Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
Commercial marijuana cultivators can continue to grow in Santa Cruz County for at least a little longer thanks to a referendum petition from a local medical marijuana group.
Responsible Cultivation Santa Cruz got enough valid signatures to suspend the short-lived cultivation ban adopted by the Board of Supervisors in April that was supposed to go into effect May 15. Voters could decide the ban's fate on the 2016 ballot if the referendum is successful.
"The decision to adopt a ban does not reflect the intent of Prop 215," D'Angelo "Cricket" Roberto, a board member of the group, said of the 1996 initiative that allows ill Californians to grow and use marijuana if their doctor has recommended it.
Referendums rarely are used in Santa Cruz County. The last successful one was in 2001.
If this petition qualifies, the referendum then heads to the supervisors. They can repeal the ban, call an election or order staff to come back with a report before taking action.
In 2014, the Board of Supervisors passed a model ordinance for commercial growing, which largely failed. Neighbors to marijuana grows raised concerns about skunky smells and rampant environmental degradation, prompting the rule rewrite.
The number of known illegal grow sites in the county ballooned from 84 in September to at least 145 currently, making county officials worry about a potential gold rush-like invasion of cultivators if recreational marijuana becomes legal in 2016.
Some 11,200 people signed the referendum petition. About 7,250 valid signatures are required to qualify the referendum for the ballot.
The county has 30 business days to verify the signatures, beginning on May 7 when the petition was filed. Officials first check 500 signatures to determine whether all need to be verified, said County Clerk Gail Pellerin.
By Friday, the county had processed 266 signatures and found 73 percent of them to be valid.
That's good news so far for pot proponents who want to throw out the ban, which only allows 100-square-foot personal grows.
The supervisors, however, have remained interested in exploring new regulations. The county recently created a marijuana enforcement task force.
"I always thought that it was unrealistic to ban commercial cultivation when we allow the commercial sale of cannabis," said Supervisor John Leopold. He and Supervisor Ryan Coonerty voted against the ban.
"People have responded with a rarely used tool," he continued, "and it really calls us to come up with reasonable and enforceable regulations that allow us to protect the environment, protect our neighborhoods and protect access for people who have a doctor's recommendation."
Responsible Cultivation Santa Cruz is facilitating a coalition that has held meetings to develop what they say are sensible rules and regulations.
"Our goal is to collaborate with our community to develop a well-rounded initiative for the people to on in 2016," Roberto said.
Its members say they plan to reach out to the broader community, including the supervisors, the county Planning Department and the Santa Cruz County Business Council, to ask for input.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Referendum aims to suspend Santa Cruz County’s ban on marijuana cultivation
Author: Samantha Clark
Contact: Contact Us
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Santa Cruz Sentinel: Breaking News, Sports, Business, Entertainment & Scotts Valley News
Responsible Cultivation Santa Cruz got enough valid signatures to suspend the short-lived cultivation ban adopted by the Board of Supervisors in April that was supposed to go into effect May 15. Voters could decide the ban's fate on the 2016 ballot if the referendum is successful.
"The decision to adopt a ban does not reflect the intent of Prop 215," D'Angelo "Cricket" Roberto, a board member of the group, said of the 1996 initiative that allows ill Californians to grow and use marijuana if their doctor has recommended it.
Referendums rarely are used in Santa Cruz County. The last successful one was in 2001.
If this petition qualifies, the referendum then heads to the supervisors. They can repeal the ban, call an election or order staff to come back with a report before taking action.
In 2014, the Board of Supervisors passed a model ordinance for commercial growing, which largely failed. Neighbors to marijuana grows raised concerns about skunky smells and rampant environmental degradation, prompting the rule rewrite.
The number of known illegal grow sites in the county ballooned from 84 in September to at least 145 currently, making county officials worry about a potential gold rush-like invasion of cultivators if recreational marijuana becomes legal in 2016.
Some 11,200 people signed the referendum petition. About 7,250 valid signatures are required to qualify the referendum for the ballot.
The county has 30 business days to verify the signatures, beginning on May 7 when the petition was filed. Officials first check 500 signatures to determine whether all need to be verified, said County Clerk Gail Pellerin.
By Friday, the county had processed 266 signatures and found 73 percent of them to be valid.
That's good news so far for pot proponents who want to throw out the ban, which only allows 100-square-foot personal grows.
The supervisors, however, have remained interested in exploring new regulations. The county recently created a marijuana enforcement task force.
"I always thought that it was unrealistic to ban commercial cultivation when we allow the commercial sale of cannabis," said Supervisor John Leopold. He and Supervisor Ryan Coonerty voted against the ban.
"People have responded with a rarely used tool," he continued, "and it really calls us to come up with reasonable and enforceable regulations that allow us to protect the environment, protect our neighborhoods and protect access for people who have a doctor's recommendation."
Responsible Cultivation Santa Cruz is facilitating a coalition that has held meetings to develop what they say are sensible rules and regulations.
"Our goal is to collaborate with our community to develop a well-rounded initiative for the people to on in 2016," Roberto said.
Its members say they plan to reach out to the broader community, including the supervisors, the county Planning Department and the Santa Cruz County Business Council, to ask for input.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Referendum aims to suspend Santa Cruz County’s ban on marijuana cultivation
Author: Samantha Clark
Contact: Contact Us
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Santa Cruz Sentinel: Breaking News, Sports, Business, Entertainment & Scotts Valley News
