Board of Supervisors Adopt Socially Equitable Cannabis Program
On August 19 and September 2, 2026, the County of San Diego Board of Supervisors took action to adopt the Socially Equitable Cannabis Program (SECP), which allows the permitting and licensing of new cannabis facilities with a 600-ft buffer from schools, day cares and youth centers.
Administrative Item: Second Consideration and Adoption of an Ordinance: Traffic Advisory Committee [08/19/2026 - Adopt Recommendations Including Introducing an Ordinance; 09/02/2026 - Second Reading of an Ordinance, Unless Ordinance is Modified on Second Reading, and CEQA Exemption Finding] FILE # 26-526
San Diego County Planning Groups and Sponsor Groups were unified on their views. Sweetwater Community Planning Group came up with a message to the Board of Supervisors before the vote:
No Cannabis programs should be allowed in the unincorporated areas.
But if they must be allowed, then please follow the recommendations presented by the San Diego County Planning Commissioners
1. Prohibition of outdoor cultivation
2. Increase the required buffer distance from 600 to 1,000 feet from six sensitive areas—schools, places of worship, daycares, youth centers, parks and trails
3. Allow educational events on-site.
The Board of Supervisors then ignored the recommendations of their Planning Commission, their Community Planning Groups and their Community Sponsor Groups.
Specifically, on August 19, 2026, the Board:
1. Adopted the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Findings of Fact, the Statement of Overriding Considerations, and the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, as well as certified the Final Program Environmental Impact Report.
2. Adopted the amendments to the Zoning Ordinance.
3. Adopted Board Policy B-076: Minimum Funding Requirement for Unlicensed Cannabis Enforcement.
On September 2, 2026, the Board:
1. Adopted the amendments to the Regulatory Code related to commercial cannabis licensing and operating permits.
2. Adopted the amendments to the Regulatory Code related to the Social Equity Program.
3. Adopted the amendments to the Planning & Development Services Fee Schedule.
Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe made the motion to adopt the amendments and Supervisor Paloma Aguirre seconded it.
Here was the vote:
DISTRICT # | SUPERVISOR | VOTE |
One | Paloma Aguirre | AYE |
Two | Joel Anderson | NO |
Three | Terra Lawson-Remer | AYE |
Four | Monica Montgomery Steppe | AYE |
Five | Jim Desmond | NO |
These actions by the Board represent the formal adoption of the Cannabis Program.
The Program will go live this fall for qualified Social Equity applicants. Applications will open to the general public three years after.
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