by Dan Blackburn
Hermosa Seaside Police Chief Paul LeBaron mentioned Monday, he’s extra involved in regards to the “marketing strategy” of proposed retail marijuana dispensaries within the metropolis than he’s about potential crime and different social issues.
LeBaron made his feedback to town’s newly organized Hashish Advisory Group Monday, a citizen committee looking for to establish public opinion on potential retail gross sales of hashish in Hermosa. The group was assembly for the second time, and heard from a wide range of well being, public security, and hashish business representatives.
The problem on the desk for the group, in line with metropolis officers, “is whether or not town ought to change its present ban on hashish gross sales, and the way that might influence regulation enforcement and the neighborhood.”
Proponents of retail gross sales of pot within the metropolis are presently gathering signatures to qualify an enabling ordinance for the Nov. 22 poll. They’ve till June 18 to submit 1,530 signatures of registered voters.
Related efforts are underway in Manhattan Seaside the place proponents have till April 26 to submit the wanted 2,700 signatures. And in Redondo Seaside, the council selected to place the problem to its voters in March 2023. In Redondo, the council plans to place its personal hashish ordinance on the poll to compete with the initiative ordinance
LeBaron advised the group, “My feedback aren’t primarily based on the truth that it’s hashish being offered because the product. Actually, to us it’s extra in regards to the enterprise mannequin. Hashish we perceive is a legally distributed and consumed product in California. The police division respects that and understands that’s the truth and the regulation.”
However, he added, “The enterprise mannequin itself is one thing — whenever you take a look at the dispensaries that probably might open up right here — that now we have to think about and take note of.”
“Hashish dispensaries themselves, when they’re licensed and run by accountable operators, they’re very, very safe they usually do a extremely good job of maintaining the security and the issues to a minimal,” he mentioned. “They often have accountable safety guards… and we [law enforcement in general] haven’t seen any issues there.”
On a number of events, Metropolis Supervisor Suja Lowenthal halted discussions to ask members of the group to chorus from expressing their private opinions throughout and after the displays.
The group heard displays from Dr. Brian Hurley of the Los Angeles County Division of Public Well being’s Substance Abuse Prevention and Management; and Jonatan Cvetko, government director of the United Hashish Enterprise Affiliation.
Legal professional Katie Podein mentioned she was representing Dan and Abu Siddiq who imagine hashish “must be offered by storefront and non-storefront companies in Hermosa Seaside.”
However former mayor and council member Carolyn Petty echoed different residents’ feedback when she questioned the validity of information offered by marijuana advocates.
“That sends out very antiquated data to the group, and that to me may be very problematic. Simply say no,” she mentioned.
Resident Trent Larson was temporary: “I don’t need to see it [retail cannabis] right here.”
The Hashish Advisory Group will meet weekly till late this month, when it is going to make its proposal to the council as as to whether retail gross sales of hashish ought to proceed to be banned, or if gross sales must be allowed.
Town council is considering inserting a “competing ordinance” on the poll if the present signature-gathering marketing campaign by proponents is profitable, one the council believes would higher replicate the neighborhood’s wants. ER
