Laguna Woods is closer to a possible legal marijuana dispensary opening within its borders.
The City Council on July 19 approved the first reading of an ordinance on business regulations for cannabis storefront retailers in the city. Voting for the ordinance were Mayor Cynthia Conners and councilmembers Shari Horne and Annie McCary, and voting against were councilmembers Carol Moore and Noel Hatch.
The ordinance now goes to a second reading, scheduled for the council’s regular meeting in August.
Before the vote, the council noted that cannabis remains illegal under federal law, being classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act. However, marijuana was legalized under state law once California voters approved Proposition 64 in 2016.
The council also noted that the cities of Costa Mesa, Santa Ana and Stanton allow cannabis storefront retailers, but the Orange County Sheriff’s Department remains opposed to such businesses.
Also brought up was the 10% tax that the city would impose on cannabis sales (on top of a 15% state excise tax). The city’s tax was set due to potentially increased law enforcement costs, the council said.
Councilmembers heard from nearly 20 people at their meeting, around half of them Laguna Woods Village residents and the rest cannabis consultants and advocates and representatives of marijuana dispensaries outside Laguna Woods.
Village residents opposed to a cannabis dispensary in the city expressed concerns about the potential for increased traffic, security issues and general disturbance to the peace of a retirement community.
They noted that Village cannabis users have other options: the dispensaries in the three other cities, including a free shuttle service to a dispensary in Santa Ana, along with delivery services.
“I voiced my concerns for the safety of our residents with what I see will cause increased traffic and unknown entities coming to our retirement village from all…
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