In an effort to fix a huge mistake, Governor Jerry Brown signed emergency bill AB21 which strikes a paragraph from the marijuana regulations drawn up by the State Legislature in September. Local governments no longer need to have laws in effect by March 1 to protect their rights to license pot growers and either ban or allow cultivation. Too bad this was not done months ago as a lot of time and effort has gone into solving this problem in Santa Barbara County by the Planning Department and multiple commissions.
Coalinga Slows Down “Green Rush”
The Coalinga City Council took a bold step recently with plans to permit up to 10 dispensaries within their jurisdiction. Why would they do that? Well for starters they have a deep financial problem and will run out of money within three years. They see this as their opportunity to step in and create new business in their town. Instead of the NIMBY approach that will be followed by most towns, Coalinga might actually create a destination unique between Sacramento and LA on the I-5 corridor. At this time there seems to be no other solution for the city’s financial issues.