California State law allows local governments to regulate commercial cannabis activities in their respective jurisdictions. On May 12, 2020, Santa Clara City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2018, which prohibits all commercial cannabis activities within the city of Santa Clara effective June 12, 2020.

Click here to view Ordinance No. 2018

Background: The Status of Medical/Recreational Cannabis

On June 27, 2016, the State enacted the Medical Cannabis Regulatory Safety Act (MCRSA) to protect residents’ use of medical cannabis and to establish regulations for personal and commercial medical cannabis activity.

On June 27, 2016, the State enacted the Medical Cannabis Regulatory Safety Act (MCRSA) to protect residents’ use of medical cannabis and to establish regulations for personal and commercial medical cannabis activity.

On November 8, 2016, California voters passed Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA) to regulate personal and commercial non-medical marijuana activity. Proposition 64 passed by a State-wide margin of 57%, with 50.5% support in Santa Clara County, and 55.8% support in the City of Santa Clara.

SB 94, the Medicinal and Adult Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA), combined and unified regulations for both medicinal and non-medicinal commercial cannabis activities and the personal use of cannabis. Click this link to view SB 94: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB94

On January 1, 2018 the State began issuing temporary commercial licenses for medicinal and non-medicinal cannabis.

Below is a timeline of the various meetings, actions, and efforts that took place as the City of Santa Clara considered implementing a commercial cannabis program.  

• The City retained SCI Consulting to provide technical and professional services during the process
• The City conducted the following public hearings, study sessions and outreach meetings:
  • January 23, 2018: City Council Study Session on Proposition 64 presented by SCI Consulting
  • February 12, 2018: Cannabis Community Outreach Meeting
  • February 15, 2018: Cannabis Community Outreach Meeting
  • May 29, 2018: City Council Meeting report on work effort related to new City cannabis regulations
  • May 30, 2018: Cannabis Community Outreach Meeting
  • June 14, 2018: Cannabis Community Outreach Meeting
  • July 16, 2018: City Council Meeting on Cannabis Business Tax
  • November 13, 2018: City Council Meeting on Action to an Amendment to Zoning Code 18.102.010 to extend the temporary ban on all commercial cannabis activities until June 30, 2019
  • November 27, 2018: City Council Meeting on the Adoption of Ordinance No. 1990 to extend the temporary ban on all commercial cannabis activities until June 30, 2019
  • February 19, 2019: City Council Meeting on Commercial Cannabis Policy Implementation Update
  • April 24, 2019: Planning Commission Meeting on Action on an Amendment to Zoning Code Section 18.102.010 to extend the temporary ban on all commercial cannabis activities until June 30, 2020
  • May 7, 2019: City Council Meeting on Action on an Amendment to Zoning Code Section 18.102.010 to extend the temporary ban on all commercial cannabis activities until June 30, 2020 (First reading of Ordinance)
  • May 21, 2019: City Council Meeting on the Adoption of Ordinance No. 2000 to extend the temporary ban on all commercial cannabis activities until June 30, 2020
  • February 11, 2020: City Council Meeting on the Update and Direction on Commercial Cannabis Items
  • April 8, 2020: Planning Commission Meeting on Action on an Amendment to Zoning Code Section 18.102.010 to permanently prohibit commercial cannabis activity
  • April 28, 2020: City Council Meeting on Action on an Amendment to Zoning Code Section 18.102.010 to permanently prohibit commercial cannabis activity (First reading of Ordinance)
  • May 12, 2020: City Council Meeting on Adoption of Ordinance No. 2018 to permanently prohibit all commercial cannabis activities.

Measure M

In July 2018, City Council took action to adopt Resolutions to call a Special Election to submit two ballot measures to the voters of Santa Clara. Measure M, also known as the "City of Santa Clara Commercial Cannabis Activity Measure" regarding a proposed cannabis business tax, was one of those two ballot measures. Measure M passed on November 6, 2018.