Compton voters reject permits for pot shops

Wednesday, January 24, 2018
012418-kabc-5am-compton-pot-vid
Compton voters were weighing whether marijuana dispensaries could pay for improvements the city urgently needs.

COMPTON, Calif. (KABC) -- Voters in Compton rejected two measures to bring regulated marijuana to the city.

Measure I, which would have collected a five percent business tax and allowed indoor cultivation was voted down by a 75 percent margin.

Voters also shot down Measure C by 76 percent.

That plan, put forth by city council, would have required a 10 percent tax and capped the number of dispensaries at 10.

Compton's current ban on marijuana businesses will remain in place.

Before the vote totals were in, at the Compton Senior Center, the issue drew a passionate response.

"They can forget about marijuana because there is enough here already," says Compton resident Mandy McLaughlin.

"Not enough details, not enough regulations, not enough supervision," says voter Vernita Proctor.

The special election was Compton's response to the state's Proposition 64 which gives individual communities the right to permit recreational pot businesses and define the terms.