Antioch residents launch referendum to repeal marijuana business district

Currently any type of commercial marijuana business could be located in Antioch’s Cannabis Business Overlay District including retail dispensaries.

The two areas in Antioch’s Cannabis Business Overlay District in green.

By Allen Payton

According to City Clerk Arne Simonsen, three Antioch residents launched a referendum, on Wednesday, to repeal the Cannabis Business Overlay District approved by the city council on a 3-2 vote at their last two meetings. (See related here and here). “The proponents are Rodney McClelland, Manny Soliz, Jr. and Diana Patton,” Simonsen stated. Petition Section with ordinance

“They have 30 days to collect signatures from when the Mayor signed, and I attested to the ordinance, which was Monday, July 2nd,” he explained. “They do need 10%” of the registered voters in the city.

The council passed the ordinance with Mayor Pro Tem Lamar Thorpe and Council Members Monica Wilson and Tony Tiscareno voting in favor, and Mayor Sean Wright and Council Member Lori Ogorchock voting against.

In a post on his Facebook page on Tuesday, Soliz, a former Antioch Councilman, wrote, “Frustration at a very short sighted decision by our elected officials. Antioch already has a severe public image problem. Now combine that with an approval to allow cannabis businesses, with no restrictions, at an area already plagued with crime, and an area in close proximity to some of the City’s largest tax revenue contributors. Even the Chief of Police recommended against approval, warning of the potential violent crime these businesses can attract. Who exactly does this Council represent?”

A call to McClelland was unsuccessful.

Please check back later for updates to this article, including the official comment from the proponents.


the attachments to this post:

Petition Section with ordinance
Petition Section with ordinance


4 Comments to “Antioch residents launch referendum to repeal marijuana business district”

  1. Marty Fernandez says:

    Allen: How can we find where they will be collecting so we can be sure to sign the petition? Sorry, we are not on Facebook.

    • Nicole Castro says:

      Hi Marty. I’m not sure if you received an answer to your question. We have volunteers who will go to your home and obtain signatures. You mentioned you don’t have FB. There is a FB page “Not In Antioch” for those that do have a FB account. This page provides dates, times and locations where registered Antioch voters can sign the petition.

  2. Barbara says:

    It would appear that our city council is so focused on “money” sense, they have forgotten all about “common” sense.

  3. […] The council passed the ordinance with Mayor Pro Tem Lamar Thorpe and Council Members Monica Wilson and Tony Tiscareno voting in favor, and Mayor Sean Wright and Council Member Lori Ogorchock voting against. Read More > in the Antioch Herald […]

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