PUBLIC OPINION MIXED ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA

May 18, 2010 -- One might think the residents of conservative Lassen
County would whole-heartedly oppose medical marijuana cultivation
and distribution in our corner of Northeastern California.

But if the public comments offered at a study session for the Lassen
County Board of Supervisors at Jensen Hall on Tuesday, May 11 are
any indication, many local residents are not bothered by the medical
use of the drug.

Some of the comments focused on the conflict between the state and
the federal government and an individual's ability to exercise
activities that are legal under state law, but will apparently be
prohibited under the new emergency county ordinances. Residents also
argued the drug users do not have the right to disrupt their
neighborhoods, influence their children and display a druggy
lifestyle they believe is unacceptable.

Near the end of the meeting, Lassen County District 2 Supervisor Jim
Chapman noted the board received 18 comments from those in favor of
medical marijuana and eight comments from those who opposed the use
of the drug. Those offering comments were equally passionate about
their opinions -- regardless of their position on the issue. Most of
the residents who offered comments received applause at the end of
their statements.

Lassen County Assistant Sheriff Dean Growden, who represented Lassen
County Sheriff Steve Warren at the meeting, said the sheriff's
position is that marijuana dispensaries and cultivation sites lead
to potential secondary public safety threats with such as
an increased risk of armed robbery, burglary, traffic, noise, drug
dealing and fire as well as the use of unauthorized recommendations
and exposing minors to marijuana.

Public comment

Dr. Hal Meadows, speaking as an individual physician and not as the
chief medical officer at Banner Lassen Hospital, said he's been in
practice for 31 years in Susanville, and he has never written a
single medical marijuana recommendation. Meadows conceded other
doctors in the community whom he respects have a different opinion
about medical marijuana.

"I don't believe it to be a particularly good drug," Meadows said.

Commenting on a recent newspaper advertisement, he also said he
doesn't believe all the claims about the illnesses that can be cured
by the drug. The doctor said he didn't want to take marijuana away
from people who say it works for them, but he said it is "an
intoxicant" that has an "abuse potential and a dependence potential."

Meadows encouraged the board to "make it hard" to obtain medical
marijuana in Lassen County, and the board should "push it into a corner."

As a school board member, Meadows said he's observed students who
use marijuana lose their motivation, and their chances of success in
school decrease once they start smoking it.

But John Moore, Sr., a medical marijuana user, said using the
medical marijuana helps his fibromyalgia. He said he used to walk
with a cane, but now that he's been using marijuana he's getting
around much better.

According to Moore, the new ordinances would be taking the lawful
right to use medical marijuana away from people like him. He said it
would be much better if medical marijuana users could "purchase
their medicine without having to go to some drug dealer's house to get it."

Kevin Justic said he lives near the site of the new garden on
Johnstonville Road. Expressing a state's right concern, he said the
ordinances would put a "regulatory burden" on medical marijuana
growers and would be an attempt to "put someone out of
business." He called the new ordinances banning cultivation
and distribution "a knee jerk reaction."

Eric Toews said he hasn't heard of any problems with the medical
marijuana dispensary in Susanville. He asked the board if motocross
parks were identified in the county's zoning ordinances.

Sam Shapiro said she was representing several friends who used
medical marijuana but were unable to attend the meeting.

She told the story of one friend who suffered from cancer and how
the drug helped with her outlook on life and with her appetite.
Unfortunately, she said her friend's cancer eventually spread and
they lost her.

"But she went out with a smile on her face and weight on her body,"
Shapiro said. "How many sheriff's do we have in this county to
patrol the streets? How many miles and miles of road do they have to
patrol? Isn't there really a better use of their time on the
road than looking for pot farms?"

City Councilman Doug Sayers said he's opposed to medical marijuana
dispensaries in both the city and the county.

"I'm opposed to turning Lassen County into a pot county," Sayers
said. "That's what I'm afraid of. I say regulate this thing, put a
lid on it and don't let it get out of hand."

Tim Ziegler, the owner of the Californians for Safe Access
Collective in Susanville, said the local ordinances conflict with state law.

One Johnstonville resident encouraged the board to get the gardens
and dispensaries away from schools. He said the board had a moral
obligation to protect the kids. He said the placement of the new
garden near the school was "absolutely wrong."

Supervisor's comments

District 3 Supervisor Lloyd Keefer thanked the public for its
comments, noting there were a lot of diverse opinions expressed.

But he said the matter before the board was a zoning issue and the
board was not trying to make medical marijuana illegal. He said he
would vote in favor of the moratoria to give staff the time to take
a look at the zoning issues.

District 4 Supervisor Brian Dahle said the medical marijuana battle
was fought a long time ago, and the board was struggling to find an
answer to the zoning questions.

District 5 Supervisor Jack Hanson said it was important the board
get all the facts and look at the issue before making a decision on
the appropriate sites for medical marijuana gardens and dispensaries.

"That's exactly what we're going to do," Hanson said. "There's no
green light in Lassen County."

District 2 Supervisor Jim Chapman thanked the participants for the
comments and said they were getting a lesson in Government 101. He
said watching laws being made is a lot like watching sausage being
made -- it's an ugly business.

Chapman said he wanted county staff to make this one of its top
priorities and come up with a recommendation as soon as possible.