be asked to OK pot-growing businesses in unincorporated area

“We want to make sure they’ve completed those plans, that it’s a company that can deliver and comply,” Lambert said.

The initial cost of the application is about $2,300. The total cost for the selected applicant is $5,500 plus an additional $7,300 for a special-use permit.

Although city leaders have already authorized the marijuana retailers to open in the city, the Planning Commission must review the businesses at their proposed sites and green-light a special permit during a public hearing.

The retail dispensaries will likely be in commercial areas across the city. They cannot be located within 600 feet of schools, parks and day-care centers. There are 940 parcels in the city that fit this criteria and could become cannabis retail spots.

Related: Oxnard sets regulations on pot dispensaries, bans flavored tobacco

Lambert said a retailer could open in nine to 12 months.

The city could gain $1 million to $1.5 million in annual revenue from marijuana retail, according to a preliminary estimate. Another revenue projection will be conducted later this year.

For more information about the application process, visit www.oxnard.org/cannabis/.

Wendy Leung is a staff writer for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at wendy.leung@vcstar.com or 805-437-0339. You can also find her on Twitter @Leung__Wendy.

Read or Share this story: https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/2020/05/20/marijuana-retail-business-dispensaries-cannabis-pot-weed-oxnard-california/5203667002/