Tehama County's medical marijuana growers and users are working to stop a proposed county ordinance that would limit marijuana growth to areas 1,000 feet from schools, bus stops and day care centers and require what growers say is an unaffordable security system.
Calling themselves the Tehama Health Coalition, about 14 advocates met Tuesday night at the Feedbag Grill to discuss their strategies as the Board of Supervisors' July 14 decision nears.
Medical cannabis occupies a legal quagmire. Marijuana grown and used for medicinal purposes is legal, according to California law, but illegal under federal law.
The Obama administration ceased the practice of using the DEA to raid dispensaries considered legal under California law, and San Diego County tried to sue the state of California while raiding dispensaries and gardens in its jurisdiction, arguing federal law supersedes state law.
Its suit has since been rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court. Advocates at the meeting said they see the ordinance, proposed by Supervisor Bob Williams, as a back door to limit medical marijuana.
Requiring a 6-foot fence, an electronic alarm system and bars on the windows of any room housing plants are requirements of the ordinance, which could make it impossible for medical marijuana users on modest incomes to grow their own.
Under the ordinance, growers would not face any criminal penalties for growth, but could have their gardens destroyed and be billed for the costs if found out of compliance.
Jason Browne, a Cannabis Action Network volunteer, said the ordnance could disrupt the lives of at least as 3,600 Tehama County residents, based on his research. If we can't have a dispensary, and now they're going to try to tell us we can't grow enough of our own medicine, what are those 3,600 patients supposed to do? Are they suggesting we all drive to the Bay Area and purchase it and drive back?
Restricting access of county residents to something Californians have the right to is criminal, Browne said. If the board goes through with its proposed ordinance, Browne has no reservations about mounting a lawsuit against the county.
Browne cited a California Supreme Court decision that could make it illegal to post limits on medical marijuana growth, despite assurance from County Counsel that the ordinance could still be legal by treating medical marijuana gardens that violate the ordinance as public nuisances, rather than crime.
Browne suggested instead that the county issue $25 tags for growers of medical marijuana to distinguish authorized cannabis from illegal cannabis, thus turning cannabis into a source of revenue for the county.
A similar ordinance has been passed in Mendocino County the same county that passed the ordinance that served as the basis for Supervisor Bob Williams' proposal.
Supervisors will meet to discuss the ordinance at 1:30 p.m. July 14 at 727 Oak St.
News Hawk- Ganjarden 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Red Bluff Daily News
Author: GEOFF JOHNSON
Contact: Red Bluff Daily News
Copyright: 2009 Red Bluff Daily News
Website: Pot Advocates Fight Crop Rules
Calling themselves the Tehama Health Coalition, about 14 advocates met Tuesday night at the Feedbag Grill to discuss their strategies as the Board of Supervisors' July 14 decision nears.
Medical cannabis occupies a legal quagmire. Marijuana grown and used for medicinal purposes is legal, according to California law, but illegal under federal law.
The Obama administration ceased the practice of using the DEA to raid dispensaries considered legal under California law, and San Diego County tried to sue the state of California while raiding dispensaries and gardens in its jurisdiction, arguing federal law supersedes state law.
Its suit has since been rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court. Advocates at the meeting said they see the ordinance, proposed by Supervisor Bob Williams, as a back door to limit medical marijuana.
Requiring a 6-foot fence, an electronic alarm system and bars on the windows of any room housing plants are requirements of the ordinance, which could make it impossible for medical marijuana users on modest incomes to grow their own.
Under the ordinance, growers would not face any criminal penalties for growth, but could have their gardens destroyed and be billed for the costs if found out of compliance.
Jason Browne, a Cannabis Action Network volunteer, said the ordnance could disrupt the lives of at least as 3,600 Tehama County residents, based on his research. If we can't have a dispensary, and now they're going to try to tell us we can't grow enough of our own medicine, what are those 3,600 patients supposed to do? Are they suggesting we all drive to the Bay Area and purchase it and drive back?
Restricting access of county residents to something Californians have the right to is criminal, Browne said. If the board goes through with its proposed ordinance, Browne has no reservations about mounting a lawsuit against the county.
Browne cited a California Supreme Court decision that could make it illegal to post limits on medical marijuana growth, despite assurance from County Counsel that the ordinance could still be legal by treating medical marijuana gardens that violate the ordinance as public nuisances, rather than crime.
Browne suggested instead that the county issue $25 tags for growers of medical marijuana to distinguish authorized cannabis from illegal cannabis, thus turning cannabis into a source of revenue for the county.
A similar ordinance has been passed in Mendocino County the same county that passed the ordinance that served as the basis for Supervisor Bob Williams' proposal.
Supervisors will meet to discuss the ordinance at 1:30 p.m. July 14 at 727 Oak St.
News Hawk- Ganjarden 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Red Bluff Daily News
Author: GEOFF JOHNSON
Contact: Red Bluff Daily News
Copyright: 2009 Red Bluff Daily News
Website: Pot Advocates Fight Crop Rules
