Fresno’s new ordinance regulating smoke shops will go into effect as planned while a lawsuit against it will come before a judge next month.

U.S. District Court Judge Kirk Sheriff denied a request from the California Smoke Shops Association to place a temporary restraining order on the ordinance, which would have prevented it from

The backstory: The Fresno City Council voted in April to pass the smoke shop ordinance and limit the number of total retail locations to 49 across the city – seven in each district. • The ordinance requires smoke shops to apply for a conditional use permit in order to operate in the future. It also bans smoke shops from being within 1,000 feet of sensitive use areas, including schools and day cares. • Over 30 currently operating smoke shops will be forced t

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