PASO ROBLES, CA, Friday, October 28, 2022 – Results from the Paso Robles community survey regarding cannabis are now available on the City’s web site. In July 2022, the City Council directed staff to conduct community outreach to gauge input on the potential for expanding the types of cannabis businesses that are allowed within the City, with a focus on retail storefronts. The City’s cannabis consultant HDL and City staff developed a comprehensive community survey, which went live on August 9, 2022.
The survey gauged community opinions on cannabis business types, where cannabis business should be located, preferences on buffers from sensitive uses, and concerns related to potential impacts of cannabis businesses. The survey remained open until September 5, 2022 and was taken by over 1,338 respondents.
Respondents of the survey generally support allowing adult‐use and medical cannabis retail storefronts within the City, with preferences on expanding certain sensitive use buffers, where cannabis storefronts should be located and how any cannabis tax proceeds should be used. Respondents indicated youth access to cannabis and driving under the influence of cannabis were the most pressing concerns associated with expanding cannabis business types within the City. Of those that took the survey, approximately 62 percent indicated they voted in favor of Proposition 64, which legalized specified personal use and cultivation of marijuana for adults 21 years of age or older in California. This response is aligned with actual voting results for Proposition 64 within the City.
The results of the survey, along with community input provided at a workshop on August 19, 2022 will be included as part of future City Council discussions on this topic. The matter is expected to return to the City Council after the new calendar year begins.
The survey results can be found at: https://www.prcity.com/981/Cannabis‐Business‐Tax‐‐‐New.
Please note the survey was designed for respondents to provide free‐form information to some questions. These responses may contain topics or language that some may find offensive. The City has not edited or redacted this information for transparency purposes.