MENDOCINO COUNTY VOTERS TO REASSESS POT LAW IN JUNE ELECTION

UKIAH - Mendocino County voters in June will decide the fate of a
7-year-old landmark marijuana ordinance that was the first in the
nation to decriminalize personal use of pot.

At the end of a contentious three-hour public hearing Tuesday, the
county Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to put Measure G up for voter
review in the June 3 primary.

"It's a big step toward regaining control of our county," said Ross
Liberty, an organizer of a citizen drive to repeal Measure G.

Tuesday's vote capped weeks of public debate on how to rid Mendocino
County of its national reputation as a haven for marijuana growers,
blamed in large part on Measure G's passage in 2000 and liberal local
law enforcement policies that followed.

Measure G doesn't specifically address medical marijuana limits but
rather allows up to 25 plants per person for personal use without
fear of prosecution. Under current medical pot rules, Mendocino
County allows a licensed user to possess two pounds of dried pot.
Sonoma County allows three pounds per user, while Lake County follows
recommended state guidelines allowing one-half pound.

The Mendocino County board's vote Tuesday signaled that current
county marijuana policies are likely to dominate this year's local
elections, including races for three seats on the county board.

Board incumbents Jim Wattenburger, Mike Delbar and Kendall Smith were
joined by Supervisor John Pinches in deciding to give voters a second
crack at Measure G. Supervisor David Colfax voted no, contending
backers of the repeal Measure G drive should be required to go
through a lengthy and potentially costly signature-gathering process
to get the measure on the ballot.

"We're not deciding. We're simply allowing the voter to decide,"
Wattenburger said.

Tuesday's board vote followed three hours of public debate, including
strenuous objections from longtime local advocates of decriminalizing
marijuana for personal and medical uses.

"The rights of cannabis patients are at stake," said medical
marijuana advocate Beth Bosk.

Nearly 40 people spoke to the board during Tuesday's hearing held in
typical Mendocino County fashion.

Speakers ranged from pot advocate "Professor Ping Pong" to rural
residents fearful of dope growers operating down the road. A few
members of the audience wore T-shirts proclaiming "It's Only a
Plant," while others waved placards in support of Measure G.