POWER OF THE PATIENTS

Supervisors Expected to Discuss Medical-Cannabis Outcome August
9

Butte County's medical-marijuana-cultivation ordinance is on hold
after the Citizens for Compassionate Use group spearheaded a petition
drive that collected 12,308 signatures. The petition calls for the
Board of Supervisors either to repeal the ordinance or put it to a
vote of the people.

The ordinance, approved May 24, allows growing plants depending on a
parcel's size. The county Registrar of Voters has 30 days to count the
valid signatures-it needs 7,605. Supervisors are expected to discuss
the outcome at their Aug. 9 meeting.

Should the ordinance go into effect, due to lack of signatures or
after a popular vote, medical-marijuana attorney Scot Candell, based
in San Rafael, says he already has a lawsuit drawn up and ready to
file on behalf of local patients.

"It's illegal. State law creates a right for an individual patient to
grow medicine for themselves," he said. "Butte County basically makes
it illegal based on the size of property they own."