Why I Voted Against the Marijuana Ordinance

Tonight I cast the lone vote against a proposal to allow marijuana collectives to operate in the City of Long Beach.

I was the lone vote against the proposal because my colleagues diluted the request of the Long Beach Unified School District that a 1,500 foot buffer be required between schools and these marijuana collectives. Instead of heeding the request, my colleagues voted to reduce the buffer to 1,500 for only high schools and 500 feet for other schools. They also deleted any buffer for child care, libraries and parks.

First of all, our schools have in place a Drug Free Zone of 1,000 feet which prohibits the possession and use of drugs within 1,000 feet of schools. Despite whatever argument raised -- marijuana is still a drug -- so hopefully the City Attorney will come back and tell the rest of the council that they need to at least use that buffer. I still prefer a 1,500 foot buffer.

Someone overhearing my discussion with other colleagues about my concern that the buffer zone should not be reduced yelled out "you don't care about the patients." Of course I do. But I am also concerned about what gets placed near our schools. Marijuana collectives do not belong there.