The contentious medical marijuana issue reared its head in Visalia.
Bryan Ruiz tried for months to get a city permit to open his Central Cali Caregivers medical marijuana dispensary on East Center Avenue."I did everything they asked me to," Ruiz said -- only to get denied. An angry Ruiz appealed to the Visalia City Council, which held a public hearing. Medical marijuana advocates came with signs reading "Pills kill, cannabis heals."In 2006, Visalia passed an ordinance allowing dispensaries, but the city has never issued a permit.City planner Fred Brusuelas told the council that Ruiz was denied because he failed to tell police the names of all employees, and the application stated that the marijuana would come from the Bay Area. However, Visalia police already had stumbled across a medical marijuana garden and were told that it was being grown for the dispensary."You've got to be squeaky clean," Mayor Jesus Gamboa said.Ruiz's lawyer, William Logan of Three Rivers, said that Prop. 215 allows medical marijuana, so the city must issue a permit if Ruiz follows "reasonable regulations."As for submitting names, "You don't ask Taylor's Hot Dogs to supply the same of people who work there," Logan argued."You're not selling Taylor's hot dogs, you're selling marijuana," Council Member Amy Shuklian responded.The council voted 3-1 to uphold the denial, but then waived the rules requiring a year wait and said Ruiz could reapply right away.Council Member Bob Link asked the planning department to bring the matter back to the council. Ruiz said he'll reapply and is confident he will win approval at the Nov. 16 council meeting."I think it came out real good," Ruiz said.DROP BOX OPENS: Tulare County is installing two curbside drop-off boxes to accommodate "vote by mail" voters and others.The first drop-off box opened Friday in the east parking lot of the Visalia courthouse. This box can be used for property tax payments, voter registration forms and ballots. The second box -- for ballots and registration forms only -- will be at the Government Plaza on South Mooney Boulevard.Now people won't have to park and walk inside, said Rita Woodard, the county registrar of voters.