The city of National City is one step closer to possibly making medical marijuana cultivation legal.
After more than two hours of discussion, The National City Planning Commission voted Monday night to amend the city’s municipal code to allow the regulation of medical marijuana cultivation. The 4-3 vote came after city staff had recommended a cultivation ban under California’s new Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act.
Commissioners Maria DeLaPaz, Al Alvarado and Greg Baca were against regulation and voted for prohibition.
Although the planning commission approved regulation, the decision ultimately lies with the city council who is expected to vote on the issue at a January meeting.
Commissioners proposed a medical marijuana cultivation ordinance to be modeled by the one imposed on the city of San Diego, with a few modifications and additions, making it more suitable for National City.
The amendment is needed in order to respond to new state law in 2016. Gov. Jerry Brown approved the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act, which set statewide standards for medical marijuana use. If cities do not pass a cultivation ordinance by March 1, it will be up to the state to regulate.
If cities do not pass a cultivation ordinance by March 1, it will be up to state to regulate.
National City resident Richard Hodge told the commission that marijuana cultivation is a bad idea.
“I foresee more crime in National City,” he said. “I just don’t see anything positive out of it.
However, Chairman Marcus Bush said he needs evidence and empirical data to see what the effects cultivation will have on the community.
“If we look at it like ‘All these problems are going to happen.’ There’s already a lot of problems and we’ve had the prohibition in place not just in the city, but throughout the state for years.”
DeLaPaz argued that there wasn’t enough time to draft an ordinance for regulation before the law goes into effect in March.
Cynara Velazquez with the Association of Cannabis Professionals, said the proposed regulated ordinance only covers personal use and not commercial use. She said she would like to see the city include language for commercial use in its regulation.
“(Commercial use) brings transparency and the ability to have oversight of the supply chain within its own city.”
Velazquez added that the city is missing out on additional revenue by not including commercial use.
Police Chief Manuel Rodriguez favored prohibition on medical marijuana cultivation because he said the department doesn’t have the staff and resources to control regulation.
Rodriguez also said legalizing medicinal marijuana will affect the quality of life for most residents.
