Salinas city leaders vote to allow commercial medical marijuana businesses

Salinas council members approved an ordinance to allow commercial medical marijuana businesses to operate within the city Tuesday.

The city attorney was quick to point out this doesn’t mean permits will be issued right away or even in a month and that there is still a lot of work to do.

According to the ordinance, the city will allow three permits in each of the following categories: Dispensaries, cultivation, manufacturing and delivery.

Most of the people at the meeting spoke in favor of the ordinance.

“We want to be regulated. We don’t want to be getting arrested for growing plants,” said one man during public comment.

Another man pointed out pot’s medical benefits: “Cannabis helps and heals a thousand times more people than it hurts.”

Still, some community members were not convinced. Others were concerned about public safety.

“I mean, as it is, we lack the police resources. So why should we tax our police department more?” asked one Salinas woman.

Another resident said, “This is absolutely not good for this country. Everything will go downhill.”

City leaders also approved adding a tax measure to the November ballot. That means commercial medical marijuana businesses could face up to a 15 percent tax.