CHICO, CA - The local debate surrounding medical marijuana continued to evolve Tuesday morning, as the city of Chico's Internal Affairs Committee discussed potential restrictions on medical marijuana cultivation, while suggesting the city explore allowing dispensaries within Chico's city limits.
At its Oct. 6 meeting, the City Council considered moving forward with an ordinance that would prohibit outdoor marijuana grows and place other regulations on medical marijuana cultivation.
The council ended up sending the matter back to Internal Affairs for further discussion.
Although the committee was only charged with offering a recommendation concerning cultivation regulations Tuesday morning, the committee members expanded their conversation to include medical marijuana dispensaries.
Councilors and committee members Andy Holcombe, Jim Walker and Tom Nickell each agreed that the topic of medical marijuana dispensaries deserved an immediate response from the city.
Holcombe said a discussion on medical marijuana cultivation should include medical marijuana dispensaries, saying the debate would be incomplete without any city or public input on the matter.
"From my point of view, we need to be global and all-inclusive," Holcombe said. "It is also incumbent on us, I think, to look at dispensing ... Why let it be unsettled?"
Chico resident Dylan Tellesen, who has proposed opening a dispensary in Chico, said he agreed the city should move forward on deciding whether to allow medical marijuana dispensaries.
Tellesen said waiting until the city's General Plan update to review the issue — a solution previously offered by city officials — would delay any action by at least 18 months.
With medical marijuana cultivation and dispensaries currently being debated in local forums, Tellesen told the committee that delaying any conversation is disadvantageous to the community, noting it is impossible to avoid discussing dispensaries when considering regulating outdoor marijuana grows.
"Cultivation and distribution are linked," Tellesen said.
Ultimately, the committee recommended the council give direction to city attorney Lori Barker that will cover both how to proceed with regulating outdoor marijuana grows and how to best address medical marijuana dispensaries.
Part of that direction will include recommending the council consider requiring residents to obtain the permission of property owners before growing medical marijuana indoors.
Property owners Dan Herbert and Steve Depa, who also serve on the North Valley Property Owners Association board of directors, said requiring indoor marijuana cultivation would only increase the propensity for home damages.
Herbert said it opens the door for "faulty wiring" by growers and said it will greatly increase electricity and water costs, with Depa saying the move of marijuana grows indoors would be a "fiasco."
"You'll destroy the housing stock of Chico if you allow indoor growing," Depa said.
Walker said as a compromise, the city ordinance could require renters to gain their landlord's permission to grow medical marijuana in a residence, noting that the final ordinance will not fully satisfy the concerns of all parties involved in the discussion, but will be a "reasonable" approach to the problems presented.
"As we muddle through this we have conflicting rights," Walker said. "Whatever we come up with is not going to be a perfect solution."
The City Council is expected to address the ordinance and dispensaries in February.
News Hawk- Weedpipe 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Chico Enterprise-Record
Author: TONI SCOTT
Contact: HOME - Chico Enterprise Record
Copyright: 2008 - Chico Enterprise-Record
Website:Chico committee ponders marijuana grows, dispensaries
At its Oct. 6 meeting, the City Council considered moving forward with an ordinance that would prohibit outdoor marijuana grows and place other regulations on medical marijuana cultivation.
The council ended up sending the matter back to Internal Affairs for further discussion.
Although the committee was only charged with offering a recommendation concerning cultivation regulations Tuesday morning, the committee members expanded their conversation to include medical marijuana dispensaries.
Councilors and committee members Andy Holcombe, Jim Walker and Tom Nickell each agreed that the topic of medical marijuana dispensaries deserved an immediate response from the city.
Holcombe said a discussion on medical marijuana cultivation should include medical marijuana dispensaries, saying the debate would be incomplete without any city or public input on the matter.
"From my point of view, we need to be global and all-inclusive," Holcombe said. "It is also incumbent on us, I think, to look at dispensing ... Why let it be unsettled?"
Chico resident Dylan Tellesen, who has proposed opening a dispensary in Chico, said he agreed the city should move forward on deciding whether to allow medical marijuana dispensaries.
Tellesen said waiting until the city's General Plan update to review the issue — a solution previously offered by city officials — would delay any action by at least 18 months.
With medical marijuana cultivation and dispensaries currently being debated in local forums, Tellesen told the committee that delaying any conversation is disadvantageous to the community, noting it is impossible to avoid discussing dispensaries when considering regulating outdoor marijuana grows.
"Cultivation and distribution are linked," Tellesen said.
Ultimately, the committee recommended the council give direction to city attorney Lori Barker that will cover both how to proceed with regulating outdoor marijuana grows and how to best address medical marijuana dispensaries.
Part of that direction will include recommending the council consider requiring residents to obtain the permission of property owners before growing medical marijuana indoors.
Property owners Dan Herbert and Steve Depa, who also serve on the North Valley Property Owners Association board of directors, said requiring indoor marijuana cultivation would only increase the propensity for home damages.
Herbert said it opens the door for "faulty wiring" by growers and said it will greatly increase electricity and water costs, with Depa saying the move of marijuana grows indoors would be a "fiasco."
"You'll destroy the housing stock of Chico if you allow indoor growing," Depa said.
Walker said as a compromise, the city ordinance could require renters to gain their landlord's permission to grow medical marijuana in a residence, noting that the final ordinance will not fully satisfy the concerns of all parties involved in the discussion, but will be a "reasonable" approach to the problems presented.
"As we muddle through this we have conflicting rights," Walker said. "Whatever we come up with is not going to be a perfect solution."
The City Council is expected to address the ordinance and dispensaries in February.
News Hawk- Weedpipe 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Chico Enterprise-Record
Author: TONI SCOTT
Contact: HOME - Chico Enterprise Record
Copyright: 2008 - Chico Enterprise-Record
Website:Chico committee ponders marijuana grows, dispensaries
