By Gina Harden
VENTURA – Councilmembers viewed a presentation and discussed a proposed ordinance to allow cannabis delivery, amending Municipal Code Section 6.420, during Monday night’s regular meeting. Councilmembers will vote on the proposed ordinance during the October 7 council meeting.
Councilmember Nasarenko asked the police chief, “Do you have the resources within the department to enforce the ordinance?”
“No, we don’t,” he admitted.
The presentation provided an overview of the current city ordinance and State law including SB94, the Medicinal and Adult Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act. The current city ordinance:
• Allows growth of six plants within a residence, per State law
• Bans outdoor cultivation and all commercial activity
• Allows for the delivery of medicinal cannabis within the city by up to three businesses located outside the City, but within the County of Ventura
A 2019 change in State law mandates deliveries be made “to any jurisdiction in the State of California,” restricting local municipalities from prohibiting cannabis deliveries.
The police chief frequently used the word “reasonable” when referring to the new proposed regulations, but businesses may see it differently.
Proposed regulations include:
• Delivery to residential locations only, 9am-9pm
• Residences within 600 feet of schools only 3pm-9pm on weekdays
• Dash cams and GPS required on delivery vehicles
• Delivery service businesses must include public education materials
• Background checks required for all owners, managers, and delivery employees
Application Process
• State license for retail sale and delivery of cannabis
• State seller’s permit
• City of Ventura business license
• Payment of application fees
• Contact information of all owners, managers, and drivers w/criminal background checks
• Proof of ownership
• Description of vehicles
• Proof of insurance
• Permits expire June 30th and renewed annually
It will cost $293 to process permits plus $94 for live scan background checks.
Councilmember Nasarenko asked the police chief, “Do you have the resources within the department to enforce the ordinance?”
He admitted, “No, we don’t.”
View the agenda or watch the meeting.
Gina Harden resides in Ventura County. You can follow her @libertygrows on FB, Youtube
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Such a hurry to add one more substance to be abused. Really smart governance.
Whoa! I can see a new crime wave coming to town. Instead of ordering a pizza and sticking up the pizza delivery guy, order some medicinal weed and stick up the weed delivery guy.
What a win-win for crime! After all when you stick up the pizza guy all you get is a little cash and a cold pizza.
Hold up the weed guy and you get a little cash and some weed. Smoke some and sell some.
It’ll bring a whole new meaning to Happy Days Are Here Again.
Of course, that means on the first council meeting after this passes the chief of police appear before the council asking for an increase in his budget so that he can hire a crew of Weed Control Officers.
The council, ever eager to appease the P.D. will rubber stamp the chief’s plan. Ventura will spiral even faster into the black hole of unfunded public debt.
Thank you, Sacramento, for helping drive California further into a third world morass. But on the brighter side, with everyone zonked on happy grass, no one will even notice.