Sacramento expands cannabis dispensary buffer zones to include churches

June 17, 2026

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US AT 11 TONIGHT. I’M GULSTAN DART AND I’M ANDREA FLORES. THERE ARE BUFFER ZONES AROUND SCHOOLS, MUSEUMS AND OTHER PUBLIC CENTERS, BUT CITY LEADERS WANTED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES. KCRA 3’S ESTEBAN REYNOSO JOINS US LIVE IN SACRAMENTO TONIGHT. SO, ESTEBAN, WHAT’S NEW FOR DISPENSARIES? YEAH. GULSTAN. ANDREA, THOSE THOSE BUFFER ZONES ARE STILL IN PLACE, THE SAME ONES THAT WE HAD BEFORE. BUT NOW YOU CAN ADD CHURCHES TO THAT LIST. NOW WE GOT TO SPEAK WITH THE OWNER OF A CANNABIS DISPENSARY HERE THAT SAYS THAT NOW THOSE NEW ZONING THAT THEY HAVE NOW HERE WITH THE SACRAMENTO CITY COUNCIL, THAT THAT COULD HOPEFULLY HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND MARIJUANA MORE INSIDE THE POCKET DISPENSARY IN SACRAMENTO, YOU’LL FIND ALL DIFFERENT FLAVORS AND STRAINS OF LEGAL MARIJUANA. BUSINESSES ARE NOT YOUR ENEMY. WE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND DOSING AND HELP PEOPLE WITH CANNABIS IN A WAY THAT IT CAN BE USED MEDICALLY. MINDY GALLOWAY IS THE OWNER OF THE DISPENSARY. SHE’S BEEN WORKING IN SACRAMENTO’S BOOMING CANNABIS INDUSTRY FOR TEN YEARS NOW. ANY STREAMLINE OF POLICIES WOULD BE HELPFUL TO US. GALLOWAY WENT TO TUESDAY’S CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO SUPPORT CHANGES TO BUFFER ZONES. OKAY, EIGHT EYES, ONE. NOW, SHE SAYS NEW ZONING THAT WOULD ALLOW DISPENSARIES AND RESIDENTIAL MIXED USE AREAS, COMMERCIAL ZONES AND BUSINESS DISTRICTS WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR NEW DISPENSARIES TO OPEN UP SHOP. SO HOW IS THIS GOING TO IMPACT THE CITY OF SACRAMENTO’S CANNABIS INDUSTRY? AND THAT WILL LET THEM HAVE AN EASIER TIME BEING ABLE TO FIND A LOCATION AND GET A BUILDING FOR THEIR BUSINESSES. I DIDN’T HAVE. YEAH. SO WHEN I OPENED MY STOREFRONT, IT WAS A VERY HARD PROCESS TO GET THIS UP AND FINDING A LOCATION FOR THE BUILDING WAS ONE OF THE MOST HARDEST PART OF THE PROCESS. NEW DISPENSARIES WILL ALSO HAVE TO BE FAR FROM CHURCHES, WITH A BUFFER ZONE OF 600FT. MY QUESTION IS, WHY WOULD YOU WANT IT NEXT TO THE CHURCH? WHY WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING YOU EVEN QUESTION? A PLACE WHERE WE’RE TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE OVERCOME. THEY WALK OUT AND THEY’RE MET WITH WHAT THEY’RE TRYING TO OVERCOME. IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE. A LOT OF WHAT THE KNOW WAS FROM WAS FROM COMMUNITY FEAR. AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND, AND IT’S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, OKAY, THIS COMMUNITY STILL DOESN’T NECESSARILY UNDERSTAND. AND THAT OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE IS STILL THERE. NOW THESE NEW REGULATIONS GO INTO EFFECT ON JULY 17TH. ANOTHER ISSUE THAT CAME UP DURING THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING WAS ILLEGAL CANNABIS. GETTING INTO THE HANDS OF TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS, SOMETHING THAT GALLOWAY ALSO SAYS IS COMPLETELY WRONG. SO THERE IS STILL THAT COMMON GROUND THAT ALS

Sacramento has updated its zoning laws for marijuana dispensaries, adding churches to the list of locations requiring a 600-foot buffer zone while allowing dispensaries in new areas.

Updated: 11:32 PM PDT Jun 17, 2026

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Sacramento city leaders have passed new zoning laws for marijuana dispensaries, adding churches to the list of locations requiring a 600-foot buffer zone.This along with allowing dispensaries in residential mixed-use areas, limited commercial zones, and central business districts. “The legal businesses are not your enemy. We’re the ones trying to understand dosing and help people with cannabis in a way it can be used medically,” owner of The Pocket Dispensary in Sacramento, Mindy Galloway said. Galloway, who has worked in Sacramento’s cannabis industry for 10 years, attended Tuesday’s city council meeting to support the dispensary-to-dispensary buffer restriction. “Any streamline of policy will be helpful to us,” she said during the meeting. Reflecting on the new zoning rules, Galloway said they will make it easier for dispensaries to find suitable locations. “That will let them have an easier time to find a location and get a building location for their businesses that I didn’t have,” she said. She also described the challenges she faced when opening her own dispensary. “When I opened my storefront, it was a very hard process,” Galloway said. “To get this up and find the location for the building was one of the most difficult parts of the process.”The updated rules also require dispensaries to maintain a 600-foot buffer from churches. Reverend Darryl Heath of St. John Missionary Baptist Church voiced his concerns during the council meeting. “My question is why would you want it next to the church? Why would you even question? A place where you’re trying to help people overcome, and they’re met with what they’re trying to overcome. It doesn’t make sense,” Heath said. Galloway acknowledged the concerns from the community.”A lot of what the no is from, is from community fear,” she said. “That opportunity to educate is still there.” Another issue raised during discussions was the impact of illegal cannabis on teens and young adults. Galloway noted that illegal growers and sellers hurt her business and expressed hope for common ground that could lead to greater understanding.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

Sacramento city leaders have passed new zoning laws for marijuana dispensaries, adding churches to the list of locations requiring a 600-foot buffer zone.

This along with allowing dispensaries in residential mixed-use areas, limited commercial zones, and central business districts.

“The legal businesses are not your enemy. We’re the ones trying to understand dosing and help people with cannabis in a way it can be used medically,” owner of The Pocket Dispensary in Sacramento, Mindy Galloway said.

Galloway, who has worked in Sacramento’s cannabis industry for 10 years, attended Tuesday’s city council meeting to support the dispensary-to-dispensary buffer restriction.

“Any streamline of policy will be helpful to us,” she said during the meeting.

Reflecting on the new zoning rules, Galloway said they will make it easier for dispensaries to find suitable locations.

“That will let them have an easier time to find a location and get a building location for their businesses that I didn’t have,” she said.

She also described the challenges she faced when opening her own dispensary.

“When I opened my storefront, it was a very hard process,” Galloway said. “To get this up and find the location for the building was one of the most difficult parts of the process.”

The updated rules also require dispensaries to maintain a 600-foot buffer from churches. Reverend Darryl Heath of St. John Missionary Baptist Church voiced his concerns during the council meeting.

“My question is why would you want it next to the church? Why would you even question? A place where you’re trying to help people overcome, and they’re met with what they’re trying to overcome. It doesn’t make sense,” Heath said.

Galloway acknowledged the concerns from the community.

“A lot of what the no is from, is from community fear,” she said. “That opportunity to educate is still there.”

Another issue raised during discussions was the impact of illegal cannabis on teens and young adults. Galloway noted that illegal growers and sellers hurt her business and expressed hope for common ground that could lead to greater understanding.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel