SUPERVISORS LEFT WITH NO CHOICE

Because some people are lousy neighbors, Butte County
supervisors have to exert some control over marijuana growing.

We commiserate with the Butte County supervisors. They would rather
not be dealing with the medical marijuana issue. If only the federal
government would do its job of enforcing the law. If only people were
good neighbors. If only doctor's recommendations for the drug weren't
handed out like Halloween candy. If only the proposition that voters
passed was clearly written. If, if, if ...

But there they were Wednesday night, facing hundreds of sometimes
rude, noisy, threatening medical marijuana proponents.

The meeting, completely lacking the decorum of most meetings of a
political body, stretched on for five hours of repetitive testimony.

More than 400 people filled the Chico Elks Lodge, site of the special
meeting, before it began at 5:30 p.m.

The parking lot was full and cars were parked on Manzanita Avenue
almost to Marigold School. More people waited in a long line outside.
As people left the building, replacements were allowed in. Some people
waited till 7 p.m. to get in.

Whenever someone spoke about their property values plummeting because
of the marijuana plots next door, or intimidation by growers, or the
fear of armed confrontation in the neighborhood, they were met with
snickering and sarcastic laughter.

The medical marijuana proponents did themselves no favors with such
behavior.

As the supervisors began their deliberations after hours of testimony,
which included allegations they are murderers, Larry Wahl proposed
that no growing be allowed, period, because it was a violation of
federal law.

The crowd howled and the motion died for lack of a
second.

A subsequent motion passed 4-1 that was similar to the proposal in
front of the supervisors, but slightly more stringent. After hearing
several speakers say no growing should be allowed in residential
areas, supervisors decided that any lot smaller than a half-acre
should not be allowed to have marijuana growing.

The proposal in front of the supervisors would have allowed up to six
mature plants on those smaller lots.

Restrictions are unfortunate.

The supervisors heard heart-wrenching stories from truly ill people,
people suffering from cancer or spinal diseases who say marijuana
gives them relief that prescription drugs do not.

Those are the people Proposition 215 was supposed to
help.

Unfortunately, the law was co-opted by growers who see a chance to
make a buck - which is illegal - and people who get doctor's
recommendations for such things as anxiety, headaches and mental problems.

The supervisors had to act because the impact on neighbors is so
significant.

The preliminary approval given Wednesday will be finalized at a
meeting May 24.

That meeting will be another circus.

After that, we hope, the circus will leave town so the supervisors can
focus on other important matters.