Marijuana Dispensary Gets Green Light From Sutter Creek

Amador County will receive its first Marijuana Dispensary following approval by Sutter Creek’s City Council. The long proposed location at 11 Ridge Road was passed in a split vote to fill the former Umpqua Bank location. Following numerous arguments by residents and community leaders opposing the matter and few in favor, the council approved several pieces changing ordinances and approving permits that were triggered by Embarc’s application to do business in the city. The foundational measure in the packet was a determination that the project was exempt from C.E.Q.A. and did not require further environmental reporting, which was approved in split vote. 

Councilman Jim Swift recused himself prior to the start of the meeting with his statement providing information on property ownership nearby the proposed site creating a conflict of interest. Councilwoman Julia Sierk was the sole nay vote across the board for all portions of the voting on the matter. Sierk based her dissent on what she determined to be a resounding 75% of public commenters along with statements from several community partners against the dispensary. She further stated her decision was based on the values and not finances. “The Embarc mission does not match what we were sworn in to do”, Sierk said when referencing protecting the community and an already strained police department facing staffing issues. 

Mayor Claire Gunselman in her approval referenced the strict guidelines with a one-year pilot and 5-year initial term giving the city termination rights should Embarc fail to deliver on what they are promising believing the potential benefits far outweighs the risks. Following his own research and discussions with community leaders in seven other municipalities with Embarc locations, councilman Dan Riordan found crime rates did not increase as those communities had anticipated. Those communities also could not report an increase in use of marijuana by their youth which he believed was in part to the company’s education funding against controlled substance use. While the project was approved in the hearing, the subsequent meeting on September 21st will hear second readings on the ordinance changes allowing for the single location of sales within the city.