POT ORDINANCE MOVES FORWARD

LAKEPORT -- The Lakeport City Council held a public hearing on
Tuesday to provide residents the opportunity to voice their opinions
on a new marijuana ordinance introduced last month to the council.

The ordinance cannot be adopted until the second reading of the
ordinance, which is scheduled for the next city council meeting.

According to the ordinance, "No cultivation of marijuana is to occur
within city limits," which would include even those with licenses
obtained through Proposition 215.

"This ordinance is one man's opinion, the Chief of Police and the
city council is just going along with him," said David McCullick of
D&M Compassion Center in Clearlake. "I feel confident that when this
reaches the higher courts, it will lose."

Proposition 215, voted into California law during the Nov. 5, 1996
election. Also known as the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, the
proposition was a statewide voter initiative that allows those with a
valid doctor's recommendation to possess and cultivate marijuana for
personal medical use.

The conflict over state and federal law and the enforcement of either
has been a source of confusion to those affected by Propostition 215.
The proposed city ordinance has the potential to affect residents of
Lakeport who already grow marijuana -- medical or otherwise -- and
those planning to grow marijuana.

"I feel that a city is not an appropriate place to grow marijuana;
this ordinance only affects those living within the city limits,"
said Lakeport Police Chief Kevin Burke. "It's a matter of public
safety and a quality of life for our residents of Lakeport."

According to the state Department of Justice, Lake County ranked No.
1 in the state for marijuana plant seizures for the year 2006. More
than 1.5 million plants were seized in California during the
eradication season under the department's 2006 Campaign Against
Marijuana Planting (CAMP). This total surpassed last years'
record-breaking season of 540,989 by more than 1 million plants and
had a street value of more than $6.7 billion. Lake County had a total
of 314,603 plants seized during the same time period.

If the ordinance is voted in following a second reading, a
publication period would occur. The ordinance would go into effect 30
days after that publication period.