Laguna First to Vote on Legalizing Recreational Pot

Editor,

Congratulations on being the first city in Orange County to vote on legalizing recreational marijuana (RMJ). Note that I specifically use the term “legalize” but not “regulate.” In the face of immediate concerns surrounding the permission of medical marijuana (MMJ) dispensaries (“Medical Pot Initiative Still Not Final”), opposing residents (Letter: “Pot Clinic Will Exacerbate Tourist Woes”) have seemed to overlook what the actual issue has been about: maintaining local authority.

To summarize: there is presently a ban on MMJ dispensaries. An interest group has successfully petitioned to place a voter initiative on the Nov. 8 ballot to legalize MMJ dispensaries. This voter initiative gives away permits to the interest group without allowing the city a process to vet qualified applicants (including background checks). The initiative allows for RMJ should it be voted in for California but provides minimal regulation and only allows amendments via special elections.

City management and council recognized that this voter initiative posed a risk to the community and tasked the police department to develop a competing municipal ordinance that provides oversight and maintains local government authority over access to marijuana. Their municipal ordinance does not allow for RMJ.

A recent city sanctioned survey found that 49% of residents favor marijuana access vs. 44% opposed. A recent statewide poll conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California found that 60% of Californians are in favor of recreational use. And remember, a majority of Laguna Beach voted in favor of MMJ in 1996. Understand where the data is leading?

Despite recommendations by the city manager and police chief to put a competing municipal ordinance on the ballot as a safety measure to retain local authority on marijuana, a vocal minority and personal prejudices persuaded the council to take no action and allow the voter initiative to be the only pro-marijuana initiative on the ballot during a presidential election year when increased numbers of younger, progressive voters participate; an election where millions of dollars are being invested into legalizing RMJ in California.

I respect the strength that the council showed by committing to unite and campaign against this initiative, but wouldn’t the safe play have been to put the municipal ordinance on the ballot just in case? Instead, Laguna Beach might be the first OC city to legalize recreational marijuana. For better or worse? Only time can tell.

Erik S. Chan, Orange

The author is a self-described marijuana consultant.