MARIJUANA TASK FORCE RECOMMENDS DA'S LIMITS WITH MINOR CHANGES

The county's Medical Marijuana Task Force will recommend the Board of
Supervisors deem three pounds of dried cannabis "a reasonable amount"
for medical marijuana patients to cultivate, possess and consume per
year at the board's Tuesday meeting.

The recommendation is the same as District Attorney Paul Gallegos'
guidelines which he set in 2003, except the county's proposed
ordinance does not specify an amount of plants within a
100-square-foot canopy.

The task force was created by the board in March to "study the
proposed ordinance adding ... the Humboldt County Code relating to
medical marijuana guidelines for the implementation of Proposition 215
and California Senate Bill 420."

The task force creation was prompted by some community opposition
including the County Office of Education.

The proposed ordinance says a qualified medical marijuana patient or
215-cardholder cannot engage in the possession "in any place where
smoking is prohibited; in or within 1,000 feet of the grounds of a
school, recreation or youth center, unless medical use occurs within a
residence; on a school bus; while in a motor vehicle that is being
operated; or while operating a boat."

In September, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 420 which set a
statewide minimum for medical marijuana patients of six mature plants
or 12 immature plants and up to 8 ounces of processed cannabis
flowers. SB 420 also allows local governments to set their own
guidelines using it as a minimum.

Proposition 215 -- the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 -- says
regulations " relating to the possession of marijuana ... and
cultivation of marijuana , shall not apply to a patient or to a
patient's primary caregiver, who possesses or cultivates marijuana for
the personal medical purposes of the patient upon the written or oral
recommendation or approval of a physician."

The board meets Tuesday at 9 a.m. in its chamber in the Humboldt
County Courthouse.