Hermosa Beach Council votes to allow Cannabis Home Delivery

A city sponsored survey released in March, 2022 found Hermosa Beach residents favor retail cannabis sales in the city by a 10 percent margin. Source: FM3 Research

Cannabis home delivery in Hermosa Beach will become legal under an ordinance approved by the city council on a four to one vote at its Tuesday, August 9 meeting.

Council members who favored lifting the delivery ban, which was imposed in 2017, argued the ordinance would decriminalize a service most residents favor, and undermine support for the cannabis initiative on the November 8 ballot. The cannabis initiative would require the city to allow up to two cannabis retailers in the city, and give exclusive home delivery rights to the cannabis retailers selected by the city.

The council voted last month to oppose the cannabis initiative, and will write the ballot opposition argument to the initiative

Mayor Mike Detoy cast the dissenting vote on the delivery ordinance. 

“I’m not opposed to home delivery. But I’m opposed to the procedure and timing,” Detoy said.

He argued that the delivery ordinance was premature because it will be invalidated if voters approve the cannabis initiative. He also questioned whether cannabis delivery services currently operating in violation of the law would follow the permit procedure.

State law prohibits identifying graphics on cannabis delivery vehicles, making them difficult to identify.

City Manager Suja Lowenthal responded that fines for operating without a permit would deter unpermitted deliveries. She said Los Angeles County fines are as high as $30,000.

Council Member Raymond Jackson added, “Those doing the right thing will ‘dime out’ competitors not doing the right thing.”

Council Member Stacey Armato said she favored lifting the delivery ban because, “It removes a major argument of the cannabis industry. If the ban is not lifted, they will claim a no vote on their initiative will make home delivery a crime.”

“We know where the community is at,” Councilman Justin Massey said, in support of allowing delivery.

He pointed out that in 2016, 70 percent of Hermosans voted in support of Proposition 64, which legalized cannabis sales in California. He added that in March of this year, the city’s cannabis advisory committee voted in favor of lifting the delivery ban. And a city survey in June found 53 percent of residents favored allowing cannabis sales in the city.

Last month, the council approved placing on the Nov. 8 ballot a tax of up to 10 percent on cannabis sales.