Fresno Cracks Down on Unregulated Smoke Shops for Community Safety
In Fresno, city leaders are taking decisive steps to regulate the proliferation of smoke shops operating outside the bounds of the law. Spearheaded by Councilmembers Miguel Arias and Nelson Esparza, along with City Attorney Andrew Janz, a new ordinance is in the works to address the growing concern over unlicensed tobacco and cannabis retailers. With over 640 tobacco-selling businesses and an additional 125 licensed smoke shops, the push for regulation is critical, especially as numerous others fly under the radar without proper licensing.
A recent sweep in collaboration with State Attorney General Rob Bonta brought to light some concerning statistics: an overwhelming 96% of the 31 smoke shops inspected were found to be in violation of both city and state regulations. These violations aren’t minor; they range from selling cannabis and vaping products to minors to hosting illegal gambling activities, alongside various other city code violations. This puts the well-being and safety of Fresno communities at risk.
The inspections didn’t just uncover unauthorized inventory; they also led to the discovery and seizure of weapons, underscoring the serious nature of the oversight. However, the city’s hands are currently tied when it comes to the consequences for these infractions, limited to issuing fines without the power to shut the establishments down permanently. The proposed ordinance aims to introduce more stringent requirements for operating smoke shops, including obtaining conditional use permits, securing city tobacco retail licenses, undergoing annual inspections, and adhering to revised operating hours.
Charles Janigian, President of the California Association of Retail Tobacconists, is in favor of strict compliance, advocating for the shutdown of shops that violate the law. By pausing the issuance of new smoke shop permits, Fresno demonstrates its commitment to cracking down on illegal operations and ensuring a safer environment for its residents.
As Fresno fine-tunes the ordinance and strengthens enforcement, the community looks forward to a future where tobacco and cannabis sales are safely regulated. This effort is not just about penalizing the bad actors but also about protecting the public and supporting legitimate businesses.
Stay updated with Cloud Legends 420 for more news on Fresno’s fight against unregulated smoke shops and how it shapes the local cannabis landscape.
As originally reported on ABC30 Fresno.
