The Newport Beach City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve the first reading of an ordinance banning the cultivation, processing, distribution and delivery of cannabis in the city.
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Cities throughout the state, including Guadalupe, are now looking to shore up their own local laws and regulations on the heels of a new state law – the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act – which established statewide regulations for the growing, distribution and sale of medical marijuana in California.
The city’s Medical Marijuana Subcommittee listend as people spoke both for and against dispensaries.
On October 27, during the first of two public hearings on the matter, two residents came forward to oppose the temporary ban while another spoke in favor of the ordinance.
The additional year will allow employees to research, study and analyze the potential impacts of marijuana dispensaries on things such as traffic congestion and demand for city services, said Tamashbeen Rahman, senior planner for the city’s Development Services Department.
Once those details are hammered out, Callihan assured the audience Monday that they will brought back for community input in December and then possibly brought back to city council for full consideration in January. We need to address the criminality that has been associated with a few of these cultivators and growers. Also, they need to decide how many dispensaries will be allowed in the city and where they can be built in relation to places like schools and parks.
Three council members, Jerry Beatty, Virginia Ponce and Gina Rubalcaba, expressed a desire to further consider cultivation as an option for the city, while Mayor John Lizalde and Councilman Ariston Julian did not. He agreed that it would be in the best interest of the city to do a pilot program. Others noted that it’s already rampantly available and should be regulated as stringently as alcohol or food with tax revenue going to education or the public safety. He also advised against allowing outdoor grow operations and explained that many indoor operations can “scrub” the air to make the scent unnoticeable.
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Council members said they would discuss the issue more in committee meetings.
