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San Juan Bautista City Council Members unanimously voted to adopt an ordinance that bans marijuana sales, cultivation, and delivery at the Nov. 21 meeting.  

San Juan Bautista City Attorney Deborah Mall first introduced the idea of a ban on recreational cannabis at the council meeting in March. She suggested the council create an ordinance that would temporarily ban recreational marijuana to allow the council time to work to establish a permanent ordinance.  

In 2011, the city established a medical cannabis dispensary ban.  

The Cannabis Ad Hoc committee, made up of Mayor Chris Martorana and councilman Dan DeVries, are working on a permanent ordinance along with the assistance of Victor Gomez of Pinnacle Strategy. A draft of that ordinance was presented at the previous meeting. 

In August, Gomez signed a $9,000, nine-month contract, which started in Sept. 2017 to consult on cannabis policy. 

During the discussion Mall said that after approval council would have to wait 30 days before it “goes in the books.” 

“It gives me just enough time to lodge it with the state so the state will know to not start issuing licenses on Jan 1. for San Juan Bautista,” she said.  

During public comment San Juan Bautista Resident Rachel Ponce said city council was spending too much time on the cannabis issue and thought they should be spending it on other issues that impacted the community. 

“I believe that too much time, energy, money, and effort is being spent on this cannabis issue. Continue the ban until you resolve and make headway on the issues that have been brought before you that have not been resolved. The water issue, code enforcement, traffic, animal control, and hiring of permanent staff; These are some of the issues that impact the community’s residents everyday lives. Be proactive not reactive. Do not be enticed by possible uncertain revenue gain. Generating revenue is good but not at the expense of resident’s quality of life. I’m not saying never ever allow cannabis. I’m saying resolve current city issues first.” 

Resident Carl Saling said that he was 100 percent for legalizing and regulating cannabis adding he was a cannabis business owner.  

“I opened up my first division of my company in Hollister. I will be paying Hollister no less than a million dollars a year in taxes. No less than that,” he said. “I know a million dollars a year to San Juan Bautista could do a lot of good for a lot of people and I want to be a part of that.”   

City council members will be hosting a joint public meeting with the planning commission on Wednesday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. to present and discuss the draft cannabis ordinance, no direct action will be taken at the meeting.  The meeting will be held in Council Chambers at City Hall, 311 Second Street, San Juan Bautista.  

To see a copy of the draft ordinance presented at the Nov.8 special city council meeting, click on the PDF below. Â