Former Army Camp Approved as Cannabis Manufacturing Site

The Pittsburg, California City Council has approved a plan to allow cannabis manufacturing in an industrial area that was once home to the U.S. Army’s Camp Stoneman, the East Bay Times reports. It will be the first cannabis manufacturing site in Pittsburg and was approved by the council 4-1.

Stoneman Laboratories LLC. will accept raw materials – generally trim, rather than flower – containing both THC and CBD, process, package, and distribute them to approved retailers. Stoneman representative Pat O’Keefe said the business would initially create 20 jobs but could ultimately employee about 100 people.

The site was originally approved for another cannabis business, Canyon Laboratories, but that company opted out before launching; instead, Stoneman Laboratories will take its place but in a slightly changed location.

The company will pay a 5 percent tax in the first $10 million in gross receipts, another 2.5 percent for every additional $10 million to $20 million, 2 percent more for $20 million to $50 million, another 1 percent for up to $100 million, and .5 percent for anything exceeding $100 million.

The council also agreed to extend the buffer zone between dispensaries and “sensitive areas,” such as city parks, libraries, and schools, from 600 feet to 1,000 feet. Currently, dispensaries are not allowed in the city and there are just four licensed distributors in all of Costa County, all of which are in Richmond, according to ABC7.

Stoneman Laboratories still needs approval from the state, but it could be up and running by next summer.