Proposed permit fees under Long Beach's new medical marijuana regulations will initially cost collectives at least $24,000. The City Council is being asked to approve the proposed fee schedule for medical marijuana collectives Tuesday.
The council meets at 5 p.m. in City Hall, 333 W. Ocean Blvd. The meeting can be viewed live in Long Beach on Charter Communications Channel 3, Verizon FiOS channel 21, and online at www.longbeach.gov.
The proposed fees include a $14,742 initial application fee to cover inspections and other city costs. Collectives that have a separate marijuana cultivation site in the city would pay another $11,584. On top of that, collectives with four to 500 members would have to pay $10,000 annually; those with 501 to 1,000 members would pay $20,000; collectives with 1,001 to 1,500 members would pay $25,000; and those with 1,501 members or more would have to pay $30,000 per year.
If a collective permit is denied, the applicant can appeal the decision to the council, which would cost $3,304 under the proposed fee schedule. The city would fine collectives that don't comply with the new regulations $1,000 per member.
The council approved the new medical marijuana rules in March following months of debate because council members were concerned about the growing number of collectives. Long Beach has an estimated 75 to 85 collectives. Medical marijuana advocates and collective operators at the time called the law a virtual "ban" because of its strict rules.
The new ordinance prohibits Long Beach collectives from bringing in marijuana from outside of the city, requiring them instead to grow their marijuana on-site or at a separate cultivation location within the city limits. The rule also creates buffer zones around schools, prohibits collectives in certain areas such as residential zones, and prohibits collectives from being within 1,000 feet of each other.
Carl Kemp, a lobbyist who represents Belmont Shore Natural Care collective on 2nd Street and who has become a spokesman of sorts for other collectives as well, said last week that the permit fees seem reasonable.
"We're going to pay them," Kemp said. "We're going to do what we have to do to continue providing medical marijuana to patients at our collectives."
Asked whether the fees might be too high for some collectives to operate, Kemp said he expected those that survive the permitting process in the first place -- those that aren't forced to close because of where they are located -- to be able to pay.
"It's not going to be prohibitive," Kemp said. "It's not going to be easy as pie, but these collectives are committed to staying in operation to provide for their patients."
The medical marijuana law went into effect May 2, but collectives have 120 days from that date to comply with the ordinance, pay their fees and get their paperwork in order. After that, the collectives have another 120 days before they must stop importing marijuana and can provide their patients with only the marijuana they grow in-house.
The council meets at 5 p.m. in City Hall, 333 W. Ocean Blvd. The meeting can be viewed live in Long Beach on Charter Communications Channel 3, Verizon FiOS channel 21, and online at www.longbeach.gov.
The proposed fees include a $14,742 initial application fee to cover inspections and other city costs. Collectives that have a separate marijuana cultivation site in the city would pay another $11,584. On top of that, collectives with four to 500 members would have to pay $10,000 annually; those with 501 to 1,000 members would pay $20,000; collectives with 1,001 to 1,500 members would pay $25,000; and those with 1,501 members or more would have to pay $30,000 per year.
If a collective permit is denied, the applicant can appeal the decision to the council, which would cost $3,304 under the proposed fee schedule. The city would fine collectives that don't comply with the new regulations $1,000 per member.
The council approved the new medical marijuana rules in March following months of debate because council members were concerned about the growing number of collectives. Long Beach has an estimated 75 to 85 collectives. Medical marijuana advocates and collective operators at the time called the law a virtual "ban" because of its strict rules.
The new ordinance prohibits Long Beach collectives from bringing in marijuana from outside of the city, requiring them instead to grow their marijuana on-site or at a separate cultivation location within the city limits. The rule also creates buffer zones around schools, prohibits collectives in certain areas such as residential zones, and prohibits collectives from being within 1,000 feet of each other.
Carl Kemp, a lobbyist who represents Belmont Shore Natural Care collective on 2nd Street and who has become a spokesman of sorts for other collectives as well, said last week that the permit fees seem reasonable.
"We're going to pay them," Kemp said. "We're going to do what we have to do to continue providing medical marijuana to patients at our collectives."
Asked whether the fees might be too high for some collectives to operate, Kemp said he expected those that survive the permitting process in the first place -- those that aren't forced to close because of where they are located -- to be able to pay.
"It's not going to be prohibitive," Kemp said. "It's not going to be easy as pie, but these collectives are committed to staying in operation to provide for their patients."
The medical marijuana law went into effect May 2, but collectives have 120 days from that date to comply with the ordinance, pay their fees and get their paperwork in order. After that, the collectives have another 120 days before they must stop importing marijuana and can provide their patients with only the marijuana they grow in-house.
Paul Eakins reports on Long Beach City Hall, and local and regional
politics. A newcomer to the Press-
Kris Hanson reports on the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles,
covering environmental issues, economic triumphs and
pitfalls and trade trends of America’s largest port.
He also writes a weekly column “On The Waterfront”,
appearing Tuesdays, and also produces an occassional video
and column titled “On The Job,” which follows the hard-working
men and women who keep Southern California’s economy humming.
Karen Robes Meeks came to work for the Press-
Medical Marijuana, B.S. NO SUCH THING, IT'S ILLEGAL AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED PROSECUTION TO THE FULLEST ACCORDING THE FEDERAL LAW....
I realize it isn't always the public opinion, but I do believe that for medical purposes marijuana can be very potent. I think that it should be regulated and legalized.
so Russ, is everyone Cancer patient that claims relief with medical marijuana a liar or a criminal?
But medication that is killing thousands of people a year like oxycontin is fine?
riiight