by Kevin Cody
The Hermosa Beach City Council expressed unanimous opposition at its Tuesday May 24 meeting, to a November ballot initiative that seeks to legalize retail cannabis sales in the city.
“There’s been no community clamor for legalizing retail cannabis sales in the city. This initiative is an attempt at a hostile takeover of the city by outsiders. They are trying to shove something down our throats,” Councilman Raymond Jackson said, reflecting his colleagues’ sentiment.
But the council was divided on how to oppose the ballot measure.
The divide led to a two-hour discussion over drafting a cannabis tax measure for the November ballot, and drafting an ordinance to lift the ban on cannabis home delivery.
The discussion followed the release of a city survey that showed residents favor “allowing cannabis businesses operating within the City of Hermosa Beach” by a 10 percent margin, 53 percent to 43 percent, with 5 percent responding “Don’t know.”
Council members Justin Massey and Raymond Jackson favored a November ballot measure that would impose a cannabis tax if voters pass the retail sales measure. Absent passage of a specific cannabis tax, the only city revenue from cannabis sales would come from the local sales tax.
City staff and the Cannabis Advisory Committee recommended placing a cannabis tax measure on the November ballot.
Massey noted that if voters approve the retail sales measure but reject the tax measure, the earliest a cannabis tax could be put before the voters again would be November 2024.
Jackson seconded Massey’s motion.
“Not putting a tax on the ballot would be irresponsible. We need to plan for ‘what if [the retail initiative passes].’ And if the retail initiative fails, we’ll have the tax available for the future. It’s an arrow in our quiver,” Jackson said.
Catalyst Cannabis Co. CEO Elliott Lewis (right), and parent company co-founder, and attorney Damian A. Martin are spearheading efforts to legalize retail sales of cannabis in the three Beach Cities and El Segundo. Photo by Nathan Avila.
Council Member Stacey Armato opposed the cannabis tax motion.
“It’s too risky,” she said. “I can see the cannabis proponents’ campaign. ‘Council supports cannabis tax measure… They’ll say legalizing cannabis sales will benefit local non profits. I don’t want to lend support to their campaign,” Armato said.
Mayor Mike Detoy agreed with Armato.
“A council tax measure would suggest merit in the cannabis industry initiative. I don’…….