URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v16/n561/a01.html
Newshawk: http://www.drugsense.org/donate.htm
Votes: 0
Pubdate: Wed, 17 Aug 2016
Source: Porterville Recorder (CA)
Copyright: 2016 Freedom Communications Inc.
Contact:
Website: http://www.recorderonline.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2887
COUNTY EXTENDS MEDICAL POT MORATORIUM
No One Speaks Against Extension
Surprisingly, not one person spoke Tuesday for or against an ordinance which will extend the ban on new medical marijuana collectives or cooperatives in Tulare County.
Following a detailed staff report into why the county wants to extend its interim ordinance prohibiting the establishment of new or expansion of existing medical marijuana entities in the county, supervisors passed the extension on a 5-0 vote after no one spoke during the public comment portion of the hearing.
Supervisors were given many reasons why the development of the medical or nonmedical marijuana business in Tulare County is unwanted. Among those reasons are crime, use of water, illegal use of pesticides and more.
The county first passed an ordinance in 2013 placing a stop on any new businesses related to marijuana, medical or otherwise. That was extended in 2015 and now appears to be extended at least until November when a statewide ballot measure could change the political landscape again. Voters will be asked to legalize marijuana in the November ballot.
The staff report notes several legislative and regulatory changes to marijuana laws, but noted local jurisdictions still have control and can impose their only ordinances. The county ordinance only pertains to those businesses in the rural areas. Every city has taken its own approach, with the city of Porterville allowing medical marijuana users up to 12 plants a year, but the city has not allowed dispensaries.
The county has only one dispensary and that is in Goshen and has been operating since before 2013. The pending ballot measures which will ask statewide voters to legalize marijuana for recreational use.
During the staff report, Tulare County Sheriff’s Det. Tim Johnson said the sheriff’s department continues to see a steady increase in the number of illegal marijuana grow sites, both on the Valley floor and in the mountains. He also said they have busted five honey oil ( hash ) labs in the county, citing the danger those operations pose.
County code enforcement officer Michael Grove said they have seen an increase in people inquiring about growing marijuana in the county, including a couple of investors looking at ag land to grow marijuana should it become legal. He stressed the county has no land zoned to allow the growing of marijuana.
“Increased activity ( of marijuana ) could lead to an increased threat to the public’s safety,” said Ben Ruiz, interim director of the county Resource Management Agency.
Supervisor Pete Vander Poel of Tulare was the only board member to comment. “This report documents why we need this ordinance in Tulare County,” he said.
The ordinance approved Tuesday will expire on Sept. 30, but can be extended another 22 months by the board.
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom