With the highest of holidays (April 20) around the corner, Long Beach smokers can rejoice as the City moves closer to allowing residents to puff, puff, pass at special public events.
Long Beach made another step toward public cannabis use at certain permitted events, capping that number at 12 events per organizer per year and discussing what types of events need what types of permits at Tuesday’s city council meeting. The item has to come back for one final reading before officially changing the City’s ordinance, but will likely be ready for the summer lineup of festivals as well as the Long Beach Amphitheater’s opening.
At these events, alcohol and tobacco sale and consumption will not be allowed.
This is the latest development in an item first introduced to the city council in August 2024. Since then, the City has been working with other California jurisdictions that have done the same, such as San Francisco, Sacramento and Oakland.
Long Beach has also met with workers who may be impacted by events where smoking weed is permitted, including police officers and venue workers.
During a march, a woman holds a sign that followed a rally calling for reform to California’s taxation of retail cannabis sales at Long Beach City Hall on Feb. 9, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)
These organizers must be authorized by the Long Beach Department of Cannabis Control (DCC), and are separate from a weed vendor, who is authorized by the City to sell cannabis and cannabis goods at these events. The number of vendors in the city is already capped at 40, with eight of those licenses reserved for equity applicants.
Two of these equity vendors are success stories through Long Beach’s Cannabis Equity program, and six more equity applicants are expected to open this year, according to Valencia Romero, manager of Cannabis Oversight. The vendors have their licenses, but are not open to the public yet.
If an organizer wants to host an event where people can smoke weed, they can do so on public or private properties, as the City already has permitting processes in place for both options. The organizer also has to obtain a Cannabis Event Organizer License and Temporary Cannabis Event License from the City.
A “Temporary Cannabis Event” can range from one to four days where cannabis can be sold and smoked, drunk or consumed. Only people 21 and older can attend these events, and sellers must have a license to sell weed. These events can only be held at a county fair event, district agricultural association event or at an avenue separately approved by the City.
The City listed possible venues such as the Queen Mary, Marina Green Park, Rainbow Lagoon, Shoreline Park, the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center and the Long Beach Amphitheater once it’s open. Events cannot take place within 1,000 feet of a school, daycare center or youth center while children are present. Councilmember Thrash-Ntuk asked that the City consider adding senior centers to this 1,000-yard buffer, though that addition will not be part of the final reading.
Organizers must promote responsible cannabis consumption and safe alternatives to driving, such as ride-share options or designated drivers. This can be done through signage at the event as well as digital promotion of these safety measures. Large-scale events are the most anticipated, City staff said, which will require a special event permit.
Freshly ground marijuana in a grinder. (Signal Tribune file photo)
For a smaller event at a local business, organizers will have to obtain an Occasional Event Permit, for a one-day event, similar to when a business wants to host live music for a day.
Every organizer will have to submit an equity plan as part of their permit application. This plan will outline how the organizer will support verified equity applicants and businesses, such as:
Offering reduced event vendor, exhibitor, booth or sponsor fees
Displaying and selling cannabis products manufactured by verified equity businesses
Allocating vendor spaces for licensed equity dispensaries
Providing mentorship opportunities during event day
In order for a vendor to sell weed at a Long Beach event, they must have a cannabis retail license issued by Long Beach.
The City can force cannabis sales and consumption to stop at any time during an event in order to “protect public health or safety” or to assure organizers are following State and City laws. Organizers are also responsible for removing anyone from their event who is selling products without a Long Beach-issued license or not following City or State law.
Councilmember Suely Saro asked if the City can receive a report after the first year allowing public cannabis-use events covering revenue and safety impacts.
Councilmembers Kristina Duggan and Megan Kerr both dissented from the item, citing concerns of smoke drifting into neighborhoods.
