City Health Officer Finds Proposed Cigar Lounge Ordinance "Not Consistent with the Health Department's mission of promoting and protecting public.."

What has gotten into the water in Long Beach lately? Or better yet, what are people smoking? (Don't ask...)

First the council moves to allow "cigar lounges" and then it speeds along to gut most of the proposed restrictions on marijuana collectives.

What is galling is that allowing the cigar lounges flies in the face of not only the City's protective, comprehensive policy for no smoking in public places and workplaces (which was affirmed by a public vote of the citizens), but is absolutely contrary to the City of Long Beach's Public Health Department's core mission of "promoting and protecting public health."

You can read the complete memo I requested during Council from our City Public Health Officer at the right of this post. The report by the way that is required in the City's current no smoking ordinance.

Now on to the proposed ordinance to regulate marijuana collectives in Long Beach. On the floor last Tuesday, many changes were proposed to be made to what City Attorney Bob Shannon wrote. I made a motion to slow the train down a little by bringing the proposals back to council next week as a draft and not as a first reading of a done deal ordinance.

I am concerned that many of the changes severely weaken the city's ability to regulate these operations and am especially concerned that they might be able to operate near libraries and parks and in mixed zoned areas that have both residential and commercial.

I proposed and hopefully it will be in the draft that any residence within 1,000 feet will have to receive notice of these collectives applying for a permit to operate.

Residents should be asking who is getting campaign contributions from these two entities -- cigar lounges and marijuana collectives -- before a final vote is taken. Also, how on earth can our local news outlets (sans www.lbreport.com) be considered "objective reporters" when they are taking thousands of dollars in advertising. I doubt they are going to "bite the hand that feeds them" by taking a position for strict regulation.