Higher Level Fresno had its initials opening Wednesday. Photo contributed

After starting the year with only three, 2024 continues to be the year of cannabis for Fresno with the opening Wednesday of its newest dispensary.

Higher Level opened its doors at noon as Fresno’s seventh recreational dispensary at 4795 N. Blackstone Ave., just south of Shaw Avenue, for an initial opening

Salvatore Palma, CEO of Seaside-based Higher Level of Care, said today’s opening started with family and friends and is now open to the public.

Higher Level will have an official soft opening on Thursday, with an official grand opening Feb. 16.

 

Days of operation are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The dispensary, located in the former space of Imagen Graphics — Higher Level’s signage provider — covers 3,000 square feet.

Construction and renovation work began in June. It received a certificate of occupancy in mid-January.

The Fresno location currently has 42 employees.

Along with its location in Fresno, Higher Level of Care has storefronts in Seaside, Hollister, and Greenfield.

One of the two local majority owners of the Fresno location is listed as Marley Forsythe of Fresno in Higher Level’s commercial cannabis business permit application.

According to the Higher Level business plan, they expect to invest $1.34 million in the storefront, with the ownership group having nearly $8 million in capital available for the project.