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Dear Sacramento Mayor and City Council Members,
I am writing in regards to the Title 17 ordinance changes for Onsite Cannabis Consumption on the agenda for the June 23rd, 2026 council meeting.
I am writing to state that this current ordinance takes into consideration input from various stakeholders in the community. It is a very balanced and thought out approach to the zoning for the pilot program.
I would like to thank the Mayor, Council and Staff for taking their time on this issue and working through all the concerns of the industry and community alike.
Blessings,
Kimberly Cargile
A Therapeutic Alternative
I support the proposed cannabis consumption lounge pilot program and would like to offer the perspective of someone who has spent years navigating Sacramento’s regulatory process.
One thing I hope the Council keeps in mind is that this opportunity is naturally limited. The City’s own outreach found that only a handful of existing dispensaries expressed both the interest and the physical capacity to pursue a consumption lounge. This is not a proposal that will suddenly create lounges throughout Sacramento. It is a carefully structured pilot designed for a very limited number of existing operators.
Even for those businesses, having an eligible location is only the first step. Success also depends on earning the support of the surrounding community and the local council member. Those voices are reflected during the Planning and Design Commission hearing, where a 13 member commission carefully considers neighborhood concerns, public testimony, and the merits of each individual proposal.
Having personally gone through that process, I know firsthand that applicants are expected to answer difficult questions, address community concerns, and demonstrate why their project is appropriate for a specific location. The hearing is a meaningful checkpoint, and projects that cannot build community confidence face significant challenges moving forward. Even after the Planning and Design Commission makes a decision, City Council members retain the ability to call up a project for additional review, providing another layer of local oversight and accountability.
Even after receiving approval, operators must still complete building improvements, specialized ventilation, permits, inspections, and additional regulatory requirements before welcoming a single customer. These businesses will not open overnight.
A pilot program only works if there are participants willing to take the investment risk, accept the regulatory obligations, and operate under close public oversight so the City can evaluate the program based on real experience rather than speculation.
That is exactly why this pilot makes sense. It allows Sacramento to move deliberately, work with a limited number of qualified operators, and determine what works while maintaining strong community oversight and accountability throughout the process.
Over the past several years, Sacramento has demonstrated that it can thoughtfully regulate this industry while listening to its communities. I respectfully ask you to continue that approach by supporting a measured pilot program that creates an opportunity for responsible local businesses while giving the City the real world experience it needs to make informed decisions for the future.
Thank you for your consideration.