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Measure Z Implementation

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2023 Renewal of Registered Cannabis Business

Renewal Application Form (existing medical and/or adult-use)

Renewal Application Form (existing medical and/or adult-use) Fillable Form

This form must be completed and presented in person by the applicant's representative at the City Clerk's office counter during normal business hours. The window to submit a renewal application begins 60 calendar days prior to the Termination Date (December 14, 2022) and ends 30 calendar days prior to the Termination Date (January 13, 2023) of the Notice of Completed Registration.

Resources

Background Information on Measure Z Implementation

Vista voters passed Measure Z at the November 6, 2018 General Election, with 53.81% of voters voting in favor of the measure.  Measure Z was a citizen’s initiative that qualified for the November ballot through the California elections code process.  As required by law, the measure was placed on the ballot exactly as it was written and submitted to the City.  The City was unable to make any changes to the measure presented to the voters, and, now that it has passed, Vista must implement the measure as written.

Measure Z enacted Vista Municipal Code (“VMC”) Chapter 5.94 in its entirety; further references will be to that Chapter.  Several updates to Vista Development Code Title 18, Zoning, have been made, as required by the measure.  VMC § 5.94.170.B states that the City Manager shall promulgate regulations and procedures to implement and administer the Chapter. 

Facts

Pursuant to VMC Chapter 5.94, up to eleven (11) medical cannabis storefront retailers may operate in the City of Vista.  Businesses were required to apply through a ministerial process, as described in the Chapter and subsequent regulations circulated by the City Manager.  The following are some of the rules established by the Chapter:

  • Medical cannabis businesses may only be located in Commercial zones (C-1, C-2, and C-3, Research Light Industrial zones (RLI), Mixed Use zones (MU), Industrial Park zones (IP), or Light Manufacturing zones (M-1) as designated in the Vista Municipal Code. Medical cannabis businesses are prohibited in residential zones (R-1, R-1-B, and R-M).

  • Medical cannabis businesses are prohibited within six hundred (600) feet of a pre-existing sensitive use (day care center, school, youth center, playground) pursuant to Health and Safety Code § 11362.768, B&P Code § 26054(b), and Regs § 5026(a).

  • Medical cannabis businesses are prohibited within five hundred (500) feet of any other permitted medical cannabis dispensary. The distance is measured from front door to front door, without regard to intervening structures.

  • The maximum hours of operation for a medical cannabis dispensary shall be daily from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

  • Each medical cannabis dispensary shall have at least one (1) dedicated parking space for every 1,000 square feet of the permitted building. (Note: this requirement is significantly lower than the City’s standard requirement of five dedicated spaces for every 1,000 square feet).  The medical cannabis dispensary must also have shared access to at least one (1) handicap accessible parking space.

  • A 7% tax on gross receipts will be collected from each medical cannabis business and deposited into the City’s general fund.

What is Happening Now

Eleven validly licensed medical cannabis businesses are currently operating in the City of Vista.  A map of the businesses and a spreadsheet showing the permitting/licensing milestones of these businesses can be found in the “Resources” section below.

Anticipated Tax Revenue

The City's FY2021/2022 and FY2022/2023 Operating Budgets include cannabis tax revenue (from the 7% tax on gross receipts) in the amount of $4 million annually. These funds are placed in the general fund and may be used for any lawful purpose including, but not limited to, public safety and recreation programs and services.

Notifications

To receive notifications of updates to this webpage or when cannabis related items are on the City Council agenda, please email kvaldez@cityofvista.com and request to be added to the email distribution list.

History

Original Measure Z Implementation Page - History