San Diego’s first hearing for medical marijuana dispensary scheduled Wednesday

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – San Diego’s first hearing to issue a license for the operation of a medical marijuana dispensary is scheduled Wednesday at the City Administration Building.

David Blair applied for a conditional use permit to open A Green Alternative in a 1,400-square-foot space at 2335 Roll Drive near Brown Field in Otay Mesa, according to city documents.

Despite the 1994 voter initiative that legalized medical marijuana, some cities have banned them based on a state Supreme Court ruling that said they could.

A hearing officer for the city’s Development Services Department will consider Blair’s application. The hearing officer’s decision can be appealed to the Planning Commission, which has final say over the matter, according to city documents.

In March, the City Council approved a set of restrictive zoning regulations that would allow up to four collectives to legally exist in eight of nine city council districts.

The restrictions on distances between dispensaries and houses, schools, churches and the like preclude any from being in council President Todd Gloria’s district, which includes downtown, Hillcrest and North Park.

Until the city starts issuing the conditional use permits, all collectives in the city are considered illegal. The mayor’s office said the permit process could cost applicants $100,000.

The city has been taking applications from prospective legal collective operators since April.

The first legal dispensary considered legal by the county recently opened for business near Gillespie Field.