County board tables medipot law

Tehama County's medicinal marijuana laws will remain unchanged — for now.

The Board of Supervisors listened to two hours of impassioned speeches Tuesday about a proposed nuisance ordinance that would apply to medicinal marijuana gardens. After hearing from proponents and opponents of the ordinance, the supervisors voted to table the matter, with the formation of an ad hoc committee to be an item on next Tuesday's board agenda.

Introduced June 23 by Supervisor Bob Williams, the 15-page ordinance was drafted by the county counsel based on a similar law in Mendocino County. It would require medical marijuana gardens to be registered with the public health department and limit the number of plants that can be grown at each site.

A capacity crowd of about 100 people filled the board chambers Tuesday afternoon. Some medical marijuana patients asserted that if the size of legal marijuana-growing operations were reduced, it would simply create a greater number of smaller gardens in the county.

Justin Miller, who has multiple sclerosis, made his way to the podium with the aid of a large walking stick. "I'm one of those innocent people who use it for my health," Miller said. "It has given me my life back."

And Jason Browne, a medical marijuana advocate, told the board, "Cannabis is not the danger; the criminality is the danger."

Many of those who spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance said they were sympathetic to the needs of medical marijuana users. They focused on their desires to keep gardens away from their homes and away from schools and other locations where children are present. Others said even legal growing operations can attract criminals.

After the comments concluded, board Chairman George Russell cautioned that it was best to move slowly to consider all the potential ramifications. The board next meets at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the board chambers, 727 Oak St. in Red Bluff.