Date:
August 19, 2026, and September 2, 2026
03
To:
Board of Supervisors
Title
Socially Equitable Cannabis Program - Amendments to the County Zoning Ordinance and Code of Regulatory Ordinances, with Certification of Final Program Environmental Impact Report, CEQA Findings and Associated Permitting and Licensing Fees (POD-21-001; ER-22-00-002) (08/19/2026 - First Reading; 09/02/2026 - Second Reading) (Districts: All)
End
Overview
This is a request for the County of San Diego (County) Board of Supervisors (Board) to consider the adoption of the Socially Equitable Cannabis Program (SECP), which establishes a framework to allow and regulate commercial cannabis facilities in the unincorporated area. The SECP would enable the permitting and licensing of cannabis facilities, implement a Social Equity Program (SEP), and establish associated regulatory, enforcement, and funding mechanisms, which includes a Board Policy to ensure minimum funding for enforcement related to illicit and unlicensed cannabis activities. This action advances prior Board direction from January 27, 2021 (4), June 9, 2021 (2), June 15, 2022 (7), April 30, 2024 (31), and January 14, 2026 (3), which directed the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to create a legal, regulated, and socially equitable cannabis framework. The Board directed staff to establish clear and consistent standards for the siting and permitting of cannabis facilities, align local regulations with State law, engage stakeholders throughout program development, transition from an unregulated market to a safe and legally compliant system, and implement an SEP to promote equitable access to cannabis business opportunities for those disproportionately impacted by past cannabis criminalization.
The Draft SECP implements the Board's direction by allowing a range of commercial cannabis facilities in the unincorporated area, including cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, testing, microbusinesses, retail non-storefront (...
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