Beach Cities To Weigh In On Allowing Cannabis Stores: Report

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — The Nov. 8 general election will have residents of Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach weigh in on cannabis legalization and taxation measures.

A similar measure failed in Redondo Beach in a special election brought on by a citizen's initiative spearheaded by Elliot Lewis the CEO of a Long Beach cannabis company. Lewis led a year-long campaign for the initiatives that, if approved, would repeal each city's ban on commercial cannabis and give dispensaries the green light to open in the towns.

In Manhattan Beach, the city added a measure to ballots that opposes cannabis alongside the citizen's initiative. This would make it possible for voters to approve the initiative and also keep the ban in place.

Measure MB is the citizen's initiative and it would allow up to three dispensaries in the city. Measure V is the city's response and would maintain the current ban on dispensaries in Manhattan Beach.

If the measures both receive more than 50 percent plus one of the votes cast, the decision will be made by looking at which measure has the most individual votes.

In Hermosa Beach, residents will decide on the citizen's initiative as well as a cannabis tax measure. Measure M is the citizen's initiative and would allow up to two dispensaries in the city. Measure T would require a 10 percent tax from dispensaries if allowed, similar to other businesses.

Read more from The Daily Breeze: Election 2022: Beach cities residents to vote on allowing cannabis stores