In what was probably a first for Hermosa Beach, a resident used a portion of his allotted time during the public comment period of Tuesday night’s City Council meeting to pass some pot around at the council dais.
“I know you said you didn’t bring any free samples, so this is marijuana,” said resident Chuck Wilson as he set a tin of cannabidiol cream in front of City Attorney Michael Jenkins.
The unusual gesture came about as the council considered amendments to city zoning codes to prohibit commercial land uses related to marijuana. After a spirited debate among council members that revealed starkly different attitudes about the potential danger and value of the drug, the council ultimately voted 3-1 in favor of the ban.
City staff had been crafting the ordinances in anticipation of a March 1 deadline set by the state legislature for municipalities to take an affirmative stance on various kinds of medicinal marijuana operations, including delivery services. (City law already prohibits storefront dispensaries.) But several weeks ago, the legislature passed emergency legislation removing the deadline, lessening the urgency for the council to act.
One of the most discussed aspects of the legislation was concern that the amendments would frustrate people attempting to obtain marijuana to treat serious and legitimate medical conditions.
Wilson explained that cannabidiol, or CBD as it is more commonly known, is a derivative of the cannabis plant that does not produce a psychoactive reaction. It is THC, another naturally occurring compound found in the cannabis plant, that is responsible for the “high” culturally associated with the drug. After years of using pharmaceuticals to treat pain and injuries, Wilson said that the CBD cream has allowed him to return to a normal lifestyle.
“I rub a little bit of this stuff on, and I can go play volleyball,” he told the council.
The council ultimately concluded that the availability of marijuana in nearby cities where dispensaries are permitted, such as Los Angeles, was enough to meet the needs of residents.
The council recognized that the effect of their action could be brief, citing the prospect of a state initiative on the November ballot to permit recreational marijuana.
“What we’re trying to do is promote local control,” said Council member Jeff Duclos. “But come November it’s a different world.”
