A Cautious Approach

The city of West Covina is following a careful, restrained approach toward allowing cannabis operations. Less than two years ago, the city banned cannabis cultivation—but it is now considering cashing in on the cannabis industry by allowing a small number of commercial medical cannabis cultivation operations, as long as they are kept indoors and follow certain conditions. The ball is now rolling, and commercial cannabis operations could soon be approved.

When the West Covina City Council banned cannabis cultivation on December 15, 2015, council members included the stipulation that a reversal decision is possible down the road. On March 16, 2016, the city council initiated Code Amendment 16-04, the commercial cultivation ordinance, and on September 6, 2016, the city council initiated Code Amendment 16-05, to consider personal cultivation.

“Inside commercial medical cultivation will, number one, provide revenue to the city. What it will allow for is sales of medicinal marijuana to businesses outside of our city, which doesn’t bring those individuals.”

At the time, Code Amendment 16-04 was referred to the Planning Commission, however it was sent back with the recommendation that the city continue the ban.

Most recently on May 2, the West Covina City Council voted 3-2 to send the proposed cultivation Code Amendment 16-04 back to the Planning Commission for a further look. Only Councilmembers James Toma and Tony Wu voted ‘no.’ Mayor Corey Warshaw, however, suggested structured guidelines for commercial medical cannabis cultivation businesses.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that the use of medical marijuana can help some people,” Mayor Corey Warshaw said at a May 2 city council meeting. “My problem is not using it for medical purposes, and I think the laws that have been written make it too easy for people that don’t have a medical problem using it. I don’t believe the use in recreational marijuana is needed at this time.” It’s now up to the Planning Commission again to decide what the next step will be.

The city council was more receptive to the concept of a small number of commercial businesses that could boost the city’s economy. Unfortunately, the issue was once again returned to the Planning Commission for more review. “What I would like to see is this to go back to planning to look at inside cultivation,” Warshaw continued. “Inside commercial medical cultivation will, number one, provide revenue to the city. What it will allow for is sales of medicinal marijuana to businesses outside of our city, which doesn’t bring those individuals. Number two, it will provide revenue if we allowed one or two in the city in the industrial section at least 600 feet away from our schools and our parks.” Warshaw also noted that medical cannabis revenue could assist in adding two to three more police officers to West Covina.

Like West Covina, the neighboring cities of Baldwin Park, La Verne and Whittier all ban dispensaries, yet their current city codes don’t explicitly ban the cultivation of cannabis, suggesting a local trend. Dispensaries, however, will probably not be in West Covina’s near future. Warshaw recommended allowing commercial medical cannabis cultivation operations, because the transactions are not visible to the public. “I don’t think that this will be a police problem because there will be no people doing transactions in there,” Warshaw added.

The West Covina City Council continues its slow and arduous process toward allowing cultivation, and only time will tell as to what decision is ultimately made.