Riverside is revisiting regulations on cannabis dispensaries after concerns surfaced about where the businesses plan to open up shop. The Riverside City Council recently agreed to potentially limit cannabis storefronts to no more than two per ward after asking city staff to study the issue.
California legalized recreational marijuana in 2016, when voters passed Proposition 64. A slight majority of Riverside County residents voted yes, with 52.9% supporting the measure.
In 2017, the Riverside council passed, then extended a moratorium to prohibit commercial marijuana businesses, with exceptions for lab testing facilities. A year later, the council agreed to prohibit commercial cannabis businesses, except for testing laboratories. But in October 2023, Riverside cleared the path for cannabis storefronts.
At a meeting Jan. 7, the council voted 4-3 to direct staff to study possible cannabis storefront regulations. Councilmembers Steven Robillard, Sean Mill, Chuck Conder and Jim Perry voted for the study and Councilmembers Philip Falcone, Clarissa Cervantes and Steve Hemenway voted against it. The study is due back to the council by the end of April.
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