"Cannabinoid preparations"
means cannabis that has undergone a process whereby the plant
material has been transformed into a concentrate, including, but not
limited to, concentrated cannabis, or an edible or topical product
containing cannabis or concentrated cannabis and other ingredients.
"Cannabis"
means all parts of the plant Cannabis sativa L., whether
growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part
thereof; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture,
or preparation of the plant, its seeds, or resin. "Cannabis" does
not include:
(2)
The weight of any other ingredient combined with cannabis to
prepare topical or oral administrations, food, drink, or other products.
"Cannabis accessories"
is defined as that term is defined in California Health and
Safety Code Section 11018.2.
"Cannabis, adult-use"
means cannabis or cannabis products intended to be sold for
use by adults 21 years of age and over who do not possess physician's
recommendation for the use of cannabis issued in accordance with the
Compassionate Use Act of 1996 (California
Health and Safety Code Section
11362.5).
"Cannabis lounge"
means a City-licensed facility where cannabis and cannabis
products or goods may be smoked, vaped, or ingested within the confines
of the facility.
"Cultivation"
means any activity involving the planting, growing, harvesting,
drying, curing, grading, or trimming of cannabis.
"Delivery"
means the commercial transfer of cannabis or cannabinoid
preparations to a customer. "Delivery" also includes the use by a
retailer of any technology platform owned and controlled by the retailer
or independently licensed under California law that enables customers
to arrange for or facilitate the commercial transfer by a licensed
retailer of cannabis or cannabinoid preparations.
"Manufacture"
means the production, preparation, or compounding of cannabis
products, including extraction processes, infusion processes, the
packaging or repackaging of manufactured cannabis or cannabis products,
and labeling or relabeling the packages of manufactured cannabis or
cannabis product.
"Manufacturing" or "manufacturing operation"
means all aspects of the manufacture, extraction and/or infusion
processes, including processing, preparing, holding, storing, packaging,
or labeling of cannabis products. "Manufacturing" shall also include
any processing, preparing, holding, or storing of components and ingredients.
"Medical use"
of cannabis or cannabinoid preparations means the use permitted
by the Compassionate Use Act (California
Health and Safety Code Section
11362.5) and the Medical Marijuana Program Act (California Health
and Safety Code Section 11362.7 et seq.).
"Microbusiness"
means any commercial adult-use cannabis business that engages
in commercial manufacturing, distribution, and retail sales of cannabis
for adult-use and medical purposes.
"Person"
includes any individual, firm, co-partnership, joint venture,
association, corporation, limited liability company, estate, trust,
business trust, receiver, syndicate, or any other group or combination
acting as a unit, and the plural as well as the singular.
"Primary caregiver"
is defined as that term is defined in California Health and
Safety Code Section 11362.7, subdivision (d).
"Qualified patient"
means a seriously ill person who obtains a written recommendation
from a physician licensed to practice medicine in the State of California
to use cannabis for personal medical purposes. In addition, persons
currently under the care of a physician for a "serious medical condition"
as that term is defined in California
Health and Safety Code Section
11362.7, subdivision (h) are presumed to be "qualified patients."
Solvent, Non-Volatile.
A "non-volatile solvent" means any solvent used in the extraction
process that is not a volatile solvent, including carbon dioxide.
Solvent, Volatile.
A "volatile solvent" means any solvent that is or produces
a flammable gas or vapor that, when present in the air in sufficient
quantities, will create explosive or ignitable mixtures.
(§ 2, Ord. 867, eff. November 15, 2016, as amended by § 2, Ord. 879, eff. December 28, 2017, § 2, Ord. 884, eff. June 21, 2018, § 2, Ord. 886, eff. August 9, 2018, § 2, Ord. 898, eff. June 27, 2019, § 2, Ord. 903, eff. October 10, 2019, and
§ 2, Ord. 939, eff. October 12,
2023)
Within the City's limits, no person may smoke or ingest cannabis or cannabinoid preparations in any public place or in any location where smoking tobacco is prohibited, except as provided in Section
4-26.10. Licensed and lawfully operating cannabis lounges are exempt from the smoking regulations of the Ojai Municipal Code, including this section and Chapter 5-10.
(§ 2, Ord. 867, eff. November 15, 2016, as amended by § 2, Ord. 879, eff. December 28, 2017, § 2, Ord. 884, eff. June 21, 2018, and § 3, Ord. 939, eff. October 12, 2023)
(a) Except as specifically allowed by Sections
4-26.04,
4-26.06,
4-26.08,
4-26.09, and
4-26.10 of this Code and applicable State law, all cannabis activity, cultivation, and businesses shall be prohibited within the City of Ojai, regardless of any licenses issued under State law. This prohibition shall not prevent indoor cultivation of cannabis for personal use by a person over 21 years of age, conducted in accordance with applicable State law and inside a private residence or inside an accessory structure to a private residence located upon the grounds of the private residence. No person may cultivate industrial hemp for personal use.
(b) Outdoor cultivation prohibited. No person may cultivate
cannabis or industrial hemp outdoors in any zoning district of the
City. No conditional use permit, building permit, variance, or any
other permit or entitlement, whether ministerial or discretionary,
shall be approved or issued for any such use or activity.
(c) Commercial indoor cannabis or industrial hemp cultivation prohibited. No person may cultivate cannabis or industrial hemp for any commercial
purposes indoors or within a building, structure, shed, or other enclosure
anywhere in any zoning district of the City. No conditional use permit,
building permit, variance, or any other permit or entitlement, whether
ministerial or discretionary, shall be approved or issued for any
such use or activity.
(§ 2, Ord. 867, eff. November 15, 2016, as amended by § 2, Ord. 879, eff. December 28, 2017, § 2, Ord. 884, eff. June 21, 2018, § 3, Ord. 898, eff. June 27, 2019, § 2, Ord. 903, eff. October 10, 2019, and
§ 4, Ord. 939, eff. October 12,
2023)
(a) To
the extent such a prohibition is permitted under California law, delivery
of cannabis or cannabinoid preparations within the City for adult
use is prohibited absent a City-issued commercial adult-use cannabis
delivery license, regardless of any license or other authorization
a person may have to engage in any commercial activity related to
adult use cannabis outside of the City.
(b) A
person may deliver cannabis or cannabinoid preparations within the
City for medical use if he or she first obtains a license from the
City to do so. The City Manager or designee shall issue applications
and processing guidelines and operating and security regulations for
the City medical cannabis delivery license. No such license shall
be issued prior to the release of these guidelines, and no license
shall be granted that has not complied fully with the application
and processing requirements.
(c) A
person may operate a medical cannabis dispensary if the person obtains
a license from the City for such facility. The City Manager or designee
shall issue applications and processing guidelines for the City medical
cannabis business license. No such license shall be issued prior to
the release of these guidelines, and no license shall be granted that
has not complied fully with the application and processing requirements.
The business in question must operate as a medical cannabis delivery
service and/or medical dispensary service, providing cannabis to qualified
patients and their primary caregivers. The business in question may
not engage in any commercial activities related to adult use cannabis
within the City's limits, unless the licensee also obtains a City
license to operate a commercial adult-use cannabis dispensary. This
is intended as a temporary measure, notwithstanding any other provision
of the Ojai Municipal Code, to ensure the City's residents have safe
and reliable access to medical cannabis while the City Council considers
a more permanent cannabis policy. This section creates no vested right
to engage in any such activity or business.
(d) A person may operate a commercial adult-use cannabis dispensary or delivery service if the person obtains a license from the City for such facility. The City Manager or designee shall issue applications and processing guidelines for the City commercial adult-use cannabis business license. No such license shall be issued prior to the release of these guidelines, and no license shall be granted that has not complied fully with the application and processing requirements. The business in question must operate only as a commercial adult-use dispensary and/or delivery service for off-site consumption, without any on-site cannabis use or consumption, unless the cannabis dispensary operates a cannabis consumption lounge in compliance with Section
4-26.10. The business in question shall only sell cannabis and cannabis accessories to persons who are 21 years of age or older, and who are in possession of a valid government-issued identification card proving their age. The commercial adult-use cannabis dispensary shall not allow cannabis, cannabis products, or cannabis accessories on the dispensary site to be visible from the public right-of-way, the unsecured areas surrounding the buildings on the site, or the site's main entrance and lobby. A commercial adult-use cannabis dispensary or delivery service shall display at all times during business hours, its current valid commercial adult-use dispensary and/or delivery service City and State issued licenses in a conspicuous place so that they may be readily seen by all persons entering the business. All commercial adult-use cannabis dispensaries and/or delivery services shall comply with operating and security regulations issued by the City Manager or designee. Only three licenses for commercial adult-use cannabis dispensary and/or delivery services shall be issued. The City Manager shall only issue initial commercial adult-use cannabis dispensary and/or delivery service licenses to existing lawfully operating City and State licensed medical cannabis dispensaries and/or delivery services. This is intended as a temporary measure, notwithstanding any other provision of the Ojai Municipal Code, to ensure the City's residents have safe and reliable access to commercial adult-use cannabis while the City Council considers a more permanent cannabis policy. This section creates no vested right to engage in any such activity or business.
(e) Cannabis dispensaries may only be located in the C-1 General Commercial Zoning District, M-1 and MPD Zones and may not be located in any other zone in the City. A maximum of three cannabis dispensaries are allowed in the City, which may be, but are not required to be, collocated with cannabis lounges under Section
4-26.10.
(f) All
cannabis deliveries and dispensaries, whether medical, adult-use,
or both, must comply with the City of Ojai's application, operating,
and security regulations, as adopted by the City Manager, all other
applicable local laws, and all applicable State laws and regulations.
(g) A
City licensee shall operate as either a medical cannabis delivery
and/or dispensary service or a medical and adult use cannabis delivery
and/or dispensary service, if the licensee obtains all required State
and City licenses. A commercial adult use cannabis delivery and/or
dispensary service alone, without also providing medical cannabis,
is prohibited.
(§ 2, Ord. 867, eff. November 15, 2016, as amended by § 2, Ord. 879, eff. December 28, 2017, § 2, Ord. 884, eff. June 21, 2018, § 2, Ord. 886, eff. August 9, 2018, and § 5, Ord. 939, eff. October 12, 2023)
(a) Every act prohibited or declared unlawful by this chapter, and every failure to perform an act made mandatory by this chapter, shall be punishable as a misdemeanor or an infraction at the discretion of the City Attorney or the District Attorney, in accord with Ojai Municipal Code Section
1-2.03. In addition, any condition caused or permitted to exist in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter is a public nuisance subject to abatement as provided in this Code or under California law.
(b) No
conduct which is protected from criminal liability under State law
shall be made criminal by this Code. Conduct or uses which violate
the requirements of this chapter are hereby declared to be a public
nuisance, and shall be subject to non-criminal remedies, including,
but not limited to, administrative citations and abatement.
(§ 2, Ord. 867, eff. November 15, 2016, as amended by § 2, Ord. 879, eff. December 28, 2017, and
§ 2, Ord. 884, eff. June 21, 2018)
(a) A
person may operate a cannabis testing laboratory only if the person
obtains a valid cannabis testing laboratory license from the City
and obtains a valid cannabis Type 8 Testing Laboratory license from
the State. The City Manager or designee shall issue applications and
operating regulations for the City cannabis testing laboratory license.
No such license shall be issued prior to the release of these regulations,
and no license shall be granted that has not complied fully with the
application and operating regulations.
(b) A
cannabis testing laboratory permittee shall only test cannabis in
a fully enclosed building with adequate ventilation as determined
necessary by the Building Official. A cannabis testing laboratory
permittee shall not allow cannabis or cannabis products on the laboratory
site to be visible from the public right-of-way, the unsecured areas
surrounding the buildings on the site, or the site's main entrance
and lobby and shall display its current valid cannabis testing laboratory
permit issued in accordance with this section inside the lobby or
waiting area of the main entrance to the laboratory site. The permit
shall be displayed at all times in a conspicuous place so that it
may be readily seen by all persons entering the lobby of the laboratory
site. Cannabis testing laboratories shall not have any signage indicating
the nature of their operations, except as may be required by applicable
law.
(c) No
cannabis testing laboratory licensee shall open their laboratory site
to the public and no cannabis testing laboratory permittee shall allow
anyone on the laboratory site, except for managers, staff, and other
persons with a bona fide business or regulatory purpose for being
there, including contractors, inspectors, and cannabis transporters.
(d) No
person shall conduct any retail sales of any good or services on or
from a permitted cannabis testing laboratory site. As required by
State law, including
Business and Professions Code Section 26053,
subdivision (b), the owners and operators of a cannabis testing laboratory
are prohibited from owning or operating any other cannabis business
or entity, except another cannabis testing laboratory, and are prohibited
from possessing any other State or local cannabis license, except
for another cannabis testing laboratory license.
(e) No
person shall smoke, ingest, or otherwise consume cannabis in any form
on or within the laboratory site or possess, consume, or store any
alcoholic beverage on the laboratory site.
(f) Cannabis
testing laboratories must comply with the City of Ojai's operating
regulations, as adopted by the City Manager, all other applicable
local laws, and all applicable State laws and regulations.
(§ 2, Ord. 884, eff. June 21, 2018)
The City Council shall, by resolution, establish a schedule
of fees for cannabis license applications, amendments, inspections,
renewals and other matters pertaining to this chapter. The schedule
of fees may be changed or modified by resolution of the City Council.
None of the above fees shall be prorated, or refunded in the event
of a denial, suspension or revocation of the permit. Failure to pay
the applicable fees is grounds for denial of an application.
(§ 2, Ord. 884, eff. June 21, 2018)
(a) A
person may operate a cannabis microbusiness if the person obtains
an annual valid cannabis microbusiness license from the City and obtains
a valid Type 12 Microbusiness license from the State and limits their
commercial cannabis activities to manufacturing, distribution, and
retail sales. Commercial cannabis cultivation for any purpose is prohibited
in any zoning district in the City, even if permissible under a State-issued
Type 12 Microbusiness license. A maximum of three licenses for cannabis
microbusinesses shall be issued and only to existing cannabis dispensaries
lawfully operating in the City. The City Manager or designee shall
issue applications and operating regulations for the City cannabis
microbusiness licenses. No such license shall be issued prior to the
release of these regulations, and no license shall be granted that
has not complied fully with the application and operating regulations.
(b) A
microbusiness licensee shall only manufacture cannabis in a fully
enclosed building with adequate and safe ventilation as determined
necessary by the Building Official. A microbusiness licensee shall
not allow cannabis or cannabis products on the manufacturing site
to be visible from the public right-of-way, the unsecured areas surrounding
the buildings on the site, or the site's main entrance and lobby,
and shall display its current valid microbusiness license issued in
accordance with this section inside the lobby or waiting area of the
main entrance to the microbusiness site. The license shall be displayed
at all times in a conspicuous place so that it may be readily seen
by all persons entering the lobby of the manufacturing site. All cannabis
manufacturing facilities within a microbusiness shall have a site
security plan approved by the City Manager and Chief of Police.
(c) No
microbusiness licensee shall open their manufacturing site to the
public and no persons shall be allowed on the site except for managers,
staff, and other persons with a bona fide business or regulatory purpose
for being there, such as contractors, inspectors, and State-licensed
cannabis distributors.
(d) No
person shall conduct any retail sales of any good or services on or
from a cannabis manufacturing site except as a part of a microbusiness
operating under a valid State-issued Type 12 license and a valid City-issued
microbusiness license. A City microbusiness license will only be issued
to an applicant who, at the time of their application, possesses a
valid City-issued commercial adult-use or medical cannabis dispensary
license.
(e) No
person under the age of 21 shall be on the manufacturing site or operate
a cannabis microbusiness in any capacity, including, but not limited
to, as a manager, staff, employee, contractor, or volunteer.
(f) No
person shall smoke, ingest, or otherwise consume cannabis in any form
on, or within 50 feet of, the cannabis microbusiness and no person
shall possess, consume, or store any alcoholic beverage on the cannabis
microbusiness site.
(g) Each
cannabis microbusinesses shall be limited to a maximum of 7,500 square
feet of area to conduct all of the businesses authorized under the
microbusiness license, including the previously City licensed cannabis
dispensary. Microbusiness facilities shall not have any signage indicating
the nature of their operations, except as may be required by applicable
law. Cannabis microbusinesses may only be located in the M-1 and MPD
Zones and may not be located in any other zone in the City.
(h) Cannabis
manufacturing facilities, cannabis retail facilities, and cannabis
distribution facilities within a microbusiness must comply with the
City of Ojai's application, operating, and security regulations, as
issued by the City Manager and approved by the City Council, all other
applicable local laws, and all applicable state laws and regulations.
Applicants for initial and renewal applications for City cannabis
micro-business licenses must pay an application fee, set in the amount
adopted by the City Council by resolution. Applicants for cannabis
manufacturing licenses will be subject to City Manager approval and
the City Manager shall develop application forms and guidelines along
with specific criteria to review and approve applications for cannabis
manufacturing businesses in the City. The City Manager shall have
the discretion to approve only those applicants for available cannabis
microbusiness licenses who meet all applicable requirements and who
have demonstrated that the proposed cannabis microbusiness will not
be adverse to and will best protect the public's health, safety, and
welfare.
(§ 4, Ord. 898, eff. June 27, 2019)
(a) A
person may operate a cannabis manufacturing business if the person
obtains an annual valid cannabis manufacturing license from the City
and obtains a valid Type 6, 7, N, or P cannabis manufacturing license
from the State. A maximum of two licenses for cannabis manufacturing
businesses shall be issued and only to new applicants who do not possess
any other cannabis business license issued by the City. A cannabis
manufacturing business licensed under this section may only operate
as a manufacturing and distribution or manufacturing-only facility
and its licensees may not possess any cannabis delivery or dispensary
licenses in the City. The City Manager or designee shall issue applications
and operating regulations for the City cannabis manufacturing licenses.
No such license shall be issued prior to the release of these regulations,
and no license shall be granted that has not complied fully with the
application and operating regulations.
(b) A
manufacturing licensee shall only manufacture cannabis in a fully
enclosed building with adequate and safe ventilation as determined
necessary by the Building Official. A manufacturing licensee shall
not allow cannabis or cannabis products on the manufacturing site
to be visible from the public right-of-way, the unsecured areas surrounding
the buildings on the site, or the site's main entrance and lobby,
and shall display its current valid manufacturing license issued in
accordance with this section inside the lobby or waiting area of the
main entrance to the manufacturing site. The license shall be displayed
at all times in a conspicuous place so that it may be readily seen
by all persons entering the lobby of the manufacturing site. All cannabis
manufacturing facilities shall have a site security plan approved
by the City Manager and Chief of Police.
(c) No
manufacturing licensee shall open their manufacturing site to the
public and no persons shall be allowed on the site except for managers,
staff, and other persons with a bona fide business or regulatory purpose
for being there, such as contractors, inspectors, and State-licensed
cannabis distributors.
(d) No
person shall conduct any retail sales of any good or services on or
from a cannabis manufacturing site.
(e) No
person under the age of 21 shall be on the manufacturing site or operate
a cannabis manufacturing business in any capacity, including, but
not limited to, as a manager, staff, employee, contractor, or volunteer.
(f) No
person shall smoke, ingest, or otherwise consume cannabis in any form
on, or within 50 feet of, the manufacturing site and no person shall
possess, consume, or store any alcoholic beverage on the manufacturing
site.
(g) Each
cannabis manufacturing business shall be limited to a maximum of 4,000
square feet of area. Cannabis manufacturing businesses shall not have
any signage indicating the nature of their operations, except as may
be required by applicable law. Cannabis manufacturing businesses may
only be located in the M-1 and MPD Zones and may not be located in
any other zone in the City.
(h) Cannabis
manufacturing facilities must comply with the City of Ojai's application,
operating, and security regulations, as issued by the City Manager
and approved by the City Council, all other applicable local laws,
and all applicable State laws and regulations. Applicants for initial
and renewal applications for City cannabis manufacturing licenses
must pay an application fee, set in the amount adopted by the City
Council by resolution. Applicants for cannabis manufacturing licenses
will be subject to City Manager approval and the City Manager shall
develop application forms and guidelines along with specific criteria
to review and approve applications for cannabis manufacturing businesses
in the City. The City Manager shall have the discretion to approve
only those applicants for available cannabis manufacturing licenses
who meet all applicable requirements and who have demonstrated that
the proposed cannabis manufacturing business will not be adverse to
and will best protect the public's health, safety, and welfare.
(§ 5, Ord. 898, eff. June 27, 2019)
(a) Location criteria. A cannabis lounge shall be located in
compliance with the following requirements:
(1) Cannabis lounges may only be located in the C-1 Zone east of Park
Road on the north side of Ojai Avenue and east of South Fulton Street
on the south side of Ojai Avenue, M-1 and MPD Zones and may not be
located in any other zone in the City.
(2) Cannabis lounges shall have a dedicated separate entrance or internal
connection to any cannabis dispensary, if collocated with a cannabis
dispensary.
(3) The smoking, inhalation, consumption or ingestion of cannabis or
cannabis goods shall not be visible from any public place or any area
where minors may be present.
(4) The three allowed cannabis lounges may be located on the same premises
as, or on separate premises from, the three existing cannabis dispensaries
lawfully licensed by and operating in the City.
(b) Consumption. Cannabis and cannabis products/goods may be
sold on the premises of a cannabis lounge, subject to the requirements
set forth in this chapter or other applicable provisions of this Code
and State law. Customers may smoke, vape, ingest, or otherwise consume
cannabis in the indoor and outdoor areas of the cannabis lounge. All
cannabis and cannabis products sold must comply with applicable State
law regarding cannabis products.
(c) License. A maximum of three licenses for cannabis lounges
shall be issued and only to existing cannabis dispensaries lawfully
licensed by and operating in the City. The City Manager or designee
shall issue applications and operating regulations for the City's
cannabis lounges licenses. No such license shall be issued prior to
the release of these regulations, and no license shall be granted
that has not complied fully with the application and operating regulations
and all applicable City and State laws.
(d) Cannabis and food and beverages. Customers shall not be
permitted to bring their own cannabis, cannabis products, alcohol,
alcoholic products, tobacco, or tobacco products into any dispensary
or cannabis lounge. Cannabis lounges shall permit customers to bring
their own water into cannabis lounges and must provide water for free
to customers. The on-site sale of food, non-alcoholic beverages, and
food and nonalcoholic beverages infused with cannabis is permitted.
(e) Tobacco. No sales of tobacco products or smoking or ingesting
of tobacco shall be allowed in a cannabis lounge.
(f) Alcohol. No alcoholic beverage sales or ingestion of alcohol
products shall be allowed in a cannabis lounge.
(g) All
cannabis consumption lounges must comply with the City of Ojai's application,
operating, and security regulations, as adopted by the City Manager,
all other applicable local laws, and all applicable State laws and
regulations.
(§ 6, Ord. 939, eff. October 12, 2023)