Marijuana grower Wayne Magnolia addresses the San Jacinto City Council on Thursday, April 29, during a study session on indoor cultivation businesses. From left are council members Russ Utz, Alonso Ledezma, Scott Miller, Crystal Ruiz and Andrew Kotyuk and City Clerk Angela Walton. Photo by: Craig Shultz
Any plans San Jacinto may have for allowing marijuana businesses could go up in smoke unless Mayor Scott Miller sees a comprehensive plan about how the city will deal with issues related to such operations.
As a nearly four-hour long study session about cannabis businesses was winding down Thursday, April 27, Miller gave an impassioned speech about the need to be fully prepared for cannabis business before any are opened.
“What are the impacts, if any, and how do we mitigate them?” Miller asked.
He said he has been asking for reports about how each city department will be impacted by cannabis businesses and what it will cost for items such as additional police and code enforcement officers. He also wants a marijuana oversight committee formed.
“I’ve asked from Day 1 that we have all these plans in place, and we don’t,” Miller said. “This entire program needs to be in place before we take another step forward. If we don’t have those pieces in place, we cannot support that industry in our city.”
The council has been debating how to deal with the effects of legalized marijuana since before California voters passed a proposition in November allowing it. City voters approved a taxing mechanism for marijuana-related businesses and the council set aside land for outdoor cultivation operations.
Marijuana has become an emotional issue in the city, pitting personal beliefs against potential profits.
Council members are divided — from Alonso Ledezma speaking out against any marijuana businesses to Andrew Kotyuk, who not only wants to allow growers, but medical marijuana dispensaries as well.
Thursday discussion regarded whether to allow indoor grow businesses in the areas zoned as light industrial. Council members shared what they like and don’t like about the proposed ordinance — from the number of businesses that should be allowed to the size of their property.
The consensus was that there should be no more than five growers, their lots should be at least half an acre, not 1 acre as previously proposed, and if dispensaries are allowed, they should be medical-only and attached to the grow facilities.
Council members said that there are already people illegally growing and selling marijuana, so regulations will make the business less illicit and the pot safer.
“My fear is that if we continue to keep cannabis without being really regulated, we are encouraging that illegal activity,” Councilman Russ Utz said. “A regulated, tested, safe product; that’s another way we serve our constituents.”
Johnson told the council the city could net almost $1 million per year in fees, even after paying for additional police and fire services.
“There’s an opportunity for revenue,” he said.
Twelve people spoke in favor of allowing indoor growers, but most were attached to cannabis businesses that hope to operate in San Jacinto. No members of the public spoke against the proposal.
But Ledezma said constituents have called him saying they don’t want those kinds of businesses in the city.
“I’m here to represent the rest of the citizens,” Ledezma said. “Most of you are not even from our city. At the end of the day, all of you developers are going to walk away and I have to deal with the city.”
He did say he would approve “one or two” growers, but no dispensaries.
An updated ordinance will go to the Planning Commission then come back to the council.
Meanwhile, the council will take another look at the already-approved ordinance regarding outdoor commercial marijuana cultivation when it meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 2.
Link – Press-Enterprise. Article by Craig Shultz
