Tehachapi Temporarily Bans Recreational Cannabis

The Tehachapi City Council recently unanimously voted to enact an interim ordinance banning the sale and cultivation of recreational cannabis. Tehachapi’s city council will have 45 days to weigh in on the issue and decide on a permanent solution for the city.

Just two weeks after California voters passed Proposition 64, Tehachapi is joining dozens of other local jurisdictions that are banning cannabis. “Banapalooza” is what Californians call the frenzy to ban cannabis before statewide recreational cannabis takes place. The ordinance imposes a 45-day ban on the sales and cultivation of cannabis. The ordinance can be extended an additional 10 months and 15 days should the council decide that’s necessary.

Even some of the medical cannabis users in Tehachapi support the city council’s decision to pause on cannabis zoning ordinances. “We did attempt an outside grow, but no matter how high the walls were, no matter how much razor wire we used, it was impossible to stop the theft,” Elizabeth Fox, a medical cannabis user in Tehachapi said according to Bakersfield Now.” I think they should allow it, but only in places nobody ever visits.”

According to the city attorney, in order to extend the ban, the city council must find “sufficient evidence” to justify a ruling.

Last March, an ordinance that would have banned medical cannabis as well was tabled. To the joy of local advocates, medical cannabis is permitted. Tehachapi City Councilman Ed Grimes said that he would prefer workable regulations before anything. The latest ordinance leaves the city’s medical cannabis collectives in limbo.

Smaller cities in California frequently view the surge of cannabis businesses as a nuisance, even among circles of cannabis entrepreneurs. A 45-day wait is suitable for lawmakers in a small town like Tehachapi to fully process what the city needs in terms of cannabis regulation.