Coalinga Allows Commercial Medical Marijuana To Be Grown In City

[Robert Celt]

The Coalinga City Council votes to allow medical marijuana to be grown in city limits. The vote paves the way for a commercial medical marijuana company to begin operation in an empty prison in Coalinga It came after three and a half hours of presentations, public comments and discussions. The motivation behind the move is money. The city is in debt. And they have a former prison that's sitting empty - the Claremont Custody Center. The state doesn't want it. And no one else has expressed interest - except for a Los Angeles company that makes concentrated medical marijuana oil. The company, Ocean Grown Extracts, wants to buy the prison facility to grow and manufacture medical marijuana oil. And the majority of the city council and the mayor are in favor. "We need some kind of revenue. We're hurting. We're at 3.2 million dollars in the hike. And we're trying to come out of that hole. And this is one way," said Coalinga Mayor Ron Ramsey. Fresno sheriff Margaret Mims spoke before the council, to oppose the marijuana oil facility. "My concern is that it's not going to stay here for medicinal purposes. It's going to be drug trafficked across our nation," Sheriff Margaret Mims said. The vote to allow medical marijuana to be grown in the Coalinga is in direct opposition of the ordinance in Fresno County - which has a ban on marijuana cultivation. An ordinance will be drawn up and the city council has to give final approval before this takes effect. The city and the marijuana oil company can continue to negotiate the sale of the Claremont Correctional Center. Residents will get to weigh in on another part of the issue. The council plans to put a measure on the ballot to allow a medical marijuana dispensary in Coalinga. It is slated for the November ballot.

News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Coalinga Allows Commercial Medical Marijuana To Be Grown In City
Author: Kathryn Herr
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