Minor Use Permit & Cannabis Business Permit to Transport, Warehouse, & Reduce Bulk Cannabis for Wholesale/Retail Sale

The 7,140 Square Foot building, located at 546 S. Main St. has been utilized over the years by many different businesses, including: restaurants, retail, office and non-profit uses. It has also been vacant at various times for years at a time and is a difficult building to establish a successful business. On October 23, 2023, Use Permit 1-23, Cannabis Business Permit 1-23 and Variance 2-23 were issued to Drea and Gerald Hypes to operate Emerald Triangle, a retail cannabis dispensary, in this existing building. Emerald Triangle Cannabis, had previously been located at 500 S. Main St., but relocated to 546 S. Main St. after they obtained the 2023 entitlements. The applicants have noted that they showcase local Mendocino and Humboldt brands and have a 5 Star customer rating on Google. When establishing at the new location at 546 S. Main St., Mendocino Inc. added to their regulated operation in order to create an “Emerald Triangle House Blend.” To do so, they needed additional State licenses to purchase, transport and repackage cannabis product. They also needed a Minor Use Permit from the City per ILUDC, Section 18.42.057(C)(4)(a) and (c) due to the bulk cannabis product being reduced into smaller containers for retail sale. That accessory use was approved through Minor Use Permit 4- 24, which was finalized on January 2, 2025. In addition to adding the accessory uses, the applicant requested to convert a portion of the back section of the building into a private residence. This use could be considered an enhancement to a primarily visitor serving use and is consistent with ILUDC Section 18.22.030(C)(4).The additional uses must also comply with the same operational requirements applicable to cannabis retail uses, and as such, were reviewed against ILUDC Section 18.42.057 – Cannabis Retail and deemed allowable. Now, MENDOCINO, Inc. is consolidating their licenses into one microbusiness license. That license encompasses all three business operations, including retail, distribution, and manufacturing. In reviewing the manufacturing procedures provided by MENDOCINO, Inc., the attached manufacturing procedures are non-solvent in nature and in compliance with the definition of Craft Cannabis Manufacturing located in ILUDC 18.100.010, which says: 5. Craft Cannabis Manufacturing. Small scale, small batch manufacturing by hand, with or without the aid of small tools that may typically be found in other typical commercial businesses, including washing machines, blenders, cooking equipment, nursery tools, dry sifters, vibrating screens, rosin presses, etc. Craft cannabis manufacturing does not involve volatile chemicals. MENDOCINO, Inc.’s retail, distribution, and manufacturing procedures described in the attached Statement of Operations are all in compliance with City of Fort Bragg’s Inland Land Use and Development Code and conditions of their Minor Use Permit.