The City of Merced received 22 complete applications for retail cannabis dispensaries in March 2018. Only four dispensaries may be approved under the City’s cannabis ordinance.
The Planning Commission has already approved 10 cannabis business permits for manufacturing, cultivation and distribution operations.
A Selection Committee of City Manager Steve Carrigan, Police Chief Chris Goodwin and Director of Development Services Scott McBride reviewed the applications and scored them based on criteria established by the Council.
All the proposed business owners were subject to a detailed background check by the Police Department.
A total score of 100 points was possible for each application. Points were awarded based on non-discretionary facts, such as public/neighborhood outreach programs, parking, business hours, previous experience and qualifications of the owners, access to capital, inclusion of certain safety features and local residency. There were 29 points awarded at the discretion of the Selection Committee based on enhanced security measures, community benefits and other outstanding features above the minimum requirements of the applications.
The total scores of the reviewers were divided by three for an average score. The applications were ranked based on that average score.
The top four applications will be scheduled for public hearings before the Planning Commission at 7 p.m. on Tues., Sept. 18 and Weds., Sept. 19 in the Council Chambers on the second floor of the Merced Civic Center (City Hall), 678 W. 18thSt.
The scores and rankings are as follows:
| Commercial Cannabis Business Permit Applications for Dispensaries | TOTAL SCORE | AVERAGE SCORE | RANKING |
| CCBP #18-06R (“Blue Fire”) at 1975 W Olive Ave | 295 | 98.333 | 1 |
| CCBP #18-10R (“Green Door”) at 811 W Main St | 292 | 97.333 | 2 |
| CCBP #18-17R (“Manzanita”) at 1594 W 18th St | 289 | 96.333 | 3 |
| CCBP #18-14R (“Harvest of Merced”) at 863 W 15th St | 285 | 95.000 | 4 |
| CCBP #18-21R (“Medallion Wellness”) at 808 W 16th St | 269 | 89.667 | 5 |
| CCBP #18-30R (“Jiva Life”) at 1020 W Main St | 255 | 85.000 | 6 |
| CCBP #18-22R (“7 Fingers Cannabissary”) at 1220-30 Martin Luther King Jr Wy | 254 | 84.667 | 7 |
| CCBP #18-11R (“Merced Pharmers Market”) at 1112 W 16th St | 246 | 82.000 | 8 |
| CCBP #18-29R (“Nourish Health Merced”) at 221 W Main St | 244 | 81.333 | 9 |
| CCBP #18-08R (“Bang Mingo”) at 1850 Yosemite Pkwy | 240 | 80.000 | 10 (Tie) |
| CCBP #18-05R (“Elev8 Wellness”) at 235 W Main St | 240 | 80.000 | 10 (Tie) |
| CCBP #18-13R (“Empire Health & Wellness”) at 245 W 16th St | 224 | 74.667 | 12 |
| CCBP #18-09R (“Natural Supplements”) at 127 W El Portal Dr | 216 | 72.000 | 13 |
| CCBP #18-07R (“Gateway Wellness”) at 145 Riggs, Ste A | 213 | 71.000 | 14 |
| CCBP #18-25R (“Valley Pure”) at 1180 Olivewood Ave | 202 | 67.333 | 15 |
| CCBP #18-26R (“Tamcu Investments”) at 227 W Main St | 201 | 67.000 | 16 |
| CCBP #18-23R (“Kings Valley Wellness”) at 850 W Main, Ste A | 199 | 66.333 | 17 |
| CCBP #18-12R (“Merced Healing Center”) at 948 W 15thSt | 187 | 62.333 | 18 |
| CCBP #18-24R (“Earth Source Healing”) at 1035 W 14thSt | 179 | 59.667 | 19 |
| CCBP #18-16R (“Sierra Gold Cannabis Co.”) at 35 W 23rd St | 168 | 56.000 | 20 |
| CCBP #18-20R (“Veteran Medication 22”) at 3317 M St | 157 | 52.333 | 21 (Tie) |
| CCBP #18-18R (“Merced Pain Relief”) at 946 W Main St | 157 | 52.333 | 21 (Tie) |
The Following application was disqualified:
| CCBP #18-15R (“Aleafiate”) at 1471 Yosemite Pkwy | 213 | 71.000 | DQ |
For more information about the City’s Commercial Cannabis Business Permit applications, please contact the City Planning Division at 209-385-6858.
