PETITION DRIVE UNDER WAY TO OVERTURN COUNTY MARIJUANA RULES

OROVILLE -- Last month the county Board of Supervisors passed rules
banning medical marijuana cultivation on lots smaller than a half-acre
in unincorporated areas, and limiting the number of plants on larger
lots.

The next day, a referendum petition began to circulate in protest of
these new rules.

If enough signatures are received, the rules adopted by the county
would be suspended for 30 days while the signatures are validated.

If there are at least 7,605 validated signatures, the Board of
Supervisors then has the option of repealing the rules or putting the
rules to a ballot vote.

The signatures are due June 22.

Before passing the current rules, three public hearings were held, for
a total of 15 hours of public testimony. On May 24, the supervisors
voted to adopt the rules, which include:

* Medical marijuana is banned on unincorporated county land with lots
smaller than a half-acre and lots within 1,000 feet of schools,
churches, school bus stops, parks or residential drug treatment facilities.

* Six mature plants can be grown on parcels between a half-acre and
1.5 acres.

* 12 mature plants can be grown on lots 1.5 to 20 acres.

* 24 mature plants can be grown on lots 20-80 acres.

* 36 plants can be grown on 80-160 acres.

* Lots of 160 acres or more could grow a maximum of 99
plants.

The complete ordinance can be found by doing an Internet search of
"County of Butte chapter 34A."

The petition drive is "part of a grassroots coalition of volunteers"
called Save Butte Growers' Rights, said Robert Galia, CEO of North
Valley Holistic Health, which sells medicinal marijuana.

The group has a page on Facebook.

A political action committee is being formed to collect donations for
an election campaign.

Galia estimated about 100 volunteers are currently gathering
signatures, and more are welcome.

The goal is to gather 12,000-15,000 signatures. So far, about 3,000
signatures have been collected, he said.

Galia said the county rules will limit the availability of medical
marijuana, pushing up prices, or "it will shift back to the age of the
black market." The new rules could also shift growth patterns back
into cities, Galia said.