Calera council enacts 90‑day moratorium on municipal approvals for consumable hemp products

The Calera City Council on [date not specified in transcript] unanimously approved Resolution 2026‑46, imposing a 90‑day temporary moratorium on municipal approvals related to consumable hemp products while the city develops review procedures and local regulatory standards. City attorney Grace explained the legal basis for the moratorium, comparing it to language courts have applied in liquor‑license cases and noting safety‑oriented restrictions such as setbacks from schools.

"The city can do a temporary moratorium until you guys develop some standards and some rules and regulations that fit," Grace said during the preceding work session, recommending a 90‑day window while the city finalizes rules. Council members offered no substantive objection and moved the resolution to a roll‑call vote, which the council approved by unanimous consent.

The moratorium, described by staff as a short pause to allow development of consistent review criteria and reasonable regulatory standards, does not permanently ban the product. Staff identified likely policy levers such as age restrictions, testing and labeling requirements, setbacks from schools or parks, signage limits, and other operational conditions that may be included in the ordinance package to follow. The council directed staff to draft those procedures during the moratorium period and return with proposed regulations for adoption.

Looking ahead, the resolution gives the city time to craft rules that the attorney said are more appropriate than a long‑term ban: "Our firm doesn't really recommend anything really beyond a year because at some point, it's a legal product," Grace said in the work‑session discussion.