On Wednesday, Port Hueneme will become the first city in Ventura County to open its doors to applicants looking to open retail medical cannabis operations. That night, the City Council will continue working to plug a $1.5 million deficit and discuss what it wants to look like in the future.

If all goes well, taxes on medical marijuana will help alleviate pains in a city that for several years has spent more than it makes.

The fix will require a combination of operating cuts. It will also require the city generate more money. Medical cannabis is part of the revenue side — officials are projecting it will bring in $375,000 in 2017-18 and $750,000 in 2018-19, according to the draft budget.

[related_articles location=”left” show_article_date=”false” article_type=”automatic-primary-section” curated_ids=””]Applications for medical cannabis operations will be available when City Hall opens Wednesday. The recently adopted ordinance regulating the operations and other information is available on the city’s website.

The ordinance allows commercial medical cannabis activity in areas zoned commercial, mixed-use residential and industrial with a use permit. It allows personal cultivation of cannabis for medicinal purposes in single-family zones only.

Though cities had prohibited marijuana growing and sales in most forms, that changed after voters approved Proposition 64 in November. The law allows an individual over age 21 to grow up to six marijuana plants indoors for recreational purposes.

Ojai is allowing three non-retail, non-storefront dispensaries and three medical delivery services. In February, Fillmore approved a permit process to allow for the personal indoor cultivation of up to six plants.

Fillmore and Thousand Oaks are studying allowing some type of marijuana activity, whether by dispensary, delivery or another form.

© 2017 Ventura County Star (Ventura, Calif.) Visit The Star at www.vcstar.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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