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The future of America’s Finest Hemp Company and other stores like it continues to be front and center for the town of Danville, with a public study session set Tuesday evening to discuss the legal options after a state law change that led the downtown shop to close in the fall.
Carrying on a conversation started last month, the Danville Town Council is scheduled to hear an update from town staff and take resident input before considering whether to proceed with potentially amending town regulations that prohibit cannabis retail storefronts – which is the category of business a hemp shop now falls into after Assembly Bill 8 was signed into law in California.
Prior to the change in state law, hemp retail products were classified separately from cannabis retail products. With the two now under the same regulatory umbrella and marijuana retailers banned in Danville, the owners of America’s Finest Hemp Company closed their popular shop on Hartz Avenue in October.
The push to urge the council to relax town regulations amounts to a last gasp for the hemp shop. While a final decision to amend the rules could not happen at the study session, where such an action isn’t contemplated on the agenda, council members could effectively end the debate Tuesday by saying they’re not interested in changing the status quo.
“If the recommendation is to proceed, future steps would include review of a draft ordinance(s) at a future study session, sending a zoning ordinance to the Planning Commission, first and second readings of ordinances at the Town Council level and then implementation of provisions of any such ordinance,” city attorney Robert Ewing wrote in his staff report.
The agenda packet includes seven emails the town had received and processed as of Friday from residents about the issue, with all but one asking the council to keep the strict prohibition in place.
“As a 27-year Danville resident, I am always sad to see a business negatively impacted by government legislation; and feel for the owners of America’s Finest Hemp Company (AFHC).
With that said, I VEHEMENTLY OPPOSE any change in position on the part of Danville to allow cannabis products to be sold through retail storefronts in our community,” Laura Vaughn wrote to the city clerk.
Fellow opponent JD Dillon told the town, “Marijuana is legal. So is pornography. That does not mean Danville needs to either encourage or actively support these things by selling weed or having strip joints and adult book stores in our town.”
An emailer identified as Marilyn M. backed loosening the town regulations to allow the hemp shop and other uses. “I support looking into cannabis retail in Danville, such as America’s Finest Hemp Co. Companies such as these have provided sleep aid that calms anxiety, while providing relief from insomnia. Please consider this, thank you,” she wrote.
The study session on cannabis retail is set to start at 5 p.m. Tuesday (Feb. 17), before the council’s regular meeting that night, in the Town Meeting Hall at 201 Front St. in downtown Danville. Read the full agenda here.
In other business
* During the regular meeting right after the workshop, the council will weigh accepting the midyear update of the town’s $43 million budget.
“The Town’s overall financial condition remains positive with overall revenues exceeding the budget forecast and expenditures tracking closely with the approved 2025/26 Operating Budget. Mid-year adjustments are recommended to increase expenditures by 0.6%,” finance director-treasurer Lani Ha wrote in a staff report.
* The council will consider signing off on 23 community events during 2026 that will be in public streets, town property and/or require public resources.
* The list is a mix of returning events like the Devil Mountain Run, Music in the Park, the Kiwanis-Danville Fourth of July Parade, Danville d’Elegance and the Lighting of the Old Oak Tree, as well as new offerings such as the inaugural “Neighborhood Street Party” on Church Court, “Valley Pride” at the Town Green and Danville Community Center, and the “Passport to Wellness” on Front Street (all three in June).
* Council members will hear update reports on the town’s Bicycle Advisory Commission, the Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District and legislative developments.
* They will also present proclamations for Lunar New Year and American Heart Month.
* As part of an eight-item consent calendar, the council will consider approving a new contract with San Ramon’s Ace Auto Repair & Tire Center to maintain the town’s vehicle fleet for $115,000 per year for up to five years, awarding a maximum $471,427 contract with BuildCorp for Iron Horse Regional Trail crossing improvements and endorsing Terraphase Engineering to conduct a third-party review of the stormwater management plan for the Community Presbyterian Church campus expansion and residential townhome development project.
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