Recreational marijuana is coming to Tulare.
The city council approved an ordinance that permits recreational marijuana sales in the city on Thursday.
There are two existing medical marijuana dispensaries that can apply for a permit from the city and state to start selling recreational products, if they so choose.
Tulare Alternative Relief Association and Tulare Alternative Healthcare – the two existing dispensaries – both will apply for the permit, city officials told the Visalia Times-Delta.
The ordinance allows for a third dispensary to open and sell recreational products. Tulare is putting together a set of fees that it will charge for applications.
Implementing a fee in the agreement with the third dispensary will allow the city council to avert a ballot measure.
Five permits will be allowed under the ordinance, which the council will review annually, starting July 2021.
Since the ordinance includes CBD in its definition of cannabis, only licensed dispensaries in the city will be allowed to sell CBD.
Councilmembers Jose Sigala, Terry Sayre and Carlton Jones voted for the ordinance. Dennis Mederos voted against it, and Greg Nunley was not present at the meeting.
