Lemoore: Home to the U.S. Navy, agriculture, education, mozzarella - and cannabis?

By Ed Martin, The Leader Editor

Lemoore, a community of roughly 25,000 persons, is home to the United States Navy, much of the San Joaquin’s most prime agricultural farm land, a full-fledged community college, and of course the world’s largest mozzarella cheese producer. Come October, Lemoore may be known for something completely foreign to its small-town culture. The city just may end up hosting the First Annual Central California Hallo-Weed Medical Cannabis Cup.

Translated that means that come October the Lemoore Raceway, on the outskirts of Lemoore’s industrial park, may be home to between 5,000 and 6,000 revelers celebrating the attributes of marijuana – albeit medical marijuana - which is currently completely legal in California. All a California resident needs is a card, issued by a physician allowing him or her partake of the controversial weed.

New York based High Times Magazine, a journal in publication for the past 40 years, is sponsoring the “Central California Hallo-Weed Medical Cannabis Cup” on October 31 through November 1. According to High Times events coordinator, Amanda Younger, the Cannabis Cup isn’t designed as a free-for-all in Lemoore and a place to smoke freely. That isn’t going to happen, she said.

“No marijuana will be sold and distributing of cannabis is not allowed,” said Younger. “If you have a medical ID card and if you enter a special medical area, they’re allowed to consume cannabis on their own. Our vendors are not allowed to sell or distribute.”

She added there will be a fenced-off area with screening not visible to the public where persons with medical cards can go to smoke. “All stations are wrist-banded with security present. Only wrist-banded folks with medical cards will be allowed.”

High Times Magazine has a circulation of about 100,000 and has hosted other cannabis events, including in southern and northern California. This is the first time it has hosted something in the central valley.

What exactly will happen in Lemoore come Halloween? “We’ll have many vendors,” said Younger. It’s a two-day show with vendor booths. They’ll have glassware, growing equipment, art work, and seminars about such things as legalization as well as California experts in the (cannabis) field and discussions of current political issues.

“We actually had our vendors in our Southern California Cup ask us to come to the central valley,” said Younger. “They were already in the central valley and they were always traveling south. They asked us to find a location in Central California.”

Younger said they looked at Visalia, Fresno and other locations, but wanted to stay in the Highway 99 and Interstate 5 corridor. “Bakersfield was too far south and Modesto was too far north. “We had a (medical marijuana) dispensary outside of Hanford and they said Lemoore had a raceway and a casino. They directed us to the Lemoore area.”

Younger said they’ve held events at raceways - in Michigan for example, - so Lemoore seemed like a nice fit. High Times contacted the Lemoore Raceway’s owners, Carol and Mike Evans of Stoney’s Sand and Gravel, a local business, and rented the site.

High Times would still need permits to operate so Evans directed the company to the City of Lemoore. “We’re working closely with the city manager,” said Younger. “Councilman (Billy) Siegel is the one who introduced us to the city manager so we could get the ball rolling. Lemoore Raceway got us in touch with him (Siegel)."

We’re currently in the process of getting those (permits) with the city,” said Younger. “We’re also working with Cal Trans officials as well as city officials with permitting as well as the proper needs – everything from dust control to fire suppression to local EMS.”

Lemoore City Manager Andi Welsh confirmed that High Times has applied for permits. “They have applied for a permit and we’re still waiting on additional information,” she said. “We can’t deny the permit based on the type and quality of the event.” She said that if the company adheres to all the requirements it will probably get a permit.

However, there is an appeal process for anyone who feels he or she may be impacted by such an event. Anyone appealing is required to appear before the council at a posted public hearing and state his or her case. The council can deny or uphold the appeal.

There are those of course who question the appropriateness of a marijuana-themed event in Lemoore. Mayor Lois Wynne isn’t happy at all that High Times may be hosting its event in Lemoore. “I’m against it," she said emphatically. "I just have concerns about what are we advocating. I’m not real happy.”

First-term Councilmember Jeff Chedester was equally adamant about the prospect of a marijuana event in Lemoore. “I have four kids in high school and you know morally and ethically it’s something I’m obviously not for. It’s not something I want my kids exposed to. There have got to be other alternatives.”

He said Lemoore’s kids shouldn’t be exposed to this sort of event. “I don’t think the other parents want their kids to be exposed.”

Chedester sees many negatives. “I’m coming from a dad’s perspective more than anything. That’s why I’m not excited about it.”

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