PROPOSED POT ORDINANCE DRAWS HOT DEBATE

A proposed county ordinance to regulate marijuana cultivation drew a
standing-room-only audience to the Board of Supervisors meeting
Tuesday afternoon.

The push for such an ordinance stems from a large marijuana garden on
an Annie Drive vacant lot in Alta Sierra, which sparked the formation
of Nevada County Against Residential Cannabis Cultivation. The group
has advocated for the ordinance and was in very visible attendance Tuesday.

A sample ordinance was brought to the board by Sheriff Keith Royal;
although the agenda item was for discussion only, public comment was
allowed due to the high level of interest.

Royal emphasized the ordinance - which could limit the number of
plants depending on zoning, as well as grows within 1,000 feet of
areas where children gather - is only a template.

"We're not here to take away a person's right to medical marijuana,"
Royal said. "We're just trying to get a handle on it."

More than two dozen people spoke Tuesday, seeming evenly split
between those supporting the ordinance - albeit with some concerns -
and those who felt it would unfairly penalize legitimate small growers.

Those in favor shared concerns with noise, traffic, crime and odor,
as well as the harm to property values.

"Why can't I be on certain parts of my own property during the
growing season?" asked Maureen Detoy, who said the smell of marijuana
causes her allergies to flare up. "Where are my rights?"

"I'd just like to get my neighborhood back," said Frank Jackson, who
advocated for a more restrictive ordinance.

Several growers and medical marijuana patients spoke, telling
supervisors they obey the law and arguing the proposed ordinance
would be unduly restrictive.

"The ordinance is very Draconian," said Robert Steuber, disabled
since birth. "It throws the baby out with the bathwater, and I'm one
of the babies."

"This would do nothing to curb large commercial grows," said Jedediah
Biagi. "So what's the point? It would only make it more difficult and
expensive for legitimate patients to obtain their medicine."

Several in the audience brought up the economic impact of restricting
marijuana grows - which Nevada City Council member Reinette Senum
called "the elephant in the room."

"A lot of business owners have come to me, telling me, this crop is
keeping us afloat right now," Senum said, proposing an economic impact study.

The supervisors put the ball back in Royal's court, telling him to
move forward with a draft ordinance. Royal indicated the process
could take as long as four months and said he would reach out to the
various special interest groups.

"We're looking for a middle ground," he said.