by Garth Meyer
Measure E on the October 19 Redondo Beach ballot would allow three marijuana retail shops in in the city if approved by voters.
The city council passed its own ordinance in August that allows up to two retail cannabis stores, and a chance to add more later. If approved, Measure E would preempt the council ordinance.
Measure E would also allow cannabis home delivery, but only by local retailers. An exception to the out-of- town delivery ban would be made for medical card patients.
The city would not have the authority to alter security, employment, signage and other operating conditions specified in the initiative, except by order of the city manager to “carry out the purposes of Measure E,” City Attorney Mike Webb wrote in his impartial analysis of the measure for the Voter’s Guide.
The initiative does not set a city tax on cannabis sales. But it provides for points in the permit process for businesses who pledge to contribute an amount equal to two percent of projected gross receipts to a public park, or public school in Redondo Beach and/or to community non-profits.
The ballot measure is unanimously opposed by the city council.
The Voter’s Guide argument in favor of Measure E, by resident Samuel E. Nicosia states, “In 2016, Redondo Beach voted overwhelmingly in favor of Proposition 64 with over 64 percent of the vote, legalizing cannabis for adults over the age of 21 in California…
“Measure E provides medical cannabis patients and adults over the age of 21 in Redondo Beach reasonable access to legal, high quality, and tested cannabis in a manner that protects the health, safety, and welfare of Redondo Beach and enforces State Law.”
“Measure E is then just a biased, power grab written by a single Long Beach company to serve their own interests, favor their control in our community, and severely limit the discretionary authority of our city,” Redondo City Councilman Todd Loewenstein wrote in the Voter’s Guide rebuttal.
“When you read, and fully understand the entire 39 pages of Measure E, this becomes clear. Items listed in favor of Measure E are already included, or can easily be incorporated, in our own laws. Our own laws can be improved, updated and adapted to meet changing community needs. Not even a small change can be made to Measure E without another ballot measure like this.” ER
