Norwalk approves ban of all outdoor marijuana cultivation citywide
NORWALK - Norwalk City Council unanimously voted to amend the existing marijuana ban to include commercial non-medical marijuana activity and outdoor marijuana cultivation at private residences.
Cities are allowed to decide whether and how to allow non-medical marijuana related business activity, including cultivation, processing, and retail sales under Proposition 64, otherwise known as the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act.
Previously, the city prohibited medical marijuana dispensaries, commercial medical marijuana activity, and cultivation, whether personal or commercial, within every zone of the city.
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Tuesday’s vote now expands the prohibition to include commercial marijuana activity and outdoor cultivation at private residences.
The decision was made quickly and relatively quietly, with not much discussion outside of staff’s report to council.
Vice Mayor Shryock did speak openly after the meeting, however.
“For me personally, it’s a drug that alters your decision making process,” said Shryock. “For our community, I think the less of that the better.
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[Marijuana] is still considered a class one drug from the federal government. I know the lure of additional revenue sources by the taxation of that [marijuana] is a temptation, but I think it’s a temptation that we should not fall prey to.”
The Norwalk City Council on Tuesday also unanimously voiced its support for Assembly Bill 1408, which would require revocation of probation if the offender has violated probation terms for a third time.
AB 1408 was introduced by Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon on Feb. 17.
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Following the fatal shooting of Whittier Police Officer Keith Boyer and the wounding of Whittier Police Officer Patrick Hazell, The Mayor of the City of Whittier sent a letter to Norwalk seeking support. It is the City Council of Whittier’s belief that this incident could have been avoided if state law had allowed for the suspect’s appropriate incarceration for multiple probation violations and a review of the suspect’s history of violent crimes.
After Tuesday’s meeting, Shryock spoke, saying that he understood that “there were a lot of pressures on our prison system.”
“When people have histories of violent crime, when they have histories of regular misbehavior, anti-lawful behavior the law almost seems to protect them,” said Shryock. “And that’s a problem.”