Imperial adopts application process

IMPERIAL — Council here narrowly approved an application process recently which will open the door for one medical marijuana facility to receive a permit to operate in the city.

With Councilmen Darrell Pechtl, James Tucker and Mayor Geoff Dale voting in favor and Mayor Pro-Tem Betty Sampson and Councilman Robert Amparano voting against, the application process is set to begin March 5.

Applications are now available through the city’s website and at City Hall.

In the ordinance regarding medical marijuana, the city will issue only one permit for the operation of a dispensary in the city, per year. However, the city is not limiting permits for delivery-only dispensaries.

According to weedmaps.com, about 30 different medical marijuana delivery services exist in Imperial County.

Most of them are in and around El Centro. Wednesday’s vote brings the city of Imperial one more step closer to having a medical marijuana dispensary operate in the city.

The dispensary will be allowed to cultivate, sell and deliver cannabis to medical patients only. It will also require the dispensary to test the cannabis. The city manager’s office will be allowed to conduct and audit, examine financial books and tax records at any time during regular business hours.

Imperial is the second city that has taken another step in allowing the cultivation of medical marijuana. Trinity Farms is currently in the process of producing an environmental impact report for its proposed cannabis facility. Trinity Farms is set to build a medical marijuana cultivation facility in Calexico, but that marijuana will not be for sale in the city.