Promises of community donations, increased tax revenue and public safety were all made Monday as cannabis business hopefuls vied for the city of Ventura’s attention.
Nine applicants for cannabis retail and distribution permits spent about 10 minutes each on public presentations to city staff and the public. More than 100 people watched from the community meeting room at City Hall and an overflow crowd formed in the nearby City Council chambers.
Ventura City Manager Alex McIntyre will make a decision on awarding permits in August or September, said Yesania Anderson, a Ventura management analyst in community development who ran the meeting. McIntyre was not at the meeting but will take into consideration the details presented and all related materials, city officials said.
The city can award up to three retail permits and up to 10 distribution permits. The nine finalists were selected by an outside consulting group using combined criteria of business ownership, neighborhood compatibility, community benefits, investment plans and proposed locations, according to the city.
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Supporters of cannabis businesses wearing shirts with company logos attended the meeting and gave public comments.
Presentations included one distribution applicant, Ventura’s Finest, to be located at 3037 Golf Course Dr. Suite #3.
The applicants for retail permits are:
• Shryne Ventura LLC, 1860 S. Victoria Ave.
• Haven #2 LLC, 1981 S. Victoria Ave.
• 805 Reefinery Inc, 4475 Dupont Court Suite #12 and #13
• MOM Ventura LLC, 3868 E. Main St.
• Responsible and Compliant Retail Ventura LLC, 1890 E. Main St.
• TAT Ventura LLC, 2835 E. Main St.
• ZASA LLC, 4591 Market St.
• Harbor Management Group LLC, 5801 Valentine Road
Tak Soto of Shryne Ventura said his retail company also manufactures its own products and controls its own supply chain to create a safe product.
Soto, who is president of Shryne Group and Stiiizy, said his stores generate on average $25 million a year and he expects the Ventura store to generate $35 million in the first year with $1.4 million in cannabis taxes going to the city. The company has 22 retail cannabis stores with the 23rd opening this weekend, he said.
“Safety is our No. 1 priority,” Soto said. “Despite having by far the most stores in California, we’ve had zero instances of theft or robberies at our stores.”
Ventura’s Mike Marostica of Responsible and Compliant Retail Ventura also spoke about safety.
“Ultimately, we are committed to ensuring public health and safety…and meaningful public engagement in our hometown,” Marostica said.
A local school district and some residents expressed concerns that the cannabis businesses would open near places where children congregate.
Ventura Unified School District board President Sabrena Rodriguez read from a letter written by the superintendent objecting to Shryne Ventura and Responsible and Compliant Retail Ventura due to their proximity to schools.
According to Superintendent Roger Rice, Shryne Ventura is close to Montalvo Elementary School and on a popular walking and driving path for students and on a highly visible street corner.
Responsible and Compliant Retail Ventura is near Ventura High School, Cabrillo Middle School and Ventura County Christian School, the letter said. The property is also on a popular walking and driving path and on a highly visible street.
“Regardless of how one feels about the legalization of marijuana, we should all agree that children should not be subjected to daily messaging that marijuana use is an acceptable activity for them,” Rice’s letter said.
Many businesses had local ties. Haven #2 local owner Peter Goldenring said his business is partnering with the Ventura County Arts Council for a new art center nearby.
The majority owner of MOM Ventura is Ventura resident Kevin Clerici, executive director of Downtown Ventura Partners.
Clerici said he understood the importance of “doing this absolutely right to make sure Ventura introduces cannabis to our community in the right way.”
In November 2020, Ventura voters approved a ballot measure for the taxation of cannabis in the city. In February 2021, the City Council adopted ordinances to allow for commercial cannabis businesses in Ventura.
The city hired a consultant, Brea-based Hinderliter, de Llamas & Associates, to help select the finalists, Anderson said.
To date, the consultant has been paid more than $114,000 for their services, Anderson said.
Originally, the city asked the applicants to give a presentation with slides at the meeting but because the projection screen did not work the applicants gave oral presentations instead. Anderson said those presentations will be made available online soon.
The city will accept general comments about the cannabis business selection process through July 22.
For more information or to submit public comment, visit CityofVentura.ca.gov/Cannabis
Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at wesley.woodsii@vcstar.com, 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Potential Ventura cannabis businesses make their case
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