Stanislaus County planners grapple with granting permits to cannabis retailers; Safety concerns mount as deadline nears.

Stanislaus County planners  are grappling with granting permits to cannabis retailers and related businesses. Concerns over allowing cannabis retailers in shopping malls, near schools, or in other "high-profile" areas, are escalating. Several Stanislaus County cities have chosen to ban weed shops altogether within their city limits and their spheres of influence. Those cities include Turlock, Hughson, Waterford and Newman. Other county cities, including Modesto, Ceres, Riverbank, Oakdale and Patterson, have decided to allow legal cannabis retailers and to regulate and tax them. The County Planners must decide on all these issues and more by the date on which cannabis retailing, cultivation, manufacturing and testing become legal in California, which is January 1, 2018.

Measure T

Voters in Modesto recently passed Measure T which allows for a tax to be levied on recreational marijuana sales. The revenue from the 10% tax will be used to fund a variety of City services. Modesto, like Stockton, has been dealing with major financial issues. The tax revenue, although not a "cure all" or instant remedy for these financial issues, will help the City pay at least some of its bills.

Fear of armed robberies

Commissioner Scott Hicks expressed his concerns that the cannabis shops could be targets of armed robberies. As he described it, it is a "disaster waiting to happen." Other concerns pertain to types of businesses that should not be near cannabis shops, such as gun shops, gymnastic centers for youths, or motorcycle clubs.

Over 200 applications countywide

Throughout the county, 263 applications for marijuana related businesses have been received. Those applications include 37 for cannabis retail outlets, 170 for cultivation, 24 for distribution, 32 for manufacturing and two for testing labs.

Loss of property values

Some of those who object to the cannabis shops in Stanislaus County have expressed concerns that the cannabis retailers and related businesses will cause their property values to decline. Those objecting to the marijuana businesses have cited the various problems that methadone treatment facilities have caused in some communities, mainly emanating from those who "hang out" in and around the facilities. As the objectors see it, the cannabis retailers and related businesses will cause home buyers to look "elsewhere" for new homes, thus causing their property values to plummet rapidly.