The possibility of bringing legal cannabis businesses to Grass Valley failed back in 2009 and 2010, but is now being looked on favorably by the city council. Tuesday evening the city council approved the process of beginning amendments to the city development code, directed staff to draft an ordinance to regulate location and number of cannabis businesses, and allowed the city attorney to draft a ballot measure to create a taxing mechanism for cannabis businesses.
Development Director Tom Last says in 2016 the city formed an Ad hoc Committee of two council members and people interested in cultivating, processing, and distributing cannabis.

At the same time, California also began the process of legalizing recreational use cannabis, so the committee took a break for a while to see how the situation played out in other jurisdictions. Then last month the committee was contacted and produced a short list of recommendations including two areas where businesses might be located.

Mayor Lisa Swarthout, who presented the idea of a medical dispensary in 2009, is pleased to see cannabis moving forward in Grass Valley.

Swarthout also stressed that it is still very early in the approval process and there will be many opportunities for more public comment.