Redondo retail cannabis initiative makes required signature count
The Redondo Beach retail cannabis initiative has reached the necessary signatures to put it on the ballot next November – pending verification.
On Monday, Dec. 13, attorney Damian A. Martin, co-founder of the Economic Development Reform Coalition of Southern California (EDRCSC), presented 6,605 signatures to City Clerk Eleanor Manzano, surpassing the required 4,795, or 10 percent of registered Redondo Beach voters.
“These were the easiest signatures we’ve ever gotten,” said Elliott Lewis, CEO of Catalyst Cannabis Co. of Long Beach, claiming a 70 percent conversion rate. “That’s ridiculously good.”
Catalyst is a major funder of the EDRCSC.
After the signatures were submitted to the city, they were counted and sent to Los Angeles County to be verified – matching names with addresses.
“I guess it’s not a surprise,” said city councilman Todd Loewenstein, of the signature total. “They were out (doing the work). The next step is to put it on the ballot, if that’s the way they want to go. They could decide to work something out with the city.”
The signature gathering this fall was the subject of controversy, as Loewenstein and fellow councilmember Christian Horvath, among others, accused the professional effort of misrepresenting the initiative as they stood on doorsteps asking for support. The matter led to a police investigation.
Will L.A. county find any issue with the signatures?
“No. We’ve already verified them, they’re at a 90 percent rate,” Lewis said. “And we got a cushion.”
Other contributors to the EDRCSC include TradeCraft Farms of Los Angeles.
“We are excited for the City of Redondo Beach,” said Barry Walker, TradeCraft CEO. “This is where we work, where we play and where we live. We have nothing but respect for the city council and staff. We look forward to working closely with them and having this well thought-out measure immediately adopted or placed on the ballot.”
City options
The city council voted 5-0 in October to accept recommendations of its Cannabis Steering Committee (favorable to retail marijuana), asking City Attorney Michael Webb to draft an ordinance, for up to two stores, with a five percent tax to go to the city general fund.
Mayor Bill Brand said at the time that he was open to retail marijuana in Redondo Beach, but that he would not support something the community does not support.
Councilmen Loewenstein and Zein Obagi also made statements noting that local residents voting to legalize marijuana statewide in 2016, did not mean they were in favor of stores in their town.
The city council also has the option to adopt the measure as is before any public vote – an unlikely scenario since much of the council has spoken against the initiative as written.
“They’re scared. They’re gonna lose,” said Lewis. “If they don’t think the initiative is good, take it to the ballot. There’s an easy way to decide this. It’s called democracy.”
The initiative – if approved by voters or otherwise – does not give Lewis’ or Walker’s companies a particular chance at one of its three potential permits to open a store.
“Everybody has a shot. We don’t know if we’re gonna get it or not,” Lewis said. “There’s no guarantees. But we’ve won in open contests 80 percent of the time. Though I’m a little concerned about the Redondo Beach officials, as they don’t seem to like us.”
Lewis characterized an adversarial appearance by Martin at a city council meeting Nov. 2 as a “red wedding,” in a “Game of Thrones” reference.
Outcomes
The EDRCSC proposal would go to voters in the November 2022 election.
GroundWorks Campaigns (Los Angeles) was hired by the EDRCSC to gather the signatures. The contract cost $174,576.
“I hope the (city) council will stay the course and finalize our own ordinance and the initiative will be a moot point,” said Horvath.
In the end, those who paid for it may not end up with a store here.
“The price of change is expensive,” said Lewis. “We’re bringing retail cannabis to Redondo Beach. If we don’t get a license, I’ll sleep at night, I’m fine with that.”
The initiative’s official proponent is Samual Nicosia, 20, a sophomore at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. A 2020 graduate of Mira Costa High School, his legal residence is Redondo Beach.
Underage to buy marijuana, he would be a legal buyer with a state-issued medical card, which are allowed for those 18 & over.
Lewis said previously that he found Nicosia by “relatively a cold call” after seeing his name on his customer list in Long Beach.
Unless Nicosia had a medical card, he would not be a legal customer.
“I didn’t personally see his card when he walked into the store, but I’m very confident in our system,” Lewis said. “Nobody’s getting in that door who is not compliant with state law.” ER