Four new retail cannabis dispensaries could be approved in Monterey, marking the first retail locations within the city limits.
During Tuesday’s council meeting, the City Council will be presented with the top four applicants and the waitlisted applicants.
A drawing will also be held to determine which zones the selected cannabis businesses will operate in — Lighthouse Avenue, Cannery Row, Downtown and North Fremont Street.
The top four applicants are Monterey Responsible and Compliant Retail LLC (Embarc), Element 7 SF$ LLC (Element 7), Monterey Pacific Retail Holdings, Inc. (Culture Cannabis Club), and OTC Monterey, LLC (Off the Charts.)
The council will vote on whether to issue store retail cannabis business permits to the top applicants and they will keep their spot contingent on successfully obtaining a zone clearance.
City staff announced that 13 applications were filed during the open application period from Dec. 15 to Jan. 29. The staff cut the number to eight through a “detailed application evaluation and review process.” The Selection Committee consisting of Mayor Tyller Williamson and Vice Mayor Kim Barber interviewed all eight candidates and selected the final four.
“As we approach the City Council’s final approval of cannabis retailers, we believe the City Council is poised to approve cannabis retailers