Lompoc expected to open first pot shop next month

After months of reviewing applications, Lompoc could finally see some cannabis stores in town. The first pot shop in Lompoc could potentially open in February of 2019.

The city has approved 10 commercial cannabis applicants and is reviewing 16 others.

“We’ve approved five retail so far, a few of the different manufacturing, and I believe one testing lab,” said Lompoc City Manager, Jim Throop.

Throop said the process varies depending on the type of permit the applicant is hoping to obtain.

“From retail, it’s fairly straightforward but once you get into anything with the manufacturing, that takes a much greater period of time, depending on what business location they pick.”

Because of this, he sees a future for the manufacturing industry in the city.

“Since we don’t sit on the 101 [freeway], I’m guessing that we might be more of a hub for manufacturing.”

For Lompoc Valley Cannabis Association co-founder, Joe a. Garcia, this could boost tourism in town.

“My vision for Lompoc is to turn it from ‘Lumpton’, to being known as ‘Lompocsterdam’. When everything is up and running, it will attract more tourism that is gonna be coming in and back boning off of SpaceX launches or off of the wine industry.”

However, Throop mentioned he’s careful about his pot expectations, especially after a state report revealed the industry did not bring in the tax revenue originally projected.

“Even for the city of Lompoc, people were talking about $500,000 dollars [in tax revenue]. And now that we’re seeing what other cities have done, we’re gonna be pulling that back down… Could be in the $100-200 thousand range,” he said.

Throop added the city expects to move through the application process much faster this year. Lompoc does not have a cap as far as how many cannabis businesses it will accept or approve.

After getting a city permit, commercial cannabis applicants have to get license with the state.