Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
The Biggs City Council adopted a marijuana ordinance and held a first reading at Monday night's meeting. The ordinance requires patients who are authorized to grow marijuana to do so in a "fully enclosed and secure structure" to avoid being a public nuisance. A second reading will be held at the next council meeting.
A draft had been presented to the council at a previous meeting by City Attorney Greg Einhorn aimed at keeping any legal marijuana plants from being seen and smelled by the public. A key point discussed was whether or not to require indoor or enclosed cultivation.
Indoor cultivation was thought to be too restrictive, and Einhorn presented the council with two definitions of a "fully enclosed and secure structure" to choose from on Monday night.
The first, he described as a more generic definition:
"'Fully Enclosed and Secure Structure' shall mean a building, greenhouse, or other structure, which has a complete roof enclosure supported by connecting walls extending from the ground to the roof, and which is secure against unauthorized entry and is accessible only through one or more lockable doors."
But the council unanimously agreed on a second, more specific definition, which was taken from the ordinance passed by the City of Gridley:
"'Fully enclosed and secure structure' means a space within a building that complies with the California Building Code, as adopted in the city, or, if exempt from permit requirements, that has a complete roof enclosure supported by connecting walls extending from the ground to the roof, a foundation, slab or equivalent base to which the floor is secured by bolts or similar attachments, is secure against unauthorized entry, and is accessible only through one or more lockable doors. Walls and roofs must be constructed of solid materials that cannot be easily broken through, such as two inch by four inch (2" x 4") or thicker studs overlaid with three-eighths (3/8") or thicker plywood or the equivalent. Plastic sheeting, regardless of gauge, or similar products do not satisfy this requirement. If indoor grow lights or air filtration systems are used, they must comply with the California Building, Electrical, and Fire Codes as adopted in the city."
The council discussed further wording and restrictions, but didn't make any changes to Einhorn's proposal. Vice-Mayor Roger Frith said anything further could be viewed as being too restrictive and be challenged. An authorized patient could see it as the city trying to keep them from medicating themselves at all.
"I think if we keep adding additional language into it, it's going to make it probably weaker in the long run as opposed to stronger," Frith said.
The council members wanted to adopt an ordinance as soon as possible in order to move forward with code enforcement.
Prior to the adoption of the ordinance, a presentation was given by Georgie Szendrey, the host and executive producer of "Issues & Answers" of Fox 30. A short video trailer was shown of an upcoming series called "Our Children's Silent Epidemic, Substance Abuse in the North State." The series is in production now, and will air in the spring of 2009.
Szendrey has worked in television since 1992, and has covered many issues in her 16 years.
"I think the drug issue with our teenagers is the most important issue I've ever worked on," she said.
Szendrey's four-part series will target Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Tehama and Shasta counties, documenting how big and vast the drug problem is. The video shown at the Biggs City Council meeting was shot a couple weeks ago.
"It was just the tip of the iceberg," she said. "The problem with the drug abuse among our teenagers is so serious that for two hours I videotaped one kid after another, happy to share with us their drug problems and the number one drug problems on the street."
One new problem beginning to spread is called a bowl party, she said. A group of about 50 kids have a party at someone's house with a bowl filled with prescription medications stolen from their parents and grandparents.
Jim Bettencourt, who also speaks at schools, said he was introduced to the effects of substance abuse on children eight years ago. His son became addicted to met*h at the age of 12 when a 35-year-old drug dealer traded him me*th for marijuana. At 15, he had four grand mall seizures and was on life support for 3 1/2 days, luckily surviving.
"We need to revisit where time and money and effort is being spent on this problem," he said. "Because right now, it's reactive."
News Hawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Gridley Herald
Author: Tim Gilmour
Copyright: 2008 GateHouse Media, Inc
Contact: Contact Us - Gridley, CA - Gridley Herald
Website: Biggs adopts marijuana ordinance - Gridley, CA - Gridley Herald
A draft had been presented to the council at a previous meeting by City Attorney Greg Einhorn aimed at keeping any legal marijuana plants from being seen and smelled by the public. A key point discussed was whether or not to require indoor or enclosed cultivation.
Indoor cultivation was thought to be too restrictive, and Einhorn presented the council with two definitions of a "fully enclosed and secure structure" to choose from on Monday night.
The first, he described as a more generic definition:
"'Fully Enclosed and Secure Structure' shall mean a building, greenhouse, or other structure, which has a complete roof enclosure supported by connecting walls extending from the ground to the roof, and which is secure against unauthorized entry and is accessible only through one or more lockable doors."
But the council unanimously agreed on a second, more specific definition, which was taken from the ordinance passed by the City of Gridley:
"'Fully enclosed and secure structure' means a space within a building that complies with the California Building Code, as adopted in the city, or, if exempt from permit requirements, that has a complete roof enclosure supported by connecting walls extending from the ground to the roof, a foundation, slab or equivalent base to which the floor is secured by bolts or similar attachments, is secure against unauthorized entry, and is accessible only through one or more lockable doors. Walls and roofs must be constructed of solid materials that cannot be easily broken through, such as two inch by four inch (2" x 4") or thicker studs overlaid with three-eighths (3/8") or thicker plywood or the equivalent. Plastic sheeting, regardless of gauge, or similar products do not satisfy this requirement. If indoor grow lights or air filtration systems are used, they must comply with the California Building, Electrical, and Fire Codes as adopted in the city."
The council discussed further wording and restrictions, but didn't make any changes to Einhorn's proposal. Vice-Mayor Roger Frith said anything further could be viewed as being too restrictive and be challenged. An authorized patient could see it as the city trying to keep them from medicating themselves at all.
"I think if we keep adding additional language into it, it's going to make it probably weaker in the long run as opposed to stronger," Frith said.
The council members wanted to adopt an ordinance as soon as possible in order to move forward with code enforcement.
Prior to the adoption of the ordinance, a presentation was given by Georgie Szendrey, the host and executive producer of "Issues & Answers" of Fox 30. A short video trailer was shown of an upcoming series called "Our Children's Silent Epidemic, Substance Abuse in the North State." The series is in production now, and will air in the spring of 2009.
Szendrey has worked in television since 1992, and has covered many issues in her 16 years.
"I think the drug issue with our teenagers is the most important issue I've ever worked on," she said.
Szendrey's four-part series will target Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Tehama and Shasta counties, documenting how big and vast the drug problem is. The video shown at the Biggs City Council meeting was shot a couple weeks ago.
"It was just the tip of the iceberg," she said. "The problem with the drug abuse among our teenagers is so serious that for two hours I videotaped one kid after another, happy to share with us their drug problems and the number one drug problems on the street."
One new problem beginning to spread is called a bowl party, she said. A group of about 50 kids have a party at someone's house with a bowl filled with prescription medications stolen from their parents and grandparents.
Jim Bettencourt, who also speaks at schools, said he was introduced to the effects of substance abuse on children eight years ago. His son became addicted to met*h at the age of 12 when a 35-year-old drug dealer traded him me*th for marijuana. At 15, he had four grand mall seizures and was on life support for 3 1/2 days, luckily surviving.
"We need to revisit where time and money and effort is being spent on this problem," he said. "Because right now, it's reactive."
News Hawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Gridley Herald
Author: Tim Gilmour
Copyright: 2008 GateHouse Media, Inc
Contact: Contact Us - Gridley, CA - Gridley Herald
Website: Biggs adopts marijuana ordinance - Gridley, CA - Gridley Herald
"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." *T.Jefferson
