By Kathryn Reed

South Lake Tahoe’s relationship with marijuana is about to be redefined.

The City Council has scheduled a special workshop for Aug. 29. Medicinal and recreational pot will be on the agenda.

“We need to vet out what we think best management practices are,” City Attorney Tom Watson said. “There are potentially significant impacts.”

The council briefly touched on the subject this month; which is when the workshop idea was agreed upon.

With the state’s voters approving recreational use last fall, it is up to local jurisdictions to decide if they want to allow sales of the drug. State law dictates the use and growing of plants.

A big problem for cities and counties is that the state has not come up with all the parameters for legalization of this product. Edibles is one area that is slow to be resolved. Three state agencies are working on ironing out the details, with a draft likely this fall. Jan. 1 is still the start date for recreational marijuana to be allowed in California.

The council must have an ordinance in place by the end of the year regarding recreational marijuana. It could be an interim ordinance that would ban the sale, with a reconsideration of that ruling down the road.

El Dorado County has not taken a stance yet. Nevada started recreational sales on July 1. Douglas County has said it will not permit the recreational sale of pot. Incline Village may see its first shop on Aug. 4.

California has taken action to align medicinal marijuana regulations with those of recreational.

“I’m a big supporter of medicinal marijuana. It does help,” Councilman Tom Davis said. “I’m not opposed to opening a second one. I do think competition is good.”

The medicinal marijuana ordinance limits those facilities to three. The city is down to one. For another shop to open it must have the council’s approval.