EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part of The Coast News’ three-week series on marijuana in North County.
VISTA — After two ballot measures, Vista residents finally legalized recreational cannabis.
In 2016, California voters approved a statewide measure, Proposition 64, but the Vista City Council did not vote to allow for marijuana-related businesses. Two years later, residents passed Measure Z, which opened the door for 11 medicinal cannabis dispensaries.
The early success of medicinal cannabis in Vista seemingly turned the tide amongst council members, who later approved recreational marijuana this past summer. Since then, the cities of Oceanside and Encinitas have followed suit, although Encinitas residents had to first pass Measure H to force its elected officials to act.
While Vista has positioned itself as the industry leader for cannabis, Oceanside is looking to break through, especially since the city’s cannabis business tax rate is 5%, compared to 7% in Vista, as established by Measure Z.
“They have to maintain a medicinal permit and they can also do adult use,” Vista City Clerk Kathy Valdez said of the transition to adult use. “The state has adult or adult and medicinal licenses. They have to maintain both.”
First to market
Vista was the first North County city to allow retail adult-use cannabis stores to operate as they transitioned from strictly medicinal to adult-use earlier this year. About two years ago, the city of Oceanside approved delivery-only, adult-use cannabis, with MedLeaf being the first to set up shop in the city. Oceanside is now moving forward with adult-use cannabis at a 3% tax rate.
The city of Encinitas also needed a resident-led ballot measure to force its council to incorporate marijuana businesses into the city. Currently, the city is in the process of working out the legal hurdles, but some, such as Laura Wilkinson Sinton, said the city is slow-walking the process.
The Escondido City Council recently voted down a proposal to allow cannabis, while Carlsbad and San Marcos voted to keep cannabis illegal years ago.
Every North County city voted in favor of Prop. 64, with Encinitas having the highest percentage at 65.2% and Escondido the lowest at 52.1%.
“Essentially, we are looking at an epic failure of local elected officials to deploy their voters’ wishes and enact sound, data-based public policy,” Sinton said. “They are missing the astounding revenue, and inadvertently driving crime — the opposite of what they are charged with protecting — their own law enforcement and public safety for their constituents.”
Vista’s processes
Measure Z had specific requirements and timelines, forcing the city to act faster than it may have liked. Valdez said once the businesses were identified, owners were responsible to open them when…
Read More: Vista leads North County in recreational cannabis industry