SUPES MULL LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR LEGALIZING MARIJUANA

Following a three-week summer break, the Humboldt County Board of
Supervisors will return to the board chamber Tuesday morning at 9 to
tackle a hefty agenda of items, reports and hearings.

The board will take up a discussion of whether to send a letter to
U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) requesting help in getting
federal lawmakers to initiate legislation in support of legalizing,
regulating and taxation what the report says is a multibillion-dollar crop.

According to the board agenda reports, local governments, which are
in need of identifying stable revenue sources, could greatly benefit
from the legalization and taxing of marijuana.

"Humboldt County, like many other local governments throughout the
nation, struggles with the issues associated with the legitimate
medicinal use of marijuana, while advocating for the prosecution of
criminal behavior associated with illegal large-scale marijuana
operations," the report states.

The board is also scheduled to receive a report from county Health
Officer Ann Lindsay on the status of the county's six needle
exchange programs. Also to be discussed will be the declining rate
of acute hepatitis B cases in the county.

Also on deck at 9:30 a.m. is the annual report from the Humboldt
County Human Rights Commission.

The report is part of the commission's outreach and education work
in response to community concerns over civilian oversight of law
enforcement activities, according to a letter to the board from HRC
Chairperson Richard Botzler.