Hawthorne Press Tribune
Herald Publications - Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale, El Segundo, Torrance & Manhattan Beach Community Newspapers Since 1911 - Circulation 30,000 - Readership 60,000 (310) 322-1830 - November 9, 2017
Chevron Donates Math, Reading
Materials to Kornblum K Class
Chevron representatives visited Ms. Mathis’ kindergarten classroom at Kornblum Elementary School in Hawthorne earlier this week to see their newly funded math and reading materials in action. Classroom
project funding resulted from Ms. Mathis submitting her project through Chevron’s Fuel Your School Program--an annual public school support initiative conducted in partnership with DonorsChoose.org to
provide necessary classroom project materials for enhanced learning. Submissions opened on September 1 and teachers had until Friday, November 3 to submit their projects. Photo provided by Lily Craig,
Chevron External Affairs Manager
Council Unanimously Prohibits
Non-Medical Marijuana Businesses
By Derrick Deane
Another issue is that the state and county,
Non-medical marijuana businesses will have
who we would have partnered with, don’t
to look elsewhere to set up shop after the
have their regulations set yet.”
Hawthorne City Council voted unanimously
Hawthorne could have received some revenue
in favor of Ordinance 2148 during a recent
from the sale of non-medical marijuana both
meeting. In addition to prohibiting non-medical
from shared state revenues along with a
marijuana businesses from opening in the city,
number of local taxes including cultivation,
Ordinance 2148 will also regulate indoor and
manufacturing, excise and business license
outdoor cultivation of non-medical marijuana
taxes. Such local taxes would have gone to a
on private residences within Hawthorne.
public vote for approval.
Despite the overall approval of Proposition
California will enact a 15 percent excise
64, the adult use of marijuana act by voters
tax on the sale of non-medical marijuana. The
during last year’s election, the regulation of
approval of Ordinance 2148 removes any of
the proposition was left up to individual cities.
this revenue from consideration. “The cities
The proposition allows people 21 years and
that do not allow non-medical marijuana will
older to smoke or ingest marijuana products,
not have access to state grants for enforcement
to possess 28.5 grams of unconcentrated and
purposes,” James said. “However the state’s
eight grams of concentrated non-medical
Track and Trace program has not been set
marijuana, and cultivate up to six plants per
up yet.”
residence for personal use.
Track and Trace is a program that has been
“The act also said that as a city, we can
set up by the state to monitor the marijuana
either ban or regulate non-medical marijuana
industry from seed to sale and consumption
businesses,” Hawthorne Planning Director
to ensure that cities are getting their fair share
Brian James said during a presentation. “We
of the excise tax revenue. “Without that being
can also ban or regulate outdoor cultivation and
set up yet, how do we know what we’re going
deliveries, but we cannot ban someone driving
to get,” James said.
through our jurisdiction to go to another.” The
Another issue with revenue is that marijuana is
City also cannot ban the indoor cultivation
still illegal in the eyes of the federal government,
of six plants, but can impose “reasonable
so any proceeds from non-medical marijuana
regulations.”
businesses cannot be deposited into federally
The ordinance impacts two sectors--
insured banks. “It’s basically an all-cash
commercial and residential. In terms of
industry and there is an issue with theft that
commercial restrictions, the ordinance now
we would need to be careful of,” James said.
prohibits non-medical marijuana businesses
For residential purposes, the ordinance
from opening in the city as well as indoor/
prohibits outdoor cultivation and imposes
outdoor cultivation of commercial marijuana
regulations for indoor cultivation of plants.
and delivery of non-medical marijuana.
Residents must cultivate plants within a secure
“This is going to be a brand-new market
and fully enclosed structure that is not visible to
in the state and we don’t know how it will
the public. Lighting for cultivation is restricted
perform,” James said. “We also don’t know
to 1,200 watts and no gas products may be
what regulations would be best to address it.
used. Finally, structures must be properly
ventilated and filtered to prevent odors from
emanating into the public.
The ordinance also defines what is deemed
a public nuisance regarding non-medical
marijuana cultivation. Repeated responses by
law enforcement personnel, odors, noise and
excessive crowds or traffic at a specific residence
can all be deemed a public nuisance.
Though in favor of the ordinance,
Councilmember Olivia Valentine stated she
had numerous concerns, but thought the City
Council should still monitor how other cities
allowing non-medical marijuana businesses
move forward. “We have to monitor this on a
regular basis because I’m afraid we’re going
to have real difficulty in enforcing this as we
go along,” she said.
Councilmember Angie Reyes English noted
that the ordinance could potentially be a lost
opportunity for Hawthorne. “It may be a lost
opportunity for the city of Hawthorne--but I
also understand that although the state passed
a proposition and it was favorably approved
by many residents, it still lacked with support
in some communities,” she said. “So that’s
where we’re at.”
Despite voting in favor for the ordinance,
English did express some concern in terms
of non-ambulatory use of marijuana. Nonambulatory
use requires a note from a physician
or doctor in order to legally possess marijuana.
English said that ultimately the decision comes
down to individual cities to assess guidelines and
regulations for non-medical marijuana. “That was
the idea--that municipalities would ultimately
be the ones to say yes or no on whether it
would be allowed in their communities,” she
said. “I hope that we can work with other
cities so that we can learn more and I hope
that taps in to the City of Los Angeles to hear
what they’re doing.” •
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