Compton voters reject two marijuana measures

COMPTON (FOX 11 / CNS) - Compton voters on Tuesday soundly rejected two competing proposals for regulating cannabis businesses in the city, where marijuana dispensaries and other pot-related operations are banned.

The city's proposal, known as Measure C, would have allowed marijuana sales while imposing a 10 percent business tax and banning commercial cultivation of marijuana in the city. It was rejected 1,922-589, 76.54 percent-23.46 percent.

The competing initiative, Measure I, included many of the same provisions as Measure C, but called for a 5 percent business tax and would have allowed indoor marijuana-cultivation businesses. It was rejected 1,884-573, 76.68 percent-23.22 percent.

The defeat of both measures means the city's existing ban on marijuana business will remain in place.

Measure C also would have required dispensaries to be at least 1,000 feet from schools, churches, parks and child care or community centers. Measure I called only for a 600-foot distance from schools. Measure C also included a 30 percent local-hiring requirement, while Measure I did not have such a mandate.

Measure C called for a hard cap of 10 dispensaries in the city, while Measure I would have allowed up to 10 with more possible depending on the population increase.