Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Antioch – As one of its first orders of business, Antioch's new city council agreed Tuesday to extend a moratorium on non-medical marijuana.
Council members unanimously approved the temporary ban for up to 10 1/2 months while they consider what kinds of restrictions they ultimately want to impose under a new state law that legalizes recreational use of the drug.
With the passage of Proposition 64 last month, individuals who are 21 or older now can possess up to a certain amount of marijuana as long as they are not at a school or other facility where children are present.
In addition, they may buy, smoke and transport marijuana as well as grow up to six plants indoors or outdoors if the public can't see them.
But Prop. 64 also enables cities to retain a certain measure of control, allowing them to ban the outdoor cultivation of non-medical marijuana as well as regulate – although not outlaw – indoor grows. Similarly, although state law now allows businesses to sell the drug, it gives cities the right to trump that power by limiting or prohibiting commercial sales.
Antioch City Council is exercising its freedom to do just that for now, although the ordinance it ultimately adopts might be less restrictive.
Council members will be considering how to regulate outdoor cultivation if they decide to allow it as well as what rules those who grow marijuana plants indoors must follow such as the wattage of the grow lights used.
And if they decide to lift the ban on commercial uses of marijuana such as processing, retail sales and deliveries, they will have to determine which of those activities to permit, where those businesses will be allowed, as well as what taxes and fees to impose.
Councilman Tony Tiscareno noted that a tally of precinct votes showed that most residents endorsed Prop. 64.
"The city of Antioch spoke," he said.
And resident Mark Jordan advised the council to consider what marijuana-based businesses could do for the city's coffers.
"This is going to be a major cash contributor to the state of California, and before we have a knee-jerk reaction that no, we don't want any commercial activity, we don't want any sales, I think we should look at the taxing ability that we would have," he said. "I don't believe that we need to be the marijuana capital of Calfiornia but I certainly believe that we need to look at it from (the perspective of) producing revenue for the city."
Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock, on the other hand, emphasized the need for Antioch to follow the example of neighboring cities and uphold a ban on recreational marijuana until officials have a better idea of what the fallout might be from allowing its use locally.
"It's not about the money – it's about the quality of life that we have here in Antioch," she said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Antioch - Marijuana Moratorium Extended
Author: Rowena Coetsee
Contact: 408-920-5000
Photo Credit: Karl Mondon
Website: East Bay Times
Council members unanimously approved the temporary ban for up to 10 1/2 months while they consider what kinds of restrictions they ultimately want to impose under a new state law that legalizes recreational use of the drug.
With the passage of Proposition 64 last month, individuals who are 21 or older now can possess up to a certain amount of marijuana as long as they are not at a school or other facility where children are present.
In addition, they may buy, smoke and transport marijuana as well as grow up to six plants indoors or outdoors if the public can't see them.
But Prop. 64 also enables cities to retain a certain measure of control, allowing them to ban the outdoor cultivation of non-medical marijuana as well as regulate – although not outlaw – indoor grows. Similarly, although state law now allows businesses to sell the drug, it gives cities the right to trump that power by limiting or prohibiting commercial sales.
Antioch City Council is exercising its freedom to do just that for now, although the ordinance it ultimately adopts might be less restrictive.
Council members will be considering how to regulate outdoor cultivation if they decide to allow it as well as what rules those who grow marijuana plants indoors must follow such as the wattage of the grow lights used.
And if they decide to lift the ban on commercial uses of marijuana such as processing, retail sales and deliveries, they will have to determine which of those activities to permit, where those businesses will be allowed, as well as what taxes and fees to impose.
Councilman Tony Tiscareno noted that a tally of precinct votes showed that most residents endorsed Prop. 64.
"The city of Antioch spoke," he said.
And resident Mark Jordan advised the council to consider what marijuana-based businesses could do for the city's coffers.
"This is going to be a major cash contributor to the state of California, and before we have a knee-jerk reaction that no, we don't want any commercial activity, we don't want any sales, I think we should look at the taxing ability that we would have," he said. "I don't believe that we need to be the marijuana capital of Calfiornia but I certainly believe that we need to look at it from (the perspective of) producing revenue for the city."
Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock, on the other hand, emphasized the need for Antioch to follow the example of neighboring cities and uphold a ban on recreational marijuana until officials have a better idea of what the fallout might be from allowing its use locally.
"It's not about the money – it's about the quality of life that we have here in Antioch," she said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Antioch - Marijuana Moratorium Extended
Author: Rowena Coetsee
Contact: 408-920-5000
Photo Credit: Karl Mondon
Website: East Bay Times
