Marco Islanders vote 'yes' to prohibit recreational marijuana within city limits

The majority of Marco Island residents voted yes Tuesday to prohibit the cultivation, manufacturing, warehousing, distribution and sale of recreational marijuana within city limits, referendum results show.

The "yes" option received 4,040 votes, or 68.9%, compared to "no" which received 1,822 votes, or 31.1%, according to unofficial results.

The ordinance excludes medical marijuana and CBD products. CBD or cannabidiol is a nonintoxicating ingredient found in cannabis and hemp.

Edgar "Ed" Issler, chairman of the Ban Recreational Marijuana PAC, said the message of the voters is that they want to keep the sale of recreational marijuana off the island. The PAC collected enough signatures from registered voters to put the item on the ballot.

"If it becomes legal in the state, Marco Islanders will be able to buy it outside of Marco," he said.

City Council Chairman Erik Brechnitz wrote in an email Wednesday voters do not want recreational marijuana distributed on the island.

"We should follow their request and pass an ordinance that follows the citizens' wishes," he wrote.

State and federal law currently prohibit recreational marijuana.

In case you missed it:Marco Island approves ballot language for ordinance banning recreational marijuana

Litha Berger said she voted "yes" because she does not see a need for recreational marijuana on the island, which she described as a "quiet retirement area."

"Put it in Miami," she said.

Berger was sitting in a portable chair near the United Church, a voting precinct, encouraging people to vote.

Yvette Benarroch, an Air Force veteran and mother of two, was carrying a sign by North Barfield Drive. Benarroch said she voted "yes" to ban recreational marijuana.

 "I don't think we need recreational marijuana," she said. "I don't mind medical (marijuana) because it helps people."

Berger and Benarroch both said they voted before election day.

Patrick Wilkins said he voted "no" because the city should not pass an ordinance banning recreational marijuana.

"Every state goes medical (marijuana) first, then recreational, and they are OK with it," he said.

More:Election results for races in Collier County

Wearing a blue Bernie Sanders T-shirt on deep-red Marco Island, Vanessa Gerber said she was going to vote "no" because "marijuana brings benefits to some people."

"We don't need to unnecessarily regulate what people put into their bodies," she said.

Gerber said people, particularly Black people, should not be arrested and sent to jail for possession of recreational marijuana.  

More than 6 million marijuana-related arrests occurred between 2010 and 2018 in the U.S., and Black people are still more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white people in every state, including those that have legalized marijuana, according to a report from the American Civil Liberties Union published this year.

Black people are 3.64 times more likely than white people to be arrested for marijuana possession despite having "comparable" usage rates, according to the report. The overwhelming majority of marijuana arrests — 89.6% — are for possession only.

Alan Gabriel, city attorney, wrote in an email Aug. 6 the planning board will be involved in implementing the ordinance to prohibit recreational marijuana.

Issler, who is also a member of the board, will not have a voting conflict under state law "because he apparently will receive no economic benefit and will suffer no economic loss" should he participate "on matters implementing and interpreting the citywide recreational marijuana ban," Gabriel wrote.

After the board's recommendation, the proposed ordinance will go to City Council for formal adoption as an ordinance "pursuant to state law" with a first and second reading, Gabriel wrote.

Contact Omar at omar.rodriguezortiz@naplesnews.com, and follow him on Twitter as @Omar_fromPR. Support his work by subscribing to Naples Daily News.