Temecula City Council To Talk Marijuana Regulations

TEMECULA, CA -- The Temecula City Council on Tuesday will consider possible changes to the current marijuana ordinance, including whether to allow cannabis businesses to operate in the city.

The discussion comes as cities grapple with how to regulate marijuana usage after state voters agreed to legalize the recreational use of the drug in 2016. In May 2017, city leaders adopted an ordinance prohibiting "all commercial cannabis activity including cultivation, possession, manufacturing, distribution, processing, storing, laboratory testing, labeling, transportation, delivery and sale of cannabis and cannabis products whether or not for profit in the city."

However, the city does allow for the "personal cultivation, both indoors and outdoors, of up to 12 cannabis plants by qualified patients and their primary caregivers if certain criteria is met. Consistent with State law, personal cultivation for recreational use is limited to six cannabis plants indoors."

Poll results, which will be presented to the City Council on Tuesday, show residents support the current prohibition, but support access to medical marijuana.

In addition, the staff reported stated, "The existing ordinance prohibits laboratory testing within the city. This however, is in contrast to the polling results, which indicate that 68% of respondents support laboratories that test cannabis and related products for safety and quality, but do not sell directly to customers."

City leaders could decide whether to change the ordinance or hold community workshops to gain more input from residents.