MAYOR: POT ORDINANCE NEEDED AHEAD OF VOTE

City Council Hopes to Make Decisions Now in Case Legalization
Initiative Passes in Nov.

Depending on what polls you read, marijuana advocates may be blowing
smoke about the chances of a November legalization initiative in California.

One poll, released by the California Public Policy Institute last
week, signals voters are split on the measure, with 49 percent in
favor and 48 percent opposed.

An April 19 poll, released by the Smith Johnson Research and
commissioned by opponents of the measure, found 56.3 voters are
opposed to legalization while 36.5 percent of voters supported it.

The measure was certified for addition to the ballot in March with
more than the 433,971 signatures needed to qualify.

If California voters pass the measure legalizing marijuana use for all
adults older than 18, cities are on the hook to decide how residents
can grow, sell and use the drug.

The new law would take effect Wednesday, Nov. 3, if it passes that
Tuesday.

It would behoove Grass Valley to have an ordinance on the books in
anticipation of that passage, likely or not, said Mayor Lisa Swarthout.

"My fear is that, if we don't put something in place, we'll be stuck
with whatever happens the next day," Swarthout said. Such a scenario
could include stores peddling pot as soon as the initiative passes,
Swarthout said.

No 'gray area'

An ordinance is needed to govern how the city would police the sale,
cultivation and use of marijuana, Swarthout said. The initiative also
leaves cities to decide how to tax pot sales.

"We don't want any gray area in Grass Valley," Swarthout added. She
would like to see an ordinance come before the city council before
November.

In February, council members extended by one year a moratorium on
medical marijuana dispensaries opening in town. The moratorium was
intended to give city staff time to craft a medical marijuana ordinance.

A new moratorium could be needed while city staff build a new policy
in regards to the potential law, Swarthout said.

Local law enforcement is opposed to legalization and any dispensaries
- -- medical or otherwise -- in Nevada County, said Grass Valley Police
Chief John Foster.

"My hopes are that voters would read the poorly-written initiative and
vote no on it," Foster said.

Some city residents are opposed to legalization and wouldn't want to
see dispensaries in Grass Valley if the initiative passes, they said.

"I don't think it's going to do society as a whole any good," said
Robin Laritz, a city resident.

Medical marijuana is "a sham" because it's a step toward legalization,
and if legalization passes, dispensaries shouldn't be opened in the
city, said Dale Knowell, another city resident.

"I'm against it. I just don't like this drug situation," Knowell said.