SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The South Lake Tahoe City Council (Council) has on its agenda Tuesday several changes to the Cannabis Ordinance and Public Safety License Ordinance: On-site consumption, allowing increased cultivation canopy from 5,000 to 22,000 square feet and allowing owners and operators to hold more than one non-retail permit.

The Council meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. and is held virtually and in person at the Council Chambers at the airport.

When the original ordinance was approved three years ago, the Council at the time agreed with the committee set up to help create the new rules to go slow and see what works in South Lake Tahoe. They also didn’t want to see large companies come into town and create a monopoly on cannabis, nor encourage the use of cannabis before people get in vehicles.

At the time:

– An owner and/or operator of a cannabis business may not own or operate more than one cannabis business within the city.
– No on-site consumption of cannabis products.
– No more than two Microbusinesses are permitted in the city.
– No more than two Cultivators are permitted in the city.
– No more than four Manufacturers are permitted in the city.
– There will be no more than two retailers are permitted in the city, unless one or both of the permitted micro-businesses do not include a retailer component, in which case an additional retailer shall be permitted for each microbusiness without a retailer component, up to a limit of no more than four retailers in the city.
– The cultivation of cannabis for commercial purposes shall only be
cultivated within a fully enclosed space up to 5,000 square feet.

There are currently three cannabis retail businesses operating under this ordinance. Tahoe Wellness Center is operating under a settlement agreement with the City and had three years to conform under the rules of the ordinance and be licensed by the City by April 2022.

The ordinance currently limits hours of operation of cannabis businesses and they must close by 10:00 p.m. If approved, the change to the ordinance now states they could remain open for on-site consumption until 2:00 a.m. Not all cities where cannabis retail sales are allowed have on-site consumption. Carson City Board of Supervisors voted against allowing it in July 2021.

For the complete staff report and agenda, and how to participate in the meetings, visit HERE.