The long wait for a retail cannabis shop to open up in Pacific Grove just got a little longer. A P.G. City Council majority voted on Wednesday, March 18 to put a pause on a lottery planned for March 30 in favor of collecting more information on a definition of what constitutes ownership.
Ever since questions were raised by at least one applicant in the lottery over whether eight of the 10 applicants were under single ownership and whether that constituted "permit stacking," there's been discussion at council over how to proceed.
Councilmembers Tina Rau and Cynthia Garfield contended Wednesday that the city had already followed the rules and they should go ahead with the lottery.
"I think this sounds a little bit like sour grapes," Rau said.
Councilmember Chaps Poduri brought the matter to the meeting, saying more analysis was needed.
"We're somewhat at a pivotal moment for the cannabis licensing process and this agenda item is just to ensure the process is fair and legally sound," Poduri said.
He wanted city staff to research if any of the applicants share common ownership or control as defined under state law and P.G. code. He also wanted written legal authority to support the city's interpretation of the permitting process, among other data points.
Mayor Nick Smith called it "a close call" but said he would vote for the pause and wait until the analysis comes back by the end of April.
"Let's uncover that rock and see what's underneath it," Smith said.
The vote was 4-2, Rau and Garfield voting no and Councilmember Paul Walkingstick absent.
The matter could come back to council on May 6.