WHAT’S GOING ON?
The Town of Fairfax is paving the way for regulated cannabis once again, accepting applications for up to two commercial cannabis businesses under its ordinance, enacted after California’s 2016 legalization of adult-use cannabis (Proposition 64). Having been home to one of California’s first medical dispensaries, Fairfax remains committed to safe, legal cannabis access, requiring both local permits and state licenses from the California Department of Cannabis Control.Unlike alcohol permits regulated by the ABC, cannabis businesses face far more scrutiny, requiring detailed building, signage, and parking plans, plus 600 foot buffers from sensitive uses like schools and youth centers. Applicants must exceed strict standards in experience, security, sustainability, and local benefits to comply with the town’s tightly controlled system.This isn’t happening overnight. Fairfax’s cannabis ordinance builds on years of local engagement and advocacy. The Town has designed this process to carefully vet businesses for their community alignment, environmental responsibility, and dedication to public safety, especially youth protection. Everything is outlined in Fairfax Town Code § 5.56, which guides how candidates are evaluated and selected.La Flōr is applying to open a small, boutique-style cannabis retail store right here in Fairfax. Our plans are shaped by the unique needs and values of this community, and we’ve refined them over the past year based on feedback from local neighbors and small business owners. Our goal is to create something respectful, compliant, and truly local.You can explore more on our site, and if you’d like to show your support, there’s a quick way to do that, too. For full details about the Town’s process, visit https://townoffairfaxca.gov/commercial-cannabis
*Check out or send a sample support letter to the Town of Fairfax
About the Operator
Martin Kaufman, La Flōr’s founder, brings 15 years of cannabis experience to the table. His work spans from co-founding Blüm in Oakland, San Leandro, Reno, and Las Vegas, to co-founding and developing Cookies Oakland, and building farms like Edgewater Gardens and Coyote Hills Agricultural Enterprise, with projects ranging from Santa Barbara County to Cabissi, one of Uganda's first pharmaceutical cannabis initiatives in East Africa.Martin was raised in Fairfax just a few blocks from the proposed location and has lived here again for the past 15 years, now raising his two young daughters in town.He has worked to improve cannabis laws and public access in the Bay Area and beyond, advocating for event regulations through AB 2020, which launched Grasslands at the Outside Lands Music Festival in San Francisco, and serving as a founding board member of the Cannabis Trade Federation.The La Flōr team is committed to opening a safe, discreet, well-designed, and fully compliant cannabis store in Fairfax. More than just a business, La Flōr will contribute over $40,000 annually to local causes, with a focus on supporting youth, the arts, and public education, because healthy schools and creative outlets are essential to raising strong, resilient kids.
*Check out or send a sample support letter to the Town of Fairfax
Design & Experience
La Flōr is designed to blend right into Fairfax. The space is warm, minimal, and quietly beautiful, with soft paint tones, wood, stone, and tile textures, and natural light that reflect our town’s natural charm. We’ve reused key parts of the old Mauro’s Pizza space and kept the footprint modest, creating a welcoming storefront that feels safe, discreet, and familiar.The site itself has gone largely unmaintained for nearly 40 years. The exterior is dated, worn, and no longer reflects the neighborhood around it. We plan to clean, paint, reseal, and restore the facade, nothing drastic or loud, just subtle, understated improvements that undeniably upgrade the building’s curb appeal while keeping it true to Fairfax.The signage is small and simple, reducing overall site signage by more than 80 percent. There are no neon lights or flashy branding. Pathway and parking lights are being retrofitted with soft, energy-efficient LEDs using the existing fixtures to maintain a low profile and avoid glare.Inside, you’ll find a calm, well-organized layout focused on education, wellness, and accessibility. We don’t push products. Our trained staff help customers understand different cannabis types, effects, and formats, from flower to topicals and low-dose edibles, so people can make informed, comfortable choices.This isn’t a warehouse, a club, or a trendy chain store. It’s a small, discretely run boutique, built for the community, offering all the high-quality products the modern industry has to offer at reasonable prices. The kind of shop you’d feel comfortable walking past with your kids, or recommending to your adult friends or family members.
*Check out or send a sample support letter to the Town of Fairfax
*Concept Elevation Renderings - Final plans will be submitted to Town of Fairfax for review and approval
Community Commitment
La Flōr isn’t just applying to do business in Fairfax, we’re already part of the community. The founder and many of the staff live here. Some of us grew up here, others are now raising kids here. We’re building this business with Fairfax in mind at every step. From the layout to the lighting to the people we hire, this project is a privilege and is grounded in respect for the town and the people who live in it.We’re committed to being good neighbors. That means staying discreet, keeping the site clean, blending in visually, and being responsive to concerns. We don’t want to draw attention. We want to quietly fit in, stay compliant, and support the town through steady, responsible operations that don’t disrupt the rhythm of daily life.La Flōr will contribute over $40,000 per year to local programs, with a focus on youth, the arts, and public education. We’ve already pledged long-term support to the YES Foundation, which helps fund every school in the Ross Valley School District. As revenue grows, so will our giving.We’ll also prioritize local hiring and offer living wage jobs with real benefits and growth opportunities. We’re not importing a staff, we’re building one right here. And as we grow, we’ll continue looking for new ways to give back, whether through sponsorships, community events, or partnerships with local nonprofits.
*Check out or send a sample support letter to the Town of Fairfax
What About Traffic?
The location at 1601 Sir Francis Drake Blvd already has easy access, a traffic signal, a large lot with 12 parking spaces, two double driveways, Marin Transit bus stops on the block, and bike racks being added. It was home to Mauro’s during its prime pizza, lasagna (and breadstick) takeaway years, alongside Top Hat Cleaners for decades. Our use is less intense than a pizzeria or high-turnover takeout spot, and most visits will be quick and staggered. Delivery orders will be batched to reduce car trips and emissions, and the store won’t open until 9 a.m., after the morning commute has settled down.Don’t want to take our word for it? We get it. That’s why we commissioned a traffic study from W-Trans, one of the region’s most respected traffic engineering firms. The study confirms that this project will not add any meaningful traffic impact. In fact, our presence may help improve circulation by cleaning up the site, improving lighting and signage, and maintaining safe, organized access points.Our customers will have plenty of off-street parking and a dedicated delivery/loading zone. There will be no idling cars, no blocked driveways, and no overflow staff parking on the nearby residential streets. This location has what it takes.
*Check out or send a sample support letter to the Town of Fairfax
What About Kids and Cannabis?
We get it. As parents and neighbors, we know this is one of the biggest concerns. That’s why La Flōr is built with youth safety at the forefront. Cannabis is strictly 21 and over, unless someone is a verified medical patient with proper documentation. Every customer must show valid ID before entering, and staff are trained to verify every sale using both visual and digital tools.By law, the business is located more than 600 feet from schools and youth centers. No cannabis products are ever visible from outside. The design is clean and subtle, with no oversized logos, inappropriate ads, or anything meant to grab attention.To put things in perspective, there are over 25 places in Fairfax where you can legally buy alcohol. Most of them allow children inside. You can even drink wine in the dark at the Fairfax Theatre sitting next to someone else’s kid. Cannabis is nothing like that. It’s far more restricted. Our products are stored in locked rooms, sold only to verified adults, and tracked down to the gram. Every transaction is recorded through the state’s METRC system, which ensures tight control, full accountability, and real-time oversight that alcohol simply doesn’t require.La Flōr will also contribute over $40,000 a year to community programs, including youth education and prevention. We’ve pledged support for the YES Foundation, which benefits every public school in the Ross Valley School District. We’re not just running a business here. We’re raising kids too. This matters to us.
*Check out or send a sample support letter to the Town of Fairfax
Who Can Shop Here?
What We’d Be Allowed to Do (For Now)
La Flōr would be licensed to operate a medical-only storefront and an adult-use delivery service. That’s all the town currently allows, even though adult-use storefronts are legal across California.If you want to shop with us in person at 1601 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., you’ll still need a valid medical cannabis recommendation.Deliveries, however, are available to all adults 21 and over. State-licensed cannabis deliveries (adult use and medical) must be dispatched from the business and delivered to offsite locations like a residence or workplace using registered, GPS-tracked vehicles
What’s the Difference?
Getting a Recommendation
We never accept money to promote or link to any services, but there are still plenty out there.It’s uncommon for your primary care doctor to issue a recommendation, since the conflict between state and federal law can jeopardize their medical license and malpractice insurance.Medical cannabis recommendations are easy to get in California through Zoom, Skype, or in person. Most people qualify for common conditions like anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, menopause, or general wellness. They typically cost $39 to $60 and are valid for one year.It’s the Same Products Either Way
The cannabis products we carry are the same ones sold in adult-use stores across the state.
They’re just taxed differently.In fact, adult-use cannabis is more strictly regulated than alcohol or even many pharmaceuticals:
Every gram is tracked in the state’s METRC system and linked to the purchaser
IDs are scanned, not just checked
Minors are never allowed inside
There are over 25 places in town that sell alcohol. Most allow kids inside. Cannabis doesn’t. The rules are much stricter, and so is the oversight.
Designed for Safety, Built for the Future
La Flōr’s site, parking, and traffic plans are designed to safely support both medical and adult use in-store sales if the town ever allows it. We’ve already:• Conducted a third-party traffic study confirming we won’t burden the area• Secured ample on-site parking for staff and customers with no neighborhood spillover• Implemented thorough staff training in compliance, youth safety, secure delivery, and respectful customer serviceI’ve transitioned dispensaries in California and Nevada from medical-only to adult-use
storefronts successfully. Always fully compliant. Medical sales remain available for in-store purchase or delivery either way.So Why Not Adult Use?
Currently, Fairfax doesn’t allow it. And we’re respecting that.We’re committed to doing things the right way. If the town decides to update its policy, we hope La Flōr is the one trusted to carry that privilege forward responsibly
*Check out or send a sample support letter to the Town of Fairfax
Support This Project
Fairfax is now reviewing applications for cannabis businesses, and your voice matters. At most, two businesses will be approved. La Flōr is applying to open a small, respectful, locally owned storefront with home delivery, operated by people who already live here and care about doing this the right way.If you support a thoughtful, well-designed cannabis shop in Fairfax that is quiet, clean, parent-run, and committed to giving back to schools, youth programs, and the local economy, this is the time to speak up.
You don’t need to give a speech or know every policy. A short message of support can make a real difference. Just saying you don’t mind having a nice legal cannabis shop in town for consenting adults, or sharing why you think this project is a good fit for Fairfax, helps show our local elected leaders that the community is paying attention.Click below to send a letter of support to the Town of Fairfax. We’ve made it simple. You can personalize the message or send it as-is.
*Check out or send a sample support letter to the Town of Fairfax
