Memorandum 16-069 Port and Harbor Advisory Commission Recommendation for Retail Marijuana on Spit

Memorandum 16-069

TO:                       MAYOR WYTHE, CITY COUNCIL, ADVISORY PLANNING COMMISSION AND CANNABIS ADVISORY COMMISSION

FROM:                  MELISSA JACOBSEN, CMC, DEPUTY CITY CLERK

THROUGH:         KATIE KOESTER, CITY MANAGER

DATE:                   APRIL 12, 2014

SUBJECT:           PORT AND HARBOR ADVISORY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION TO ALLOW RETAIL MARIJUANA ON THE SPIT

At the March 23rd Port and Harbor Advisory Commission regular meeting the Commission discussed retail marijuana sales on the spit and passed a motion recommending that it be allowed.  Four Commissioners voted yes and two voted no.

The supporting discussion included-

The city will benefit from the tax revenues
The spit is the heart of recreation in Homer and marijuana is a big part of recreation
Alcohol is very prevalent on the spit so there isn’t a reason not to allow a way to recreate without getting drunk
People have been doing it out there for a long time

The objecting comment was that right now there isn’t a way to qualify when a person is legally impaired from using marijuana and until there is, it shouldn’t be allowed.

They summarized their reasoning in that allowing retail sales of marijuana in marine commercial probably won’t change behavior on the spit because it’s already happening now.  It will make things legal and maybe mellow people out who are using alcohol.

The Port and Harbor Advisory Commission recommends the Planning Commission, Cannabis Advisory Commission, and the City Council take action to allow marijuana sales in the marine commercial district.

An excerpt of the March 23rd meeting minutes is included.