The following is a press release issued by the County of Mendocino:
The Mendocino Cannabis Department is pleased to announce the resumption of operations at 860 N. Bush Street, Ukiah, by September 1, 2023. Interim Cannabis Director Steve Dunnicliff made this announcement recently, highlighting the department’s commitment to providing efficient services.
The Cannabis Department had moved to the Willits Justice Center to accommodate growing staffing needs, and to ensure space was available for contract planners assisting with a backlog of applications. These contract planners are now working successfully off-site, and do not rely on County office space. In addition to a better utilization of physical space, benefits from moving the Cannabis Department include opportunities to collaborate with Planning & Building Services through partnerships to assist with workload. These partnerships may include support for routine administrative tasks and site inspections.
The Board of Supervisors has been actively engaged in streamlining cannabis regulations within the Mendocino County Code, approving a streamlined cannabis regulation ordinance on May 23, 2023, and approving a contract for a programmatic environmental impact report (EIR). The State of California has agreed to be the lead agency for site-specific environmental reviews after the completion of the EIR. Additionally, the State granted an additional year for the transition of provisional licenses to annual licenses.
Throughout this period, the Cannabis Department has made significant progress in supporting the Cannabis Program. Expanded service counter hours now ensure accessibility to the public from Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Accela permitting software is also now functioning, and permit applications are being successfully processed through to license issuance. As the backlog of applications is addressed over the next year, the Department’s primary workload will shift from issuing licenses to processing license renewals.
Mendocino Cannabis Department Senior Planner Matt Goines stated “We are excited to continue serving the community and look forward to strengthening our relationships with stakeholders. The Mendocino Cannabis Department is committed to providing a transparent, efficient, and supportive environment for all involved.”
For enhanced communication and timely updates, interested individuals are encouraged to sign up for Mendocino County Canna-Notes via the following link:
https://www.mendocinocounty.org/government/cannabis-cultivation/enotifications
This notification system will keep you informed about important developments and opportunities in the cannabis industry.
