A referendum to stop Lompoc’s lenient cannabis regulations has failed, clearing the way for the city to move closer to issuing permits for dispensaries and other businesses to set up shop, City Attorney Joe Pannone told the City Council.
Meanwhile, Santa Maria City Council maintained its strict rules, agreeing to only allow licensed deliveries to medical marijuana patients from dispensaries outside city limits.
The North County’s two largest cities have dramatically different approaches to cannabis regulations after California voters approved Proposition 64 legalizing recreational marijuana use for adults.
The law allows residents to grow marijuana for personal use and set the stage for the sale and taxation of recreational marijuana while allowing local governments to establish their own rules.
After Lompoc’s council agreed last year to allow cannabis operations in the city, residents opposed to the action launched an effort to get the referendum on the November ballot, a process that temporarily halted efforts to implement the law.
But the Pannone announced Tuesday night the referendum effort failed to gather enough valid signatures to appear on the November ballot.
The Santa Barbara County Elections Division staff had until Jan. 23 to review the signatures on petitions and determine if they were valid when compared to voter registration rolls.
The grassroots effort gathered 2,022 signatures, but only needed 1,620 to qualify for the ballot. The effort fell 200 signatures short after more than 600 were deemed invalid.
Leaders to the referendum effort said they only sought to put the brakes on Lompoc laws and seek the voters’ opinions about whether they support council’s decision to allow businesses to operate.
The city attorney’s announcement prompted applause from cannabis supporters in the audience.
But Pannone warned that the city will not begin issuing permits immediately, and needs to create a process for handling applications.
“I want the public to understand that we’re not ready to hit the floor running yet,” Pannone said. “Hopefully it will not be too long, but it’s going to take as long as it takes and we’re going to do it as fast as we can.”
Pressed for an estimate, he said it could take a month.
“I’m not saying it’s going to be a month,” he added. “I’m saying at least a month.”
He said the city would publicize when applications will be accepted.
The council previously declined to restrict the number of dispensaries in the city.
In Santa Maria, the City Council agreed by a 4-1 vote to continue allowing licensed deliveries of medical marijuana to patients from dispensaries outside the city limits.
However, the council’s amendment to a previous urgency ordinance means all other medical and recreational marijuana businesses would still be prohibited.
Mayor Alice Patino cast the lone opposition vote.
The council agreed to allow medical marijuana deliveries after deciding it was a compassionate approach for patients.
Councilman Etta Waterfield also expressed concern about billboards advertising cannabis businesses.
“I think it’s real bad optics for our high schools students to walk by a big billboard advertising marijuana,” Councilman Michael Moats added.
The city’s urgency ordinance expires in August, but in explaining why the item was brought this month, Deputy City Attorney Phil Sinco said the council needed to decide sooner whether it wanted to make any changes.
— Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.