SAN DIEGO (AP) – The California Supreme Court has ruled San Diego failed to adequately analyze the potential environmental impacts of its marijuana dispensary law.
The Union-Tribune reports the decision Monday is expected to limit the discretion of local governments across the state.
San Diego declared that the 2014 pot law didn’t require any environmental analysis. But the court ruled the city should have studied whether allowing dispensaries might result in construction of new buildings or change citywide vehicle traffic patterns.
The ruling says that when adopting new laws or zoning changes, local governments must analyze reasonably foreseeable changes those rules would make to the environment – even if the changes would be indirect.
The city attorney’s office declined comment on the decision, which overturns a 2016 appeals court ruling that favored the city.
