Costa Mesa councilman Jim Righeimer pretty much knew California’s Prop. 64 was a winner—the measure legalizing cannabis to smoke in the home and to grow, sell and distribute as a licensed business—he just didn’t want his city “to be the first to sell it in the post-prohibition era.” On the same ballot where Californians would vote 57 to 43 to legalize pot, two local ordinances were qualified in Costa Mesa—V and W—“allowing up to four (and eight) medical marijuana businesses in Costa Mesa.”
The businesses would be collectives or dispensaries and charge sales tax.
But Righeimer and his fellow councilmembers were ready. The city countered with Measure X, keeping in place Costa Mesa’s ban on retail but allowing other marijuana businesses—manufacturing, testing and R&D labs, and distributors—such as C4 Distro.
Voters opted for the city-backed Measure X by 55%, trouncing V and W. Righeimer even convinced W backer and Santa Ana dispensary owner Robert Taft to support the city measure. “It’s expensive to open more stores,” Righeimer argued, “I told him he’d be cannibalizing his cannabis business.”
Costa Mesa’s ordinance set up a single industrial area for cannabis businesses (see map), the so-called “green zone.” It also affixed a 6% tax on gross receipts and licensing fees.
Has it caused cannabis entrepreneurs to go elsewhere in Orange County?
“We’ve approved two, have five before planning, and 10 more coming,” Righeimer said.
Green zone.
— Pete Weitzner
