MEDICAL MARIJUANA, BALLOT INITIATIVE ON CHICO COUNCIL AGENDA

CHICO - The Chico City Council will consider potential regulations
Tuesday on the cultivation, processing and distribution of medical
marijuana by collectives and cooperatives after passing restrictions
on residential medical marijuana grows late last year.

The city has been vetting an ordinance that would regulate medical
marijuana for more than a year. In December, the council adopted
regulations that limit medical marijuana grows in residential
neighborhoods. The council decided to consider restrictions on
collectives and cooperatives at a later date.

The current language of the proposed ordinance would allow for the
cultivation, processing and distribution of marijuana in
manufacturing, light industrial and service commercial districts in the city.

Dispensing collectives would be subject to a city administrative permit.

Criminal background checks would be required for all management
positions at dispensing collectives, in addition to a security plan.
Collectives could only dispense medical marijuana to its members.

On-site consumption of marijuana would be prohibited and hours of
operation would be limited from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Tuesday, the council will consider revising the ordinance to limit
the number of collectives or cooperatives that could exist in the
city. The council will also consider the process to grant operating
permits to collectives or cooperatives, as well as a potential
requirement that medical marijuana cultivation and distribution be
combined at one site.

Aside from the medical marijuana ordinance, the council will also
certify a ballot initiative that aims to change the November Chico
City Council election to June. The initiative petitions were verified
by the Butte County Clerkas Office last week.

The Chico City Clerk is recommending the initiative be placed on the
June 7 ballot, should a special statewide election be held on that
date. The council is expected to decide whether to call the election
for that day and to determine the type of election to be held should
a special statewide election not be called.

The City Clerk estimated the election will cost the city $78,000 if a
statewide election is held in June. If a statewide election is not
held, a vote-by-mail election is expected to cost the city $95,000 an
election with precincts is estimated to cost $151,000.

PUBLIC MEETING

Chico City Council

6:30 p.m., Tuesday

City Council Chambers, 421 Main St.