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Legal Marijuana Sales in Fresno? Council Will Vote on Ballot Measure

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As GV Wire reported last week, voters could decide whether to allow marijuana sales in Fresno.
In the just-released agenda for the June 14 Fresno City Council meeting, council members will vote whether to place a marijuana measure on the Nov. 6 general election ballot. The proposal calls for the imposition of a “Cannabis Business License Tax.”
Councilmen Clint Olivier, Oliver Baines and Paul Caprioglio are sponsoring the measure.
The city clerk released no other details.
Despite the statewide Proposition 64 which passed in 2016, Fresno still bans the commercial sale of recreational and medical marijuana. Although the law allows the personal use and growing of marijuana, it left it up to local jurisdictions on how to regulate sales. Fresno, thus far, has opted out.
In December, the council voted unanimously to instruct city staff to create rules on allowing medical marijuana sales.
From the agenda (click on to enlarge):

Council to Rescind Recycling Ordinance

Also, the council will vote on reversing rules put in place last year that opponents said would effectively shut down most recycling centers. This comes after a judge ruled against the city in a subsequent lawsuit.
The California Grocers Association filed the lawsuit last year in response to a September 2017 city ordinance. Recyclers argued that the city’s new rules would close 16 of the 22 such facilities in the city.
CGA successfully argued that the city did not properly conduct environmental reviews when approving the ordinance, and it violated state recycling laws.
Before Judge Jane Cardoza’s April 30 ruling, recycling centers prepared to shut down May 18, the date the ordinance would have taken effect.
The council discussed the lawsuit in closed session in May, without a resolution, until now.
The item is listed on the council’s June 14 agenda as an emergency ordinance. According to the city charter, emergency ordinances need a supermajority of five votes.
 
 

Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email