Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
City leaders across Ventura County will begin laying the groundwork to respond to their constituents, who voted to legalize the recreational use of marijuana in California.
Voters in all but one Ventura County city, as well as those in unincorporated communities, joined others throughout the state last week in approving the passage of Proposition 64.
Now, elected officials must determine how that new reality will play out. Simi Valley, where the proposition passed by 52 percent of the vote, plans to discuss it at city council this month, while others will wait until next year.
"It's really kind of early, but their constituents are going to be asking them, 'What are you going to do? What's the city going to do?'" said Hugh Riley, executive director of the Ventura Council of Governments, which held an informational meeting on Proposition 64 for its members two days after the election.
Among the questions officials will have to consider: Should commercial sales of marijuana be allowed? And if so, how much should be charged in sales taxes? How much should a local business license or permit cost? And where in the city should these retail enterprises be allowed to set up shop?
The issue may also prompt cities and the county to reconsider their bans on medical marijuana, which has been legal in California for 20 years. Most Ventura County cities don't allow sales or deliveries of medical marijuana to patients.
"Do we want to mirror the existing ban on medical marijuana dispensaries and extend it to commercial retail establishments?" said Ventura Mayor Erik Nasarenko, a county prosecutor who opposed the measure. "If not, how do we regulate and structure those businesses?"
The measure passed by 59 percent of the vote in Ventura, the second highest margin after Ojai, where it was approved by 66 percent. Nasarenko said the issue will likely come to the Ventura City Council for discussion in January.
"We have to hear from the residents of Ventura and have them weigh in on what they want," he said.
Proposition 64 allows Californians age 21 and older to possess, transport, buy and use up to an ounce of marijuana for recreational purposes, and individuals may grow as many as six plants. It also allows retail sales of marijuana and imposes a 15 percent tax.
The measure allows non-medical marijuana to be sold by state-licensed businesses, and the state will begin issuing those licenses to recreational retailers on Jan. 1, 2018.
In Ventura County, Fillmore was the sole city to reject Proposition 64, where it was turned down by 52 percent of the vote. But voters approved two measures on the local ballot that will tax marijuana sales and commercial cultivation operations, should the city ever allow them.
"It tells me the community is open to the possibility of cultivation and taxation of marijuana," said City Manager David Rowlands. "The thing with Proposition 64 is it has to do with recreational use. They're saying they're comfortable with the medical side, but they do have concerns about the recreational side."
Fillmore passed an emergency ordinance last month that requires recreational home-growers to get a city permit and follow other regulations, including providing a plan to control odors.
Rowlands said the council will decide early next year how much to charge for the permit.
In Thousand Oaks, where Proposition 64 won by 53 percent of the vote, Mayor Joel Price said he was surprised by its passage there.
"Given the age of our population, I would have thought it would have been defeated," said Price, a retired Los Angeles Police Department detective. "It suggests to me the opponents of Prop. 64 didn't do a good enough job of educating the public about the problem."
A major concern for city officials is the law doesn't provide a way to determine whether a driver is impaired because of marijuana consumption. Opponents frequently cited teen drug abuse and driving under the influence as arguments against Proposition 64.
"I have basic concerns on the public safety side, especially because there's no real test of whether someone's under the influence," said Oxnard City Councilman Bryan MacDonald. "But the will of the people is the will of the people. A majority of folks think we should be looking at this, and we will."
Most major law enforcement groups opposed Proposition 64, including the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, the Peace Officers Research Association of California and the California Police Chiefs Association.
"The law says we have certain options, and whether we want to exercise those options is up to us," said Simi Valley Mayor Bob Huber. "But if we don't do anything, then we have no options."
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Ventura County Cities Grapple With Legal Marijuana
Author: Amanda Covarrubias
Contact: 805-437-0000
Photo Credit: Joe Rondone
Website: Ventura County Star
Voters in all but one Ventura County city, as well as those in unincorporated communities, joined others throughout the state last week in approving the passage of Proposition 64.
Now, elected officials must determine how that new reality will play out. Simi Valley, where the proposition passed by 52 percent of the vote, plans to discuss it at city council this month, while others will wait until next year.
"It's really kind of early, but their constituents are going to be asking them, 'What are you going to do? What's the city going to do?'" said Hugh Riley, executive director of the Ventura Council of Governments, which held an informational meeting on Proposition 64 for its members two days after the election.
Among the questions officials will have to consider: Should commercial sales of marijuana be allowed? And if so, how much should be charged in sales taxes? How much should a local business license or permit cost? And where in the city should these retail enterprises be allowed to set up shop?
The issue may also prompt cities and the county to reconsider their bans on medical marijuana, which has been legal in California for 20 years. Most Ventura County cities don't allow sales or deliveries of medical marijuana to patients.
"Do we want to mirror the existing ban on medical marijuana dispensaries and extend it to commercial retail establishments?" said Ventura Mayor Erik Nasarenko, a county prosecutor who opposed the measure. "If not, how do we regulate and structure those businesses?"
The measure passed by 59 percent of the vote in Ventura, the second highest margin after Ojai, where it was approved by 66 percent. Nasarenko said the issue will likely come to the Ventura City Council for discussion in January.
"We have to hear from the residents of Ventura and have them weigh in on what they want," he said.
Proposition 64 allows Californians age 21 and older to possess, transport, buy and use up to an ounce of marijuana for recreational purposes, and individuals may grow as many as six plants. It also allows retail sales of marijuana and imposes a 15 percent tax.
The measure allows non-medical marijuana to be sold by state-licensed businesses, and the state will begin issuing those licenses to recreational retailers on Jan. 1, 2018.
In Ventura County, Fillmore was the sole city to reject Proposition 64, where it was turned down by 52 percent of the vote. But voters approved two measures on the local ballot that will tax marijuana sales and commercial cultivation operations, should the city ever allow them.
"It tells me the community is open to the possibility of cultivation and taxation of marijuana," said City Manager David Rowlands. "The thing with Proposition 64 is it has to do with recreational use. They're saying they're comfortable with the medical side, but they do have concerns about the recreational side."
Fillmore passed an emergency ordinance last month that requires recreational home-growers to get a city permit and follow other regulations, including providing a plan to control odors.
Rowlands said the council will decide early next year how much to charge for the permit.
In Thousand Oaks, where Proposition 64 won by 53 percent of the vote, Mayor Joel Price said he was surprised by its passage there.
"Given the age of our population, I would have thought it would have been defeated," said Price, a retired Los Angeles Police Department detective. "It suggests to me the opponents of Prop. 64 didn't do a good enough job of educating the public about the problem."
A major concern for city officials is the law doesn't provide a way to determine whether a driver is impaired because of marijuana consumption. Opponents frequently cited teen drug abuse and driving under the influence as arguments against Proposition 64.
"I have basic concerns on the public safety side, especially because there's no real test of whether someone's under the influence," said Oxnard City Councilman Bryan MacDonald. "But the will of the people is the will of the people. A majority of folks think we should be looking at this, and we will."
Most major law enforcement groups opposed Proposition 64, including the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, the Peace Officers Research Association of California and the California Police Chiefs Association.
"The law says we have certain options, and whether we want to exercise those options is up to us," said Simi Valley Mayor Bob Huber. "But if we don't do anything, then we have no options."
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Ventura County Cities Grapple With Legal Marijuana
Author: Amanda Covarrubias
Contact: 805-437-0000
Photo Credit: Joe Rondone
Website: Ventura County Star
