After a year of uncertainty, Fresno may be just months away from weed shops
Fresno appears to be on its way to having marijuana dispensaries later this year.
The Fresno City Council adopted the latest revisions to its cannabis ordinance without debate on Thursday with a 5-2 vote. The previous version was vetoed by Mayor Lee Brand, but five votes is enough to make the new version veto-proof.
Councilmembers Esmeralda Soria and Miguel Arias sponsored the ordinance and announced last week they had come to a compromise with Brand. Councilmembers Garry Bredefeld and Mike Karbassi cast the “no” votes Thursday.
The newest version of the adult use-cannabis ordinance has new, clarifying language, according to leaders. It allows marijuana licenses to change hands during an annual renewal process and owners will be required to keep surveillance footage for 90 days, rather than seven.
A number of other weed regulations have been in place for months.
State voters approved Proposition 64 in 2016, allowing adults to use cannabis.
The Fresno City Council originally adopted an ordinance a year ago allowing medical marijuana in 2019 and recreational adult use in 2020.
Fresno is the fifth-largest city in the state at more than a half-million people but has been behind a number of cities in California that have approved dispensaries. People who live in Fresno are about as far away from a legally approved dispensary as any California resident can be.
The city is in its environmental review phase so dispensaries are likely several months away from being approved, councilmembers have said.
This story was originally published January 16, 2020 at 3:12 PM with the headline "After a year of uncertainty, Fresno may be just months away from weed shops."
