by Garth Meyer
In a 4-0 vote Tuesday night, the city council approved retail cannabis sales in Redondo Beach.
The decision begins the process to issue permits for two stores, in eligible areas across the city, including inland zones and coastal zones, pending Coastal Commission approval.
The vote concluded a five-year process, delayed in part by the pandemic, and coinciding with a 2021 ballot initiative for three stores, which reached the signature threshold for a special election now set for October.
The city’s ordinance imposes a five percent fee on sales.
The July 19 final vote followed a public hearing which drew few comments.
“The fact that this didn’t turn into a big hoopla shows that there’s community support for this,” said Councilwoman Laura Emdee.
Councilman Nils Nehrenheim noted that city councils have been more concerned about this issue than their residents.
Councilman Todd Loewenstein said he supported Proposition 64 (legalizing marijuana sales in California in 2016), but was unsure about it locally. He suggested that legal dispensaries could help reduce problems from illegal sales and further ‘clean up areas’ in the city.
“This could be a benefit to not only our residents but our taxpayers,” he said. “We can always revisit it later.”
City staff estimated that each store could contribute $500,000 to $1,000,000 per year to the general fund.
Councilman Christian Horvath applauded the work that went into this, particularly the city attorney’s office, adding that he is glad to have local control “instead of outside interests initiating it.”
The council will now move on to the permit application and vetting process.
Nonetheless, if the public initiative passes this fall, it will usurp the city ordinance. ER
