Dana Point Municipal Code Ch. 5.40 Cannabis-Related Uses, Commercial Cannabis Activities, Deliveries, And…

"Cannabis"

shall mean all parts of the plant Cannabis sativa Linnaeus, Cannabis indica, or Cannabis ruderalis, whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin, whether crude or purified, extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, its seeds, or resin. "Cannabis" also means the separated resin, whether crude or purified, obtained from marijuana. "Cannabis" also means "marijuana" as defined by Section 11018 of the California Health and Safety Code as enacted by Chapter 1407 of the Statutes of 1972. The term "cannabis" shall also have the same meaning as set forth in Section 19300.5(f) of the California Business and Professions Code, as may be amended from time to time. "Cannabis" does not include the mature stalks of the plant, fiber produced from the stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of the plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the mature stalks (except the resin extracted therefrom), fiber, oil, or cake, or the sterilized seed of the plant which is incapable of germination. For the purpose of this Chapter, "cannabis" does not mean "industrial hemp" as defined by Section 81000 of the California Food and Agricultural Code or Section 11018.5 of the California Health and Safety Code.

"Caregiver" or "primary caregiver"

shall have the same meaning as set forth in Section 11362.7 of the California Health and Safety Code, as may be amended from time to time.

"Commercial cannabis activity"

shall include the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, processing, storing, laboratory testing, packaging, labeling, transportation, delivery or sale of cannabis and cannabis products.

"Cooperative"

shall mean two or more persons collectively or cooperatively cultivating, using, transporting, possessing, administering, delivering, or making available marijuana, with or without cultivation.

"Cultivation" or "cultivate"

shall mean any activity involving the planting, growing, harvesting, drying, curing, grading, or trimming of medical cannabis..

"Delivery"

shall have the same mean the commercial transfer of medical cannabis or medical cannabis products from a dispensary, up to an amount determined by the bureau to a primary caregiver or qualified patient as defined in Section 11362.7 of the Health and Safety Code, or a testing laboratory. "Delivery" also includes the use by a dispensary of any technology platform owned and controlled by the dispensary, or independently licensed under this Chapter, that enables qualified patients or primary caregivers to arrange for or facilitate the commercial transfer by a licensed dispensary of medical cannabis or medical cannabis products.

"Dispensary"

shall mean a premises where medical cannabis, medical cannabis products, or devices for the use of medical cannabis or medical cannabis products are offered, either individually or in any combination, for retail sale, including an establishment that delivers, pursuant to Section 19340, medical cannabis and medical cannabis products as part of a retail sale. For purposes of this Chapter, "dispensary" shall also include a cooperative. "Dispensary" shall not include the following uses: (1) a clinic licensed pursuant to Chapter 1 of Division 2 of the California Health and Safety Code; (2) a health care facility licensed pursuant to Chapter 2 of Division 2 of the California Health and Safety Code; (3) a residential care facility for persons with chronic life threatening illnesses licensed pursuant to Chapter 3.01 of Division 2 of the California Health and Safety Code; (4) a residential care facility for the elderly licensed pursuant to Chapter 3.2 of Division 2 of the California Health and Safety Code; (5) a residential hospice or home health agency licensed pursuant to Chapter 8 of Division 2 of the California Health and Safety Code.

"Medical cannabis" "medical cannabis product," or "cannabis product"

means a product containing cannabis, including, but not limited to, concentrates and extractions, intended to be sold for use by medical cannabis patients in California pursuant to the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 (Proposition 215), found at Section 11362.5 of the Health and Safety Code. For the purposes of this Chapter, "medical cannabis" does not include "industrial hemp" as defined by Section 81000 of the Food and Agricultural Code or Section 11018.5 of the Health and Safety Code..

"Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act" or "MMRSA"

shall mean and refer to the following three bills signed into law on October 9, 2015, as the same may be amended from time to time: AB 243, AB 266, SB 643.

"Qualifying patient" or "qualified patient"

shall have the same meaning as set forth in Section 11362.7 of the California Health and Safety Code, as may be amended from time to time.

(Added by Ord. 16-01, 1/19/16; amended by Ord. 25-09, 6/17/2025)

All cannabis-related uses, including, but not limited to, dispensaries, deliveries, cultivation and all other commercial cannabis activities for which a State license is required under the MMRSA, are prohibited in all zones throughout the City. Accordingly, the City shall not issue any permit, or process any license or other entitlement for any cannabis related use or any other activity for which a State license is required under the MMRSA.

(a) Cannabis-Related Uses. All cannabis-related uses, including, but not limited to, cultivation, dispensaries, and deliveries are prohibited in all zones and all specific plan areas in the City, regardless of whether the cannabis is used for medicinal purposes or whether such uses qualify as commercial cannabis activities under the MMRSA. No person shall establish, operate, conduct, permit or allow any cannabis related use anywhere within the City.

(b) Medical Cannabis Uses. All medical cannabis related uses, including cultivation, dispensaries, and deliveries are expressly prohibited in all zones and all specific plan areas in the City, regardless of whether such uses qualify as commercial cannabis activities under the MMRSA. No person shall establish, operate, conduct, permit or allow any medical cannabis related land use anywhere within the City.

(c) Commercial Cannabis Activities. All commercial cannabis activities, including, but not limited to, cooperatives, dispensaries, cultivation, and deliveries, are expressly prohibited in all zones and all specific plan areas in the City. No person shall establish, operate, conduct, permit or allow a commercial cannabis activity anywhere within the City.

(d) Cannabis Deliveries. All deliveries of cannabis and medical cannabis are expressly prohibited in the City. No person shall conduct any deliveries of cannabis or medical cannabis that either originate or terminate at any location within the City.

(e) Cannabis Cultivation. The cultivation of cannabis, regardless of whether for commercial or non-commercial purposes, and including cultivation by a qualified patient or primary caregiver is expressly prohibited in all zones and all specific plan areas in the City. No person, including, but not limited to, a qualified patient or primary caregiver, shall cultivate any amount of cannabis in the City, regardless of whether or not the cannabis is intended to be used for medical purposes.

(Added by Ord. 16-01, 1/19/16; amended by Ord. 25-09, 6/17/2025)

Any use or condition caused, or permitted to exist, in violation of any provision of this Chapter shall be, and is hereby declared to be, a public nuisance and may be summarily abated by the City pursuant to Section 731 of the California Code of Civil Procedure or any other remedy available at law.

(Added by Ord. 16-01, 1/19/16; amended by Ord. 25-09, 6/17/2025)

In addition to any other enforcement permitted by the Dana Point Municipal Code, the City Attorney may bring a civil action for injunctive relief and civil penalties against any person who violates any provision of this Chapter. In any civil action that is brought pursuant to this Chapter, a court of competent jurisdiction may award civil penalties and costs to the prevailing party.

(Added by Ord. 16-01, 1/19/16; amended by Ord. 25-09, 6/17/2025)

The prohibitions and provisions in this Chapter are cumulative to any and all other prohibitions and regulations in the Dana Point Municipal Code concerning cannabis, medical cannabis, and marijuana, including, but not limited to, the City's ban on marijuana related uses via its permissive zoning regulations. Nothing in this Chapter supersedes or shall be construed to conflict with any other prohibitions or regulations in the Dana Point Municipal Code.

(Added by Ord. 16-01, 1/19/16; amended by Ord. 25-09, 6/17/2025)