TRINITY RESIDENTS: PULL MARIJUANA ORDINANCE

The Trinity County Board of Supervisors heard comments Tuesday
regarding the county's medical marijuana law that allows prescription
holders to possess up to 12 mature plants and 3 pounds of processed
marijuana, up from the state's limit of six plants and 8 ounces.

More than 40 community members addressed the board, urging
supervisors to repeal the ordinance, and several suggested the county
comply with federal law by disallowing medical marijuana use altogether.

Only five spoke in favor of the ordinance.

Officials with the county's health department reported that the
ordinance has led to an increase in hundreds of violations that
included guard dogs running loose, unpermitted dwellings, rentals
being destroyed as grow houses, and septic lines draining into the
ground or creek.

Teachers said their students are dropping out to "go into the family
business." Residents and business owners reported attacks by dogs
protecting grows, threats by people guarding pot gardens, and pot
smoke in public places -- including playgrounds and in front of stores.

Undersheriff Eric Palmer estimated 25,000 plants are growing in the
Hayfork area alone.

"They're everywhere," he said. "One of my guys said it looks like a
marijuana jungle over there."

Medical marijuana advocate Tom Ballanco argued for the county to
support legal sales of prescription marijuana, legalized under
Proposition 215.

"Proposition 215 is saying that we, the citizens of California, want
a medical marijuana economy."

Judy Stewart disagreed.

"People in Hayfork are scared," she said. "They're scared of their
neighbors, the dogs, and they're very angry with you three on the
board who voted on this. Go to a zero tolerance and let Trinity
County be a model for the rest of the state."

Supervisor Roger Jaegel concluded, "It is very clear that our
communities want us to rescind this policy, and that is the very
least we can do. I would even support a zero policy."

This issue is set as an agenda item for action on Oct. 28 at the
Weaverville library.

Timbre Beck-Murphy is a freelancer in Trinity County.