Huntington Committee to Consider Return of Recreational Cannabis Sales

Huntington city officials will convene a special committee on Jan. 9, 2026 at Huntington City Hall to explore how the city might reintroduce recreational cannabis sales. The meeting, which is open to the public, will examine potential approaches including distribution activities that could provide the city with revenue through taxed sales. The city’s public notice lists the meeting time and invites residents to attend.

The discussion reflects a shift from earlier local policy and regional market changes. Huntington initially approved cannabis sales in 2015, but local dispensaries dwindled after nearby cities such as Ontario began permitting sales in 2019. Those neighboring markets drew customers away and left Huntington businesses uncompetitive, contributing to a contraction of the town’s cannabis industry.

The committee meeting places institutional choices about regulation, zoning, and taxation at the center of policy debate. Council-appointed committees typically review regulatory options and present recommendations to the full city council; this meeting will be the committee’s first public step toward assessing whether permitting retail or distribution operations could be viable for Huntington. City leaders will have to weigh potential tax revenue against regulatory costs, enforcement needs, and community impacts as they consider any changes.

For residents, the stakes are both economic and civic. Reintroducing sales could provide a new revenue stream for general fund items or specific municipal needs if the city places taxes or fees on sales and distribution. It could also represent an opportunity to revive local businesses that lost market share after 2019 regional expansions. Conversely, any move to allow sales will prompt questions about public safety, zoning impacts near schools and residential areas, and how license allocations would favor small, local operators versus outside firms.

The meeting also offers an immediate opportunity for civic engagement. Public input at the committee level can shape what regulatory models the city council ultimately considers, including decisions on licensing, zoning restrictions, tax rates, and permissible distribution activities. Residents who wish to participate should consult City Hall for the meeting time and arrive prepared to address specific regulatory concerns or economic priorities.

Following the committee’s deliberations, any formal proposals would move to the full city council for consideration. For now, Huntington officials are reopening discussion on a policy first approved in 2015, seeking to determine whether new approaches can restore local commerce and capture taxable revenue that has flowed to neighboring jurisdictions.