Californians voted in a favor of legalizing recreational marijuana in 2016 and the vote wasn’t even close. But, for some cities, the fight against cannabis goes on – including, of course, the Coachella Valley’s gated community hamlet that is Indian Wells, which is objecting to marijuana deliveries in the city for no other reason than they are stubborn.
The Desert Sun reports that the city is concerned that the California Bureau of Cannabis Control is “slowly chipping away” at a city’s ability to have “local control” as the bureau sets out to make permanent rules regarding cannabis in the state by the end of the year. The rules will likely include stricter rules on advertising, more potent edibles (!), and Indian Wells’ biggest fear: the ability for deliveries anywhere in the state, regardless of city or county rules.
Of the proposed 136 pages of regulations, David Gassaway, Indian Wells planning director, said it is just the single line dictating the allowance of deliveries that concerns him.
The proposed rule says: “A delivery employee may deliver to any jurisdiction within the State of California.”
And with a city with an older demographic, many of whom would not only benefit from the medicinal benefits of cannabis, they would probably welcome deliveries of their creams and CBD oils rather than having to drive to Cathedral City or Coachella to make a purchase, the city is not having it.
Gassaway said if cannabis deliveries are allowed in the city, he expects it might put some strain on police services but said it probably won’t actually impact much. He said his biggest concern is losing local control.
“At the end of the day, it is more of a principal thing,” he said. “It is a state bureaucracy making up rules that fly in the face of the rule of the voters. Someone in Sacramento is telling cities all over the state that they will have to allow deliveries even if the cities don’t currently allow that. Local government is where people have the greatest voice. When communities speak on what they want, we ought to be honoring that to the greatest extent possible.”
It is more of a principal thing. This from the same city that spent nearly $300,000 on legal fees because a ficus was blocking a lady’s view.
Thanks for always being Indian Wells, Indian Wells.
