Office of the
City Clerk

UPDATE 8/5/2016: Correction to public examination periods.

Long Beach, CA (August 3, 2016) – Long Beach City Clerk Maria de la Luz Garcia, announced today that the City of Long Beach is calling for argument writers for the two City of Long Beach ballot measures appearing on the November 8, 2016 California Statewide General Election ballot. 

The city’s measure entitled, Long Beach Marijuana Taxation Measure, proposes to fund public safety, 9-1-1 emergency response, police officers, homelessness, and general City services, by updating gross receipts tax rates between 6-8% for medical marijuana dispensaries, 8-12% for nonmedical marijuana dispensaries, 6-8% for processing, distributing, transporting or testing marijuana/related products and a square foot tax between $12-15 for marijuana cultivation, raising approximately $13 million annually, requiring annual expenditure reports, until ended by voters.

The public initiated ballot measure entitled, Regulation of Medical Marijuana Businesses, proposes to repeal the City’s ban on marijuana businesses, reduce the City’s tax on recreational and medical marijuana, and adopt regulations permitting approximately 32 retail medical marijuana businesses located in areas not zoned exclusively for residential use with minimum distance restrictions from sensitive uses, and provide for the establishment of an unspecified number of marijuana cultivation, distribution, manufacturing and testing businesses.

Argument writers are designated by the Mayor, with the approval of the City Council. In making such designation, the Mayor designates one of the following:

• The Mayor;
• An elected officer of the City;
• An appointive officer of the City;
• An association of citizens; or
• An individual voter.

Arguments either FOR or AGAINST the ballot measures are due to the City Clerk by Friday, August 19, 2016, while rebuttal arguments are due by Monday, August 29, 2016. Arguments must not exceed 300 words and rebuttal arguments must not exceed 250 words. The public examination period for arguments and rebuttals are August 22, 2016 to August 31, 2016 and August 30, 2016 to September 9, 2016, respectively.

On Tuesday, August 9, 2016, the City Council will consider appointment of argument writers as designated by the Mayor. The Interest Form for Argument Writers is available on the Office of the City Clerk Home page. All interest forms must be received in the Office of the City Clerk, 333 West Ocean Boulevard, Lobby Level, Long Beach, CA 90802, no later than 4:00 p.m. on Monday, August 8, 2016. Postmarks are not acceptable. Applications can be submitted via email, fax, mail, and in person. A separate form must be submitted for each ballot measure.