Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
The Chula Vista City Council recently held a community workshop at City Hall to consider the pros and cons of marijuana regulation in the city.
The Aug. 3 dialogue included current state cannabis laws and the future of local regulation regarding cannabis.
The discussion followed a report from city staff members and the chief of police about initial impressions from of a recent trip by city staff and some council members to Colorado to see how the state handles the legalization of marijuana.
They visited Aurora, where voters approved retail and manufacturing uses for cannabis.
In November 2016, California voters passed Proposition 64, which made it legal for individuals age 21 and older to immediately use and grow marijuana with the sale and taxation of recreational marijuana beginning January 1, 2018.
However, while state laws govern personal marijuana activity, including use, possession and cultivation, local municipalities still have authority to allow and regulate or prohibit all commercial activity in cities.
After a near-three-hour discussion, the City Council asked staff members to return with a written summary of the trip, including associated staff costs from finance, code enforcement, planning and building, police and fire departments, administration and the city attorney' office.
Currently Chula Vista has a temporary moratorium on all marijuana sales and manufacturing of marijuana.
Despite that, dispensaries might operate within the city limits until city officials are able to shut them down.
City Attorney Glen Googins said that having a criminal prosecution team as other cities do, would allow the city to be more efficient in shutting down the illegal businesses.
"We have the legal authority to criminally enforce our municipal code, I just don't have the lawyers or expertise in house to be able to do it," he said.
Googins estimated a cost of between $300,000 and $400,000 a year for that additional staffing alone.
City officials said it's too early to estimate the cost of police officers and administrative expenses. However, Chula Vista Police Chief Roxana Kennedy said it would take a significant number of officers to address all the issues.
"As you can imagine, being the chief of police I have huge concerns in regards to any type of establishment where I believe the activity there could create challenges for us in law enforcement," she said.
The Police Department has roughly .85 officers per every thousand residents, the lowest she said in the county and perhaps the state.
There are currently eight states; Alaska, California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Washington, Maine Massachusetts, Nevada and Oregon, that have legalized recreational cannabis.
Out of the 50 states, 29 have legalized medical cannabis through a combination of ballot measures and senate bills.
In San Diego County, San Diego, La Mesa and Lemon Grove currently allow some type of commercial marijuana activity.
San Diego city officials estimate that recreational cannabis will bring in $22 million in revenue from gross receipts from taxes by mid-2019.
Despite the significant revenue, Chula Vista officials need to figure out if the financial benefits from taxes would outweigh any potential harm to their community.
Staff members reported challenges of legalization such as an increased concern of homelessness, hospital and poison control calls mostly for youth who consumed edibles, and traffic accidents and fatalities.
The City Council added its concerns regarding youth access, illegal deliveries, marijuana potency, the lack of staff and resources, the city's image, public health, safety and environmental effects.
Currently in Chula Vista, limited personal use and possession of roughly 1 ounce of medical marijuana is allowed in Chula Vista for people 21 years and older, who can also possess, process, transport, purchase, obtain or give it away to people at least 21 years old without compensation.
For concentrated cannabis the amount is lowered to 8 grams.
A person can have no more than six living plants on the grounds of a single private residence. Anything more than 28.5 grams has to be kept in a private residence locked up and not publicly visible. The city does have the authority to ban outside cultivation.
Numerous public speakers stated their approval and opposition to marijuana regulation in the city.
"When you can't regulate something one of the problems you have is corruption," said John Redman, executive director of Californians for Drug Free Youth. "I'm here to ask you to take a cautionary approach because once you opens Pandora's Box it is very, very difficult to go back."
Chula Vista resident Alan Cassell, who's also a business owner, spoke in favor of it.
"In part my personal views are that through regulation of this process it allows us a little more clear cut definition of what is legal and what is illegal," he said.
Councilman Steve Padilla said the reality is that if a juvenile or adult wants access to marijuana they're going to get it.
"The question is, are they going to have a place in their community where they can get it from a retailer where there's some regulation that we get to weigh in on or are they going to get it from the black market?" he asked.
City staff members are expected to return to the City Council with more answers and research on the subject within 90 days.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: South County News - San Diego Union Tribune
Author: Allison Sampite-Montecalvo
Contact: Contact the Union-Tribune - The San Diego Union-Tribune
Photo Credit: AP Photo
Website: San Diego News, California & National News - San Diego Union Tribune
The Aug. 3 dialogue included current state cannabis laws and the future of local regulation regarding cannabis.
The discussion followed a report from city staff members and the chief of police about initial impressions from of a recent trip by city staff and some council members to Colorado to see how the state handles the legalization of marijuana.
They visited Aurora, where voters approved retail and manufacturing uses for cannabis.
In November 2016, California voters passed Proposition 64, which made it legal for individuals age 21 and older to immediately use and grow marijuana with the sale and taxation of recreational marijuana beginning January 1, 2018.
However, while state laws govern personal marijuana activity, including use, possession and cultivation, local municipalities still have authority to allow and regulate or prohibit all commercial activity in cities.
After a near-three-hour discussion, the City Council asked staff members to return with a written summary of the trip, including associated staff costs from finance, code enforcement, planning and building, police and fire departments, administration and the city attorney' office.
Currently Chula Vista has a temporary moratorium on all marijuana sales and manufacturing of marijuana.
Despite that, dispensaries might operate within the city limits until city officials are able to shut them down.
City Attorney Glen Googins said that having a criminal prosecution team as other cities do, would allow the city to be more efficient in shutting down the illegal businesses.
"We have the legal authority to criminally enforce our municipal code, I just don't have the lawyers or expertise in house to be able to do it," he said.
Googins estimated a cost of between $300,000 and $400,000 a year for that additional staffing alone.
City officials said it's too early to estimate the cost of police officers and administrative expenses. However, Chula Vista Police Chief Roxana Kennedy said it would take a significant number of officers to address all the issues.
"As you can imagine, being the chief of police I have huge concerns in regards to any type of establishment where I believe the activity there could create challenges for us in law enforcement," she said.
The Police Department has roughly .85 officers per every thousand residents, the lowest she said in the county and perhaps the state.
There are currently eight states; Alaska, California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Washington, Maine Massachusetts, Nevada and Oregon, that have legalized recreational cannabis.
Out of the 50 states, 29 have legalized medical cannabis through a combination of ballot measures and senate bills.
In San Diego County, San Diego, La Mesa and Lemon Grove currently allow some type of commercial marijuana activity.
San Diego city officials estimate that recreational cannabis will bring in $22 million in revenue from gross receipts from taxes by mid-2019.
Despite the significant revenue, Chula Vista officials need to figure out if the financial benefits from taxes would outweigh any potential harm to their community.
Staff members reported challenges of legalization such as an increased concern of homelessness, hospital and poison control calls mostly for youth who consumed edibles, and traffic accidents and fatalities.
The City Council added its concerns regarding youth access, illegal deliveries, marijuana potency, the lack of staff and resources, the city's image, public health, safety and environmental effects.
Currently in Chula Vista, limited personal use and possession of roughly 1 ounce of medical marijuana is allowed in Chula Vista for people 21 years and older, who can also possess, process, transport, purchase, obtain or give it away to people at least 21 years old without compensation.
For concentrated cannabis the amount is lowered to 8 grams.
A person can have no more than six living plants on the grounds of a single private residence. Anything more than 28.5 grams has to be kept in a private residence locked up and not publicly visible. The city does have the authority to ban outside cultivation.
Numerous public speakers stated their approval and opposition to marijuana regulation in the city.
"When you can't regulate something one of the problems you have is corruption," said John Redman, executive director of Californians for Drug Free Youth. "I'm here to ask you to take a cautionary approach because once you opens Pandora's Box it is very, very difficult to go back."
Chula Vista resident Alan Cassell, who's also a business owner, spoke in favor of it.
"In part my personal views are that through regulation of this process it allows us a little more clear cut definition of what is legal and what is illegal," he said.
Councilman Steve Padilla said the reality is that if a juvenile or adult wants access to marijuana they're going to get it.
"The question is, are they going to have a place in their community where they can get it from a retailer where there's some regulation that we get to weigh in on or are they going to get it from the black market?" he asked.
City staff members are expected to return to the City Council with more answers and research on the subject within 90 days.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: South County News - San Diego Union Tribune
Author: Allison Sampite-Montecalvo
Contact: Contact the Union-Tribune - The San Diego Union-Tribune
Photo Credit: AP Photo
Website: San Diego News, California & National News - San Diego Union Tribune
