FRESNO (KMJ) — The vote to ban recreational marijuana dispensaries in the City of Fresno has been put back to the end of April.
The resolution, which also includes prohibiting operations and sales within city limits, was going to be heard on March 23rd. It was then scheduled for March 30th, and is now set to take place on April 27th.
“I think that the city council needed a little bit of time to pick a date that would work for everyone,” explains Council President and District 7 representative Clint Olivier.
“With the holiday coming up, and also some council members are in and out over the course of the next six weeks or so – so we had to find a date that worked. We needed to have everyone there because it’s an important issue that’s affecting the community, and a big piece of public policy.”
But Olivier’s own position is to hold out – and see what others valley communities do first.
“I don’t think the City of Fresno is going to be hijacked by reefer madness, but I think the City of Fresno needs to be in a position to make good policy and the way to do that is wait and not rush with some knee-jerk blanket prohibition.”
The man who proposed the ban, District 6 representative Garry Bredefeld, reveals that some within City Hall needed more time to consider the implications.
“It’s been frustrating, because I’m ready to go,” reveals Bredefeld. “We’ve done our research, and I know this is not a good thing for the City of Fresno. At the same time I respect other people taking their time to make sure that they’re comfortable with whatever position they take.”
He adds that, unless the city bans the dispensaries, they will be allowed come January 1st 2018.
The new date to hear the proposed prohibition on marijuana operations, dispensaries, and sales, is April 27th.
