Long Beach allows the sale of medical marijuana and the agendized item by city management and the city attorney sought Council direction on whether to say "yes" or "no" to allowing the sale of recreational marijuana. Staff's agendizing memo (visible here) took no position pro or con on the issue, leaving the policy to the policy-setting City Council.
Councilwoman Suzie Price made a motion to continue the city's current ban on "recreational" marijuana sales until all 32 allowed medical marijuana dispensaries were up and operating and the results could be evaluated.
Councilwoman Gonzalez made a substitute motion to develop a plan allowing businesses to sell "recreational" marijuana, saying the public had spoken at the ballot box in allowing adult recreational marijuana use.
Vice Mayor/9th dist. Councilman Rex Richardson made a substitute-substitute motion (seconded by Andrews) that built on Gonzalez's motion, arguing that if the Council didn't allow recreational pot shops, the City could face a ballot measure to allow them on terms written by proponents. Richardson's substitute-substitute motion directed development of a plan to allow recreational pot shops that also includes some type of "social equity" and diversity components.
Richardson's substitute-substitute motion passed with the "yes" votes of Councilmembers Gonzalez, Pearce, Andrews, Uranga and Richardson (Austin was present earlier but left before the vote.)
During Council discussion, Mayor Garcia took no position on the issue.
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