These permits are limited. 

• Retail storefront (limited to three total): If you have a retail storefront permit, you can sell cannabis goods, cannabis accessories and branded merchandise to the public on site. 
  • The City currently has two retail storefront operators, therefore, only one retail storefront application may be selected during this application period.

   

• Cultivation (limited to a city-wide total of 70,000 sq. ft. of total canopy area): Any activity involving the planting, growing, harvesting, drying, curing, grading, or trimming of cannabis.
  • For example: If the City receives two cultivation applications, one for 50,000 square feet and another for 40,000 square feet (total of 90,000 sq ft), the applications will be scored and ranked because both cannot be accepted.

These permits are unlimited:

• Non-storefront retail (delivery-only): Businesses with this permit type may sell cannabis goods exclusively by delivery, and may not operate a walk-in retail storefront. “Delivery” also includes sales made through a business's online platfrom or mobile app.
  • (For cannabis delivery businesses located outside City limits but operating and delivering products within the City of San Luis Obispo, a Business License and Cannabis Tax Certificate is required).
    
    
• Manufacturing: The production, preparation, or compounding of cannabis products—such as edibles, tinctures, topicals, or concentrates—using cannabis flower, oil, or resin. Only non-volatile extraction methods are allowed.
  
  
• Testing labs: Testing cannabis and cannabis goods to verify potency, purity, and safety in compliance with state and local regulations.
  
  

• Distribution: The procurement, sale, and transport of cannabis and cannabis and cannabis goods between licensees.

In 1996, the State of California became the first state in the nation to legalize medical cannabis when voters passed Prop 215 or The Compassionate Use Act. That distinction is now shared with 39 other states. Under the Compassionate Use Act, qualified patients and their caregivers can cultivate cannabis for personal use, subject to local laws.

Some of the common medical reasons people use cannabis include:

1. Chronic pain: Cannabis can help reduce long-term pain from conditions like arthritis or nerve damage.
2. Nausea and vomiting: It’s often used by people undergoing cancer treatments, like chemotherapy, to reduce nausea and vomiting.
3. Muscle spasms: Cannabis may help people with conditions like multiple sclerosis that cause muscle stiffness or spasms.
4. Anxiety and stress: Some people use cannabis to help with anxiety or stress, though this can depend on the type of cannabis used.
5. Seizures: CBD, a part of cannabis that doesn’t make you feel high, can help reduce seizures in people with epilepsy.

Doctors sometimes recommend cannabis because it can provide relief when other medications don’t work as well or have too many side effects. However, it’s important for people to use medical cannabis under a doctor’s guidance because it affects everyone differently.

On November 8, 2016, California voters passed Prop 64 or the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA), allowing adults 21 years or older to legally grow, possess and use cannabis for non-medical purposes.  California is currently one of 24 states where recreational cannabis is legal.  Under Prop. 64, residents can grow up to 6 plants in their household, subject to the approval and/or conditions set by their local jurisdiction.

People use cannabis for recreational reasons mainly because it can change how they feel and help them relax or have fun. Here are some common reasons:

Even though people may use cannabis to relax or have fun, it’s important to know that its effects can vary depending on how much is used and the person’s body. For some, it might cause unwanted effects like anxiety, confusion, or feeling too sleepy. Laws and regulations about using cannabis recreationally also vary, click on Regulations for Recreational Use below for more information.