The Hermosa Beach City Council voted unanimously this week to proclaim it is officially opposed to the resident-led initiative on the Nov. 8 ballot that, if passed, would allow up to two commercial marijuana dispensaries in the city.
City officials said it was important to send a strong signal to its residents that it is not in favor or retail cannabis sales. And, unlike nearby cities where competing city-sponsored cannabis measures are being considered by councils, Hermosa Beach likely will not put a competing measure on the ballot.
Some on council were even against adding a cannabis business license tax initiative to the Nov. 8 ballot, fearing it might confuse voters and give the impression that Hermosa Beach supports cannabis sales.
Hermosa Beach was one of the first South Bay cities to prohibit commercial cannabis sales in 2017.
The Nov. 8 ballot measure, which council certified in March, was the result of a citizen’s initiative filed by resident Colton Chacker, on behalf of Catalyst Cannabis Co. — a dispensary chain sponsoring similar initiatives throughout the beach cities.
Councilmember Raymond Jackson called the citizen’s initiative a “hostile takeover from outsiders” who are “only interested in making money.”
Jackson added that looking at the issue only through the lens of an initiative was forcing the council to consider only ballot-box solutions.
“That’s not the way to conduct public policy,” said Jackson, “especially when wrestling with something so emotionally charged and nuanced is this.”
City Manager Suja Lowenthal said allowing commercial cannabis operations in the city would have serious negative impacts on law enforcement, city operations, and our community character.
In addition to the City Council and city staff opposing the initiative, so have numerous residents at council meetings, the Beach Cities Health District, Hermosa Beach police, and a Cannabis Advisory Group formed in January.
City staff also recommended council vote to place a measure on the November ballot to impose a business license tax on cannabis sales if the initiative is approved, but not all councilmembers agreed.
The council voted 3-2 to have staff prepare a tax ballot measure. But, according to City Attorney Mike Jenkins, when the issue comes back to council, it would need a 4-1 vote to get on the ballot.
Mayor Mike Detoy and Councilmember Stacey Armato, were the two no votes.
Detoy and Armato said they were concerned a city-sponsored tax measure could mislead voters and make them think the city supported cannabis sales.
“My guess is they start advocating for that ballot measure using us as the reason why everyone should support it,” Armato said. “They’re going to say City Council, the city, supports it and then they’re going to couple it with all the misinformation that goes along with their campaign.”
At the May 24 meeting, Damian Martin, an attorney and co-founder of Catalyst Cannabis with Eliott Lewis, said they want to cooperate with the city.
“We’re not trying to be pariahs,” Martin said. “We brought the measure because we thought it would be received better; obviously it hasn’t.”
In an April 29 letter to Jenkins and Lowenthal, Martin proposed they would withdraw the citizen’s initiative and replace it with a City Council measure that would include a tax.
The council rejected the offer.
Martin talked about a cooperative relationship, said Jackson, but it was what the councilman called an “11th hour settlement offer.”
The City Council also directed staff to prepare an ordinance lifting the ban on delivery of cannabis products into the city.
About 20 residents spoke at Tuesday’s meeting, many voicing concerns about the impact of cannabis on youth and crime, as well as on the environment due to the water usage associated with growing cannabis.
“Every one of us who lives near PCH could be affected,” said former councilmember Carolyn Petty. “Can you imagine if we had shootouts in Hermosa Beach? This is not an exaggerated future if you read the news. Please, as our elected officials, safeguard the safety and welfare of our residents.”
But Barry Walker, CEO of Tradecraft Farms, who has helped spearhead the South Bay cannabis initiative effort, said it was never their intention to anger anyone.
Since they have entered various communities, they have been “invited to all the dinners” and have supported charities wherever they open new locations.
Walker said watching some Hermosa Beach meetings was like “watching a scene from ‘Reefer Madness,” referring to the 1936 anti-drug film.
Walker pointed to the large number of unlicensed and unregulated cannabis shops and said that’s where security and potency issues lie.
“That’s where people get really bad stuff,” said Walker. “We are regulated. We want to be a safe place.”
