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Atascadero City Council votes against permitting cannabis retail stores

October 16, 2025

By KAREN VELIE

The Atascadero City Council on Tuesday voted 3-2 against allowing retail cannabis stores in the city. Council members Seth Peek, Heather Newsom, and Mark Dariz voted to abandon plans to allow local pot shops.

City staff estimated a retail cannabis store could result in $500,000 to $1 million in tax revenue a year before expenses. In addition, the staff report warned the council of an unstable marijuana industry.

Proponents of allowing retail pot shops focused their comments on the possible financial gains the shops could bring the city.

On the other side, opponents of allowing cannabis retail stores voiced concerns regarding risks to young people.

“In California, the retail cannabis industry is in a state of flux, marked by financial struggles for legal
businesses, intense competition from a thriving illicit market, and shifting tax policies,” according to the staff report. “While the legal market continues to grow in terms of production and units sold, sales revenue is declining, leading to consolidation and business failures.”

 


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I’m disappointed. I wanted to see who got the license(s) following the universal corruption of Grover Beach, SLO, and MB. I can tell you who their “consultant” would be though.


0

How would, “I smoke dope” look on your resume? I guess it would depend on who you want to work for?


3

Wise choice.


11

Arrests encourage healthy revenues but jail vacancies are few.


-2

WE THE PEOPLE stopped the idiocy in its tracks.


Dopers are dopes!


Winning!


10

Good thing too! We could and up like Santa Barbara, Palm Springs or Monterey!! Keep the devil’s lettuce away from here. We need good wholesome distilleries and dive bars. High end restaurants where the patrons can get shot faced and enjoy our country roads


8

All that accomplishes is directing more people to Perfect Union and NHC in Morro Bay lol. From what I read, GenZ doesnt drink, and regardless of the business aspect being “in flux”(whatever that means) or not; marijuana itself is clearly more popular than ever. The less drunk alcoholics the better imo.


7

Not that it matters at this point I guess but since “City staff estimated a retail cannabis store could result in $500,000 to $1 million in tax revenue a year before expenses” I wonder what the staff estimated the revenue would have been after expenses?


35

From July 2022 to June 2023, ALL cannabis retailers in SLO County paid almost $600,000 in cannabis taxes. Where Atascadero alone figured on $500,000 to $1 million, is pretty fanciful.


1