420 Warrior
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The fight over farming marijuana as medicine is growing in Live Oak.
Growers are thinking about launching a campaign to recall the five Live Oak City Council members who voted to ban growing medical marijuana. The council voted for the ban Dec. 20, which takes effect Jan. 20.
"This town is disgusted with these people," said James Maral, who started the Live Oak Patients, Caregivers and Supporters Association. "This town is disgusted with what they're doing."
Council member Diane Hodges isn't getting the same reaction. About 20 people approached her over the past eight days to thank her for voting to ban marijuana grows, because they stink and threaten public safety, she said.
"People are happy that we've had the ban," Hodges continued. "They support us, and they will back us."
Mayor Gary Baland said he thinks a push to recall him and his fellow council members will fail.
"I don't think it will gain traction," he said.
Forcing a recall election would require a Live Oak resident to gather signatures from a quarter of the town's roughly 2,700 registered voters, according to the secretary of state's website.
Danielle Ferguson, a ban opponent, rallied the troops over the last week, although she is not just focusing on Live Oak, but the Yuba-Sutter region. She's visited hydroponic and smoke shops in Yuba City, recruited new members and banded with other marijuana growers in the area who are facing bans.
"There are already connections being made," she said. "It's growing."
Maral and Ferguson declined to say how many members joined the association since they started it earlier this month. Ferguson said they had "a lot" of members, but the number of people supporting their cause didn't matter.
"It's not about the amount of people," she said. "It's about what we're trying to accomplish."
Maral and Ferguson are thinking about suing the city to stop the ban from taking effect. The ban violates Proposition 215, also known as the Compassionate Use Act, which voters passed in 1996, they claim. The law shields patients with marijuana prescriptions from prosecution.
"Unless something's changed, we have no choice," Maral said. "What else are we supposed to do?"
Maral said he is not ready to sue just yet and hopes the city backs down to avoid an expensive, long legal fight.
"We didn't do this. The City Council did this," Maral said. "I don't want to fight this fight."
Hodges didn't sound like she was ready to throw in the towel if a lawsuit hits the council's desk.
"If it happens, it happens," she said. "I think it would be worth it."
News Hawk - 420 Warrior 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Appeal-Democrat (Marysville, CA)
Author: Jonathan Edwards
Contact: www.appeal-democrat.com
Copyright: 2011 Appeal-Democrat
Website: www.appeal-democrat.com
Growers are thinking about launching a campaign to recall the five Live Oak City Council members who voted to ban growing medical marijuana. The council voted for the ban Dec. 20, which takes effect Jan. 20.
"This town is disgusted with these people," said James Maral, who started the Live Oak Patients, Caregivers and Supporters Association. "This town is disgusted with what they're doing."
Council member Diane Hodges isn't getting the same reaction. About 20 people approached her over the past eight days to thank her for voting to ban marijuana grows, because they stink and threaten public safety, she said.
"People are happy that we've had the ban," Hodges continued. "They support us, and they will back us."
Mayor Gary Baland said he thinks a push to recall him and his fellow council members will fail.
"I don't think it will gain traction," he said.
Forcing a recall election would require a Live Oak resident to gather signatures from a quarter of the town's roughly 2,700 registered voters, according to the secretary of state's website.
Danielle Ferguson, a ban opponent, rallied the troops over the last week, although she is not just focusing on Live Oak, but the Yuba-Sutter region. She's visited hydroponic and smoke shops in Yuba City, recruited new members and banded with other marijuana growers in the area who are facing bans.
"There are already connections being made," she said. "It's growing."
Maral and Ferguson declined to say how many members joined the association since they started it earlier this month. Ferguson said they had "a lot" of members, but the number of people supporting their cause didn't matter.
"It's not about the amount of people," she said. "It's about what we're trying to accomplish."
Maral and Ferguson are thinking about suing the city to stop the ban from taking effect. The ban violates Proposition 215, also known as the Compassionate Use Act, which voters passed in 1996, they claim. The law shields patients with marijuana prescriptions from prosecution.
"Unless something's changed, we have no choice," Maral said. "What else are we supposed to do?"
Maral said he is not ready to sue just yet and hopes the city backs down to avoid an expensive, long legal fight.
"We didn't do this. The City Council did this," Maral said. "I don't want to fight this fight."
Hodges didn't sound like she was ready to throw in the towel if a lawsuit hits the council's desk.
"If it happens, it happens," she said. "I think it would be worth it."
News Hawk - 420 Warrior 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Appeal-Democrat (Marysville, CA)
Author: Jonathan Edwards
Contact: www.appeal-democrat.com
Copyright: 2011 Appeal-Democrat
Website: www.appeal-democrat.com
