Pomona elected officials are in favor of allowing both medicinal and adult-use commercial cannabis uses but consensus on other portions of proposed ordinance varied.
The City Council will reconvene Monday night to give input on remaining categories that would be included in a future ordinance.
At the request of Councilwoman Ginna Escobar, Pomona city leaders have agreed to look into regulating cannabis operations as a form of generating much-needed revenues for the city’s depleted coffers as well as creating resources to crack down on illegal shops.
“We’re witnessing the emergence of a new marijuana industry in the city of Pomona, and it’s happening throughout the region and throughout the state,” said Catalina Gonzalez, prevention policy coordinator for Day One in Pomona, a nonprofit that works on culturally sensitive public health education, intervention and policy development.
But Pomona may have to act quickly. A resident-backed initiative to overturn the city’s current ban on marijuana businesses is one step closer to getting on the November ballot. The measure proposes to amend Pomona’s zoning code to allow commercial cannabis use by creating two zones: a self-described “safety access cannabis” zone in the middle of downtown and pockets in industrial areas throughout the city.
“Initially, our agency (was) not comfortable with marijuana coming into our city, but we do understand that is something that the council has to do,” said Lily Onarte, a Pomona resident and member of Partnership for a Positive Pomona.
In her day job, Onarte serves as the prevention director for The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of East San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys. She sent an email to the council prior to the June 18 meeting recommending that any marijuana ordinance include best practices, developed by the Hilton Foundation, to protect a community.
They’re already here
Gonzalez recently told the City Council she was on the Weedmaps app and found 10 illegal dispensaries, not including delivery services.
“Much like the alcohol and tobacco industries, regulations are needed to protect the most vulnerable communities from businesses that seek to profit from our community,” Gonzalez said. “We must think carefully and critically about who really stands to benefit from proliferating marijuana businesses and retail in our city. Who are we putting in harm’s way?”
Escobar said the City Attorney’s Office, the Police Department and city manager’s office have all given their input during this process. She also has assured the public that there would be various state and regional agencies to regulate these enterprises. Pomona does not have to go it alone.
Which businesses?
At the June 18 meeting, the council went through a checklist of business categories. When it comes to testing, Escobar believes it is imperative that the city have at least have one testing center. She was also in favor of allowing indoor cultivation, retail and micro businesses, which allows an operator to under take the aforementioned uses, as well as manufacture and distribution all in one site.
While she initially had reservations about delivery, Escobar said she is now open to it because of the ability to provide medicinal access to customers in other cities.
Both Mayor Tim Sandoval and Councilman Robert Torres, however, had their reservations. Sandoval requested that staff bring back to the council additional information about delivery services.
For the most, the council appears to be fine with allowing future operations in districts 1 and 5. The majority is in favor of creating a 1,000-foot buffer zone between an operator and sensitive sites, such as schools, but there were varying views about what’s considered sensitive.
Mapping out where they’d go
The zone would go above and beyond the state standard, which requires a 600-foot buffer zone. The council requested staff provide a map showing locations of sensitive uses and the maximum permits that could be allowed.
The council members were agreed they did not want to see have a lottery system for awarding permits. Instead, some council members favored a merit-based point system.
Sandoval said he believes the council should start out cautiously, not allowing more two retailers and a total of four establishments, which would include specific types of operator, such as a testing center or manufacturer.
“I don’t want the wild, wild west coming to Pomona. I understand in other cities, because they didn’t do it right, it is the wild, wild west,” he said. “We will have high standards and expectations. There’s no cutting corners.”
The council will meet 7 p.m., Monday, 505 S. Garey Ave.
