At Tuesdays City Council Meeting, May 29, 2018, the eighth discussion on medical cannabis business was on the agenda. Council had directed City staff to draft an alternative ballot measure to the medical cannabis business initiative of 2017, known as the Citizens Initiative (if you want to read the Initiative, e-mail infodailystar@gmail.com and we will send you a copy.) That Initiative calls for one retail sales location for every 10,000 residents, few restrictions on where the locations will be, delivery, testing facilities, cultivation and manufacturing.
The measure council and city staff are crafting allows for 3 Delivery businesses and 2 testing facilities within the city limits
No storefront/retail locations, cultivation, or manufacturing will be allowed or placed on this competing ballot measure. Councilmember Green felt like the cities medical marijuana alternative was not providing the access Vista Citizens requested and he would not be in support of it. Mayor Judy Ritter, John Aguilera, John Franklin and Amanda Rigby came to a consensus to craft the measure. With no other option for voters other than the citizens initiative, feel this option will provide the “Safe reliable access” the citizens need. This measure will come back for a final vote of the council on June 12, 2018, to be placed on the November ballot if approved.
Additionally, the council voted 4-1 (Councilmember Rigby- No) on adding a tax ordinance to the November ballot. In the event either initiative is passed by the voters in November this tax ordinance would give structure and limitation to the taxation of marijuana within the city. This measure will come back for a final vote of the council on June 12, 2018 to be place on the November ballot if approved.
