A cannabis dispensary could soon be on its way to Lathrop.

When the Lathrop Planning Commission meets on Wednesday it will consider a conditional use permit application submitted by Central Valley Greens – a cannabis dispensary that would have been barred from opening in the city just a year ago – to open inside the High 5 Plaza multi-story building on S. Harlan Road near Denny’s.

If approved by the commission and acted upon by the Lathrop City Council, the dispensary would open next to an existing restaurant – Taco House Mexican Grill – inside of the three-story office building and occupy approximately 2,000 square feet of the nearly 12,000 square foot complex.

Under the city’s previous regulations dispensaries like the one proposed would have been against the law as recently as last September – when the council affirmed the planning commission’s decision to ensure that the city’s existing codes are in line with California law. While previous councils had conducted study sessions to learn more about cannabis and the process involved in having a cannabis business in the community, Lathrop had remained relatively steadfast in its opposition – barring outdoor cultivation of even medicinal cannabis prior to California voters approving a recreational use law.

The proposed location is situated outside of the state-mandated 600-foot buffer from “sensitive” areas – daycares, schools, and youth facilities – and outside of the city-imposed 1,000-foot buffer from the centerline of Spartan Way and Lathrop Road and Golden Valley Parkway.

Deliveries of product to customers will be allowed under the conditional use permit, but if the residence being delivered to is within the state-mandated 600-foot buffer, the deliveries will have to take place after 3 p.m. on a weekday.

Armed security will also be a requirement on-site during operation, and according to the proposal, the layout of the site will include a customer entry area where customers will have to be buzzed into a secure floor where the product is displayed.

Much like the changes to the city’s existing regulations that came before the commission last year, the Lathrop City Council will have to vote in favor for the conditional use permit to be issued. The commission voted 4-1 last year – with Commissioner Steve Dresser dissenting – to approve the changes, while the council voted 4-1, with Councilwoman Minnie Diallo dissenting, to finalize the decision.

For additional information, or to obtain a copy of the agenda, visit the City of Lathrop’s website at www.ci.lathrop.ca.us.

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.