Culver City Observer -

By Stephen Hadland

Observer Publisher

Culver City has moved one step closer to allowing the sale, distribution and cultivation of marijuana in Culver City. The voters of California approved the legalization in last year’s election and left cities and counties to develop their own criteria for implementation.

By a 4-1 vote with Councilman Goran Eriksson opposing the council directed staff to prepare an ordinance allowing three retail stores along with several deliver services and cultivation sites.

With the high price of land in Culver City and the westside it remains doubtful that commercial cultivation would be profitable.

The stores would be required to be located at least 600 feet from schools, daycare centers and parks and would require a minimum distance of 1000 feet between the stores.

The retail stores would have to seek approval from the residents in the area, however council wants the power to override the residents’ rejection of potential sites.

Eriksson made it quite clear that he was in favor of banning the growth and sale of marijuana in the city.

The city attorney is drafting the proposed ordinance and it will return to council for an initial reading and a vote.