Fresno City Council members took a big leap this week, approving medical marijuana.
The approved measure will allow growing, processing, distributing and selling of medical marijuana and passed on an overwhelming vote of 5 to 2.
The measure calls for adult use, or recreational marijuana, to be allowed in one year.
There was opposition however from Councilmember Garry Bredefeld who even proposed a rule change that would not allow sales in any city council district where over 50% of voters did not approve Prop 64. Prop 64 was California’s law that legalized marijuana in the state.
Councilmember Oliver Baines shot the proposal down and said that a majority of Fresno voters approved Prop 64.
“That’s not a constructive way to make policy, the cannabis industry is simply going to be a business in the city of Fresno,” explained Baines.
The newly approved measure will allow one cannabis retailer in each council district, moving to two if there were no problems, for a total of 14. Cannabis growing, processing and testing would be limited to an industrial area in just Southeast Fresno.
Cannabis supporter Shannon Luce remarked, “I think the fact they got it going with medicinal first, I think the city needs that comfort first to see that it’s going to be okay. I do not think adult use or recreational is going to be a bad thing. I think it is needed and it will come too.”
