COUNTY PLANNERS PUSH FORWARD POT GARDEN REGS

Glenn County's efforts to regulate medical marijuana cultivation were
approved by the Planning Commission Wednesday and will be sent on the
Board of Supervisors in February.

The county's emergency marijuana ordinance expires in March.

Planning Director John Linhart said the focus is on backyard grows
for personal use by people with recommends, while preventing such
grows from being a public nuisance.

The proposed ordinance still prohibits the establishment of medical
marijuana dispensaries, collectives or cooperatives in the county.

Commissioners first looked at the proposed ordinance in December, but
continued the item to gather more information on what the cities were
doing and what Glenn County Sheriff Larry Jones's views were on it.

The document sets standards for personal marijuana gardens, which
cannot be within 1,000 feet of a school, park, church or residential
treatment facility on larger parcels, or 300 feet on smaller ones.

If grown outdoors, the plants should not be within 20 feet of any
neighboring residences on separate parcels and must not be visible
from the premises.

Owner permission with verification must be provided to the county if
the person growing the plants does not own the property, and
marijuana outside a building must be enclosed by a solid fence at
least 6 feet high, county officials said.

No more than 100 square feet may be used for the garden and no
lighting used to help promote growth. Security lighting is allowed
but must not negatively impact the neighbors.

The Sheriff's Office would investigate complaints, Linhart said,
since he believes it would be inappropriate for code enforcement and
planners to do it.

Abatement orders could be sought and the offending party asked to
clean up the violation, Linhart said.

Commission Chairman Brian Leach said with the ordinance, people might
decide Glenn County is not the place to come for such a garden.

Linhart said the county does not want marijuana grown commercially or
being sold out of a store front.

"I'd hate to get into a place where you have to litigate everything," he said.

"This is a zoning issue," Vice Chairman William Carriere said, adding
it does not replace laws ruled by the state and federal governments.

"Does it fit the zone?" Commissioner Keith Corum said.

He said that is the issue once it is approved.

Linhart suggested those who stay within the law and are on good terms
with their neighbors should have no problems. But those who
"flagrantly disregard" it could have problems.

The commission approved sending the ordinance forward on a 3-0 vote
with two members absent.