ARVIN, Calif. — The Planning Commission in Arvin gave the green light to the first cannabis cultivation facilities in the city.
Bakersfield resident Mario Delis co-owns JCM Farms, the company that will use the new space. Their operation will be built on what is now a fenced-off dirt lot on Potato Road, an area in Arvin known for agricultural production.
Nobody turned out to oppose the plan at Tuesday's city council meeting and the resolution was approved by a 3-0 vote. Delis says his company is going to ship their cannabis all over the state.
"It shows progress. We're living in the wild west of the cannabis industry right now and it shows progress," explained Delis. "It has a bad wrap because there are certain people that abuse it, just like alcohol or anything else."
Arvin Planning Commision Chairperson Jerry Tinoco was part of the unanimous vote.
"The group that was putting this in was a very qualified, very professional group," said Tinoco. "Anything that's going to bring jobs and revenue to the city is always a good idea. So I was pretty happy with this opportunity and the investment being made in the community."
It is unknown how much revenue will be generated, or the number of jobs created, but one thing is certain, the product will not be sold at their facility.
"There's certain regulations. We have to be so many thousands of feet away from the nearest home or school or church, and there will be no sales of cannabis at our property," added Delis.
