Cannabis
The City currently prohibits commercial cannabis businesses in Claremont but allows the delivery of cannabis from businesses outside of Claremont pursuant to State law.
On November 8, 2022, Claremont voters approved Measure CT, establishing tax rate ranges for commercial cannabis businesses.
On January 24, 2023, the City Council approved tax rates for commercial cannabis businesses based on the tax rate ranges approved by voters. The Council approved a 6% tax rate for retail, 6% tax rate on deliveries, 4% rate for manufacturing, 3% for distribution and 2% for testing and laboratory. The Council may adjust rates as the cannabis market evolves.
Cultivation would be taxed at 3% of gross receipts or on a square-foot basis, whichever is higher. A business that uses only artificial light would be taxed $10 per square foot, mixed artificial and daylight would be $7 per square foot and exclusively natural light would be $4 per square foot.
Annual tax revenue on cannabis is estimated to generate between $150,000 - 500,000 annually in revenue, pending the adoption of a commercial cannabis regulatory framework.
To allow cannabis businesses in Claremont, the City Council would need to approve an amendment to the Claremont Zoning Code. This would require the City Council and City Planning Commission to conduct noticed public hearings to determine which types of cannabis businesses, if any, would be allowed in Claremont and where they would be permitted to operate. Before this happens, the City is conducting public outreach to solicit input from the community.
Planning Commission Review - February 6, 2024
On Tuesday, February 6, 2024, the Planning Commission discussed possible cannabis regulations. Staff presented an overview of State cannabis regulations, reviewed potential cannabis regulations and zoning, and discussed feedback received from the community during the three Listen and Learn Sessions.
Listen & Learn Sessions - Community Workshops
The City of Claremont held a series of Listen and Learn sessions on cannabis policies and regulation. The workshops aimed at fostering an open and inclusive dialogue about the implementation of cannabis policies in our community.
Listen & Learn Session #1
Date: Wednesday, June 21 at 6:00 PM
Location: Alexander Hughes Center, Padua Room
June 21, 2023 Cannabis Listen and Learn Session Video (Part 1)
June 21, 2023 Cannabis Listen and Learn Session Video (Part 2)
Business/Community Listen & Learn Session #2
Date: Thursday, July 20 at 8:00 AM
Location: Zoom
July 20, 2023 Cannabis Listen and Learn Session Video
Listen & Learn Session #3
Date: Thursday, September 21 at 6:00 PM
Location: Alexander Hughes Center, Padua Room
Background
At the January of 2021 City Council Workshop, the City Council requested staff engage the community in a discussion focused on cannabis regulation. The Council wanted to gather community opinion on possible changes to the City's existing prohibition on cannabis commercial businesses. Currently, the City prohibits commercial cannabis businesses in the city except deliveries into the city from businesses based outside of Claremont. Following Prop 64 allowing the adult recreational use of marijuana, the City updated its ordinance to allow for the personal use, cultivation, and delivery of marijuana in the city.
Cannabis Community Workshops
Two Cannabis Community Workshop Meetings were conducted to provide the public with the opportunity to learn more about cannabis history and regulation, and to provide an opportunity for a full discussion of the issues that are important to the community. Following the presentation, interested agencies, organizations, and members of the public were encouraged to present views concerning the regulation of cannabis within the City. Oral and written comments provided during the meeting were recorded and included with all other comments. The presentation and information shared was the same for both meetings. The City also has a survey available to provide additional input.
The Community Cannabis Workshop Meetings were held on Saturday, March 26, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. and Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom.
Additionally, the City asked community members to complete a cannabis survey to gather public opinion on cannabis businesses.
Claremont Cannabis Business Tax Measure - Measure CT
On Tuesday, July 12, 2022, the City Council voted unanimously to place a measure on the ballot for the November 8, 2022 General Municipal Election seeking to establish a tax on cannabis businesses that sell, deliver, distribute, process, test, manufacture, and/or cultivate cannabis (including industrial hemp and hemp products) in the City of Claremont.
Claremont voters passed Measure CT by 61%.
Cannabis Resources (LA County External Websites)