Commercial Cannabis Information

Application Process

The City temporarily postponed the Application Review Process on March 16, 2023 for its commercial cannabis business program to address pending litigation.  Application review resumed on July 13, 2023. 

Phase I: Determination of Eligibility - Review is now complete, eight out of nine applications moved on to Phase II: Quality Assurance Review. 

Phase II: Quality Assurance - Review is now complete, eight out of eight applications moved onto Phase III: Staff Evaluation Committee. Each Applicant received direct notification at the email address indicated on their application with instructions for Phase III.

Phase III: Staff Evaluation Committee – Interviews and score tabulations are now complete.  The results of Phase III scores are found in the table below:

The top three Applicants have moved onto Phase IV: City Manager Final Decision.  Each Applicant received direct notification at the email address indicated on their application regarding their status in the process.

Phase IV: City Manager Final Decision - The City has issued conditional approval for three Commercial Cannabis Retail Permits. Permittees have until December 1, 2023 to accept the Conditional Permits. Conditional Permits were issued to: 

Please continue checking this Commercial Cannabis Information page for updates and information.

History 

In November 2020, Artesia voters approved Measure Q; a ballot measure that allows taxes to be collected from the sale of cannabis in Artesia. In November 2021, the City Council identified cannabis as an opportunity to enhance economic development and created an ad-hoc committee of the City Council to work on an Ordinance that would lift the prohibitions on medical and commercial cannabis activities in the City, and establish regulations to provide a permitting process for cannabis sales and businesses within Artesia.

In 2022, the City held a variety of public meetings, including a Town Hall meeting to provide the public the opportunity to comment on a draft Ordinance that would permit up to three retail cannabis businesses to operate within the City.  

The Artesia City Council amended changes to the City’s Zoning Code by adopting Ordinance No. 22-929 in October 2022, to permit cannabis retail sales within certain zones in the City.  The City Council also adopted regulatory Ordinance No. 22-930 in November 2022, to permit commercial cannabis activity within Artesia.  Ordinance No. 22-930 was then amended by Ordinance No. 22-938,  which went into effect on February 16, 2023.  

The application review postponement was done pursuant to the Application Procedure Guidelines and Review Criteria for a Commercial Cannabis Business Permit, which provides, in part: “City’s Reservation of Rights.  The City reserves the right to reject any and/or all applications, with or without cause or reason.  The City may modify, postpone, or cancel the request for a retail cannabis permit without liability, obligation, or commitment to any person, party, firm, or organization.” During the postponement, Applicants had the ability to voluntarily withdraw their applications at any time by providing written notice to cannabisinfo@cityofartesia.us.

Also during the postponement, the City evaluated its process and regulations.  As a result of the review, the City Council adopted amended Ordinances 23-944 and 23-945 (links provided below) on June 12, 2023.   On June 12, 2023, at a regularly scheduled Council meeting, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 23-944, a zoning text amendment regarding Articles 20 and 44 of Chapter 2 of Title of the Artesia Municipal Code to establish an administrative design review process for commercial cannabis businesses and reaffirming the allowable zones for commercial cannabis businesses, including specified zones and specific plan areas which are south of State Route 91.  Also on June 12, 2023, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 23-943, which updated the regulations that permit commercial cannabis activity within Artesia.  These Ordinances took effect on July 13, 2023.

This webpage will be updated periodically to provide information relating to the status of the City’s Cannabis Program, opening of the application period, to address frequently asked questions (FAQ’s), and provide application materials and guidelines for potential cannabis businesses.  

All inquiries must be submitted by email to cannabisinfo@cityofartesia.us. Responses will be provided through the cannabis website FAQ page.

Important note to prospective cannabis applicants: It is the responsibility of prospective applicants to closely monitor the Artesia cannabis website for new information.  Any attempt to contact City staff using alternative methods of communication (e.g. direct email to City staff, phone calls, visits to City Hall, etc.) are highly discouraged, and should not be relied upon for accurate information regarding the application process.

The City will not be accepting sponsorships or donations for any City-operated program from any cannabis-related business or applicant.  Prospective applicants should not contact City staff or officials regarding any sponsorship or donation opportunities.

Available Materials

Ordinances

City of Artesia Ordinance No. 23-940Title 3, Chapter 5, Article 5 (Cannabis Business Tax)Adopted by Voters on November 3, 2020

City of Artesia Ordinance No. 22-929Title 9, Chapter 2, Article 44 (Commercial Marijuana Use and Cultivation)Adopted October 10, 2022

City of Artesia Ordinance No. 22-930Title 3, Chapter 2, Article 8 (Adult Cannabis Businesses and Activities)Adopted November 14, 2022

City of Artesia Ordinance No. 22-938Amending Sections 3-2.802 and 3-2.803 of Article 8 (Adult Cannabis Businesses and Activities) Adopted January 17, 2023

City of Artesia Resolution No. 23-2920 Adopting the application, procedures, guidelines, and scoring criteria.

City of Artesia Resolution No. 23-2919  Adopting the Cannabis fee schedule

City of Artesia Ordinance No. 23-943 Title 9, Chapter 2, Article 20 (Design Review Approval) and Article 44 (Commercial Marijuana Use and Cultivation) Adopted June 12, 2023

City of Artesia Ordinance No. 23-944 Title 3, Chapter 2, Article 8 (Adult Cannabis Business and Activities) Adopted June 12, 2023

Zoning Map
FAQ’s – Updated 11/14/23

Phase III: Process and Procedures for Scoring Applications

Application Materials
Application Procedures Guidelines and Review Criteria

Permit Application     
The application period is now closed.

Cannabis Appeal Form