NATIONAL CITY DELAYS DECISION ON CANNABIS TO MAY

City Council makes changes to proposed marijuana ordinance

The National City council on Tuesday tabled a decision on a proposed cannabis ordinance until May. The ordinance would allow up to six businesses, including consumption lounges, in designated areas.

The council voted 4-1, with Councilman Ron Morrison opposed, to amend the ordinance to allow the sale and use of vaping products, particularly in lounges. Staff will return next month with an updated proposal for a final vote.

“The intent is for folks that do decide to vape to do so in a lounge so that they’re not actually doing it in a park, they’re not doing it in a parked car, they’re not doing it in a place where they can get in trouble,” said Vice Mayor Jose Rodriguez, who suggested the amendment.

National City does not have a vaping or electronic cigarette-specific ban, but its municipal code does not allow smoking in areas such as open-air dining locations.

Other amendments were the requirement of a 250foot residential buffer for any retail use and background checks for cannabis business owners and supervisors, which the city would conduct and enforce, while the business would pay for employee background checks instead of the city.

If the council approves the amended ordinance, the vote would greenlight retail sales, cultivation, distribution, manufacturing and transportation of cannabis and cannabis products in industrial zones and in tourist commercial areas west of Interstate 5.

Where the business could go was also up for debate. Councilman Ron Morrison said his lone “no” vote came after he suggested allowing lounges in the industrial area rather than in the commercial tourism zone. His motion did not receive enough votes to pass.

“To me, it made no sense putting them in an area that is basically our future revenue for the city,” he said, referring to the potential for hotels to open in the commercial tourism area. “We’ve got areas right now in that industrial area where you’ve got craft beer tasting rooms, restaurants, everything else. It’d be perfect if you’re going to have a lounge.”

More than a dozen members of the public, which included National City homeowners and parents, urged the council to take their time before passing an ordinance, especially after the National

City Planning Commission disapproved changing a medical cannabis-related code during a March 15 meeting, citing a lack of information and that the land use is not a “desirable or necessary use.”

“The Planning Commission wisely recognized that this proposal does not serve the best interest of the city. I urge you to follow its lead, there is much more research and public outreach that should be done before this ordinance is considered,” said Kelly McCormick, who identified herself during public comment as a parent and director of a youth mentoring program.

Those in support who spoke were mainly involved in the cannabis industry.

“I would just say that cannabis is already in the community. It’s there illegally, it’s they’re unregulated and untested and the only way to really change that is to regulate it,” said Matthew Nathaniel, director of retail and expansion for Los Angelesbased Shryne Group Inc. The company has retail, manufacturing, cultivation and distribution locations across the state, including in Vista.

Should the council offer its stamp of approval in May, National City would become the first San Diego County city to allow consumption lounges. The city would also join Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, Encinitas, La Mesa and San Diego as cities with cannabis ordinances.