COUNCIL STANDS FIRM ON POT

Despite some voiced opposition from a dozen medical marijuana
proponents including patients, cooperative employees, care givers and
at least one Redding attorney, Anderson's five city council members
remained resolute in unanimously enacting an ordinance strictly
limiting cultivation of the federally-controlled substance within city limits.

The ordinance, described by some as the most stringent in northern
California among cities attempting to limit the use and abuse of
medical marijuana, will take effect in 30 days, on Feb. 18, City
Attorney Michael Fitzpatrick noted.

The 55-year-old city has a population of 10,579 according to the
state's estimate as of Jan. 1, 2009.

Prior to its enactment, there were no regulations addressing
cultivation of medical marijuana in the city's zoning plan. However,
the city continues to maintain a moratorium on medical marijuana
collectives, cooperatives or dispensaries operating within city
limits, a moratorium that is due to expire in April.

One cooperative, The Green Heart, opened just days before the city
could enact that moratorium and continues to operate unhindered,
serving an estimated 2,500 members who have a doctor's recommendation
allowing them to legally use, possess and cultivate medical marijuana
without fear of prosecution under California's Compassionate Use Act
of 1996, according to Danny Johnson, a spokesman for The Green Heart.

"I think the ordinance is going to cause a financial hardship on our
patients," Johnson said during a five-minute speech to the council.

"A lot of our patients are on disability or financial assistance," he noted.

The ordinance, which prohibits cultivation either inside a dwelling
or in an outdoor garden, limits the growing, harvesting and
processing of medical marijuana to a 50-square-foot outbuilding that
is built to city, state and federal codes, is protected by an audible
alarm system, and contains electrical, plumbing and ventilation.