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Oakland Accepting Applications To Run Marijuana Farms

OAKLAND (KCBS)-- Beginning Monday, the city of Oakland will accept applications for four permits to run industrial-sized marijuana farms within city limits.

The permits, approved in July, allow holders to run pot farms of any size, provided they adhere to strict environmental, security and labor standards. They have to hold a $2 million dollar insurance policy and pay a yearly $211,000 permit fee. There are already 300 groups or people on a list to apply, which costs $5,000.

KCBS' Holly Quan Reports:

City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan is behind the plan.

"I think this will be a great step forward in terms of responsible regulation, and city revenue and public safety," she told the council earlier in the month.

Out of the 300 hopefuls, ten finalists will be chosen. Each will have to go through a public hearing before the four permits are awarded in February or March.  Depending on their size, it's estimated the city could raise several million dollars in revenue from the four pot farms.

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