Lake County supervisors continue moratorium discussion on commercial cannabis permits to Aug. 5

The Lake County Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 on July 22 to continue consideration of an interim urgency ordinance that would place a moratorium on issuance of use permits for commercial cannabis cultivation in the unincorporated area to Aug. 5 at 10:30 a.m.

The board’s action followed a request from Vice Chair Rasmussen that the item be continued so the county’s full five-member board could consider the measure: “I’m gonna request that the board consider continuing this item to a future date and time certain for the reason that 20% of our population does not have their elected representative here today to weigh in on this,” Rasmussen said during the meeting.

The ordinance under consideration would bar the county from issuing new use permits for commercial cannabis cultivation while staff completes amendments and review. Sponsor Supervisor Owen told the board he had worked with staff while drafting the moratorium and identified several corrections he plans to raise before final action, including removing the word “agriculture” from the moratorium language, deleting a drought-related clause he believes no longer applies, and adding a missing Section 6. Owen also specified an exemption for applications already deemed complete: “the moratorium shall not apply to land use approval or permit applications deemed complete by the County of Lake Community Development Department on or before 07/08/2025,” he said.

County counsel advised that the item before the board on July 22 was the limited procedural request to continue the item and that the substantive ordinance would be presented with recommendations on Aug. 5. Counsel reminded the board that staff would continue to refine the ordinance between now and the date certain and that any presentation given on July 22 could still be revised in compliance with public‑meeting notice rules under the Brown Act.

During public comment, Tom Lasik urged that the sponsoring supervisor be allowed to present the proposed ordinance so the public could review it before a continuance; counsel and the chair said the full substantive presentation is expected on Aug. 5. Another member of the public raised a separate concern about a previously issued permit on Buster Canyon Road and said the court had found that permit was issued improperly; that speaker was told the moratorium continuance discussion was procedural and they were invited to return on Aug. 5.

With no further public comment, Supervisor Owen moved to continue the item to Aug. 5 at 10:30 a.m.; the motion was seconded and carried 4-0 with Supervisor Pyska absent. Staff indicated it will prepare a revised ordinance for the Aug. 5 meeting that incorporates the corrections discussed and will post any updates to the county’s online agenda materials in advance.

The continuation means the board will take up the full ordinance, any staff recommendations, and public testimony at the Aug. 5 meeting. The moratorium’s final scope, exemptions, and effective dates remain subject to the version of the ordinance posted before that hearing and to any further edits the board or staff make ahead of the Aug. 5 session.