Local farmer wants to stir the pot

By Chris Campos Staff Writer

OAKLEY A local vineyard and farmer wants to bring a new crop to the city: Cannabis.

The Continente Ranch and their partner, Sky Grades, have submitted an application to the city to build and operate a “state-of-the-art, fully integrated cannabis production facility encompassing cultivation, extraction, manufacturing, packaging and distribution” at their property at 112 Sandy Lane. The facility, according to the application, is expected to be 56,000 square feet.

At last week’s City Council meeting, City Manager Josh McMurray said the application “was just submitted recently” and added that the project is still months away from being considered by the Planning Commission.

At that meeting, City Council member George Fuller asked that the application be brought directly to the Council and bypass the Planning Commission altogether. “It’s obviously going to stir up the community and cause debate,” he said. “We’re moving in a new direction in terms of sales and the image we put out to other communities.”

City Attorney Derek Cole advised Fuller that the project will come before the City Council after the Planning Commission conducts its re- view in any case. He said if Fuller could draw a second vote from his colleagues, then the Council could bypass the Planning Commission.

Vice Mayor Anissa Williams interjected and said, “I would rather have more eyes on it, not less.” No second was offered, and the meeting ended without any formal action by the Council.

A representative of the Continente Ranch declined to comment on the application this week.

The cannabis industry in California has steadily grown in size and sales since recreational marijuana was legalized in 2016. According to the state Department of Cannabis Control, Contra Costa County’s cannabis taxable sales grew from $5.3 million in the second quarter of 2018 to $27.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Owners of the Continente Ranch in Oakley are seeking city approval to build a cannabis manufacturing and production dispensary on Sandy Lane.

The city of Antioch reported cannabis fee receipts of $381,408 in 2020, $1,453,579 in 2021 and $1,770,621 in 2022.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2023, cannabis retailers became responsible for collecting and paying the cannabis excise tax to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. A 15% cannabis see Pot page 22A