SUPERVISORS TO CONSIDER MEDICAL MARIJUANA, ANIMAL SHELTER, HEADWATERS
PROJECTS TUESDAY

EUREKA -- In a busy end-of-year session, the Humboldt County Board of
Supervisors is expected to look at a medical marijuana ordinance, send
the county treasurer in search of money to build a new animal shelter,
and decide on a list of Headwaters Fund-related projects.

Second District Supervisor Roger Rodoni has brought forth a proposed
county ordinance that would effectively make District Attorney Paul
Gallegos' medical marijuana guidelines the law of the county. The
ordinance is needed because a new state law goes into effect in
January aimed at establishing clearer medical pot guidelines. The law
restricts patients to having no more than 8 ounces of dried marijuana
and no more than six mature or 12 immature plants.

But the law allows counties and cities to retain or enact medical
marijuana guidelines that exceed the state's limits. The board's
ordinance reflects Gallegos' guidelines, allowing medical pot patients
to have up to 3 pounds of dried buds per year. Cultivation is
restricted to what will fit within a 100-square-foot vegetative canopy.

The board also is expected give the OK to send out to bid later this
month a proposed new animal shelter located at the Arcata-Eureka
Airport and to direct Treasurer Stephen A. Strawn to begin pursuing
bonds to pay for the estimated $3.1 million project.

Finally, the board is expected to dole out some $300,000 in Headwaters
Fund money for eight projects. The recipients will include the county
itself, the city of Eureka, College of the Redwoods, the Humboldt
Botanical Gardens Foundation, the Buckeye Conservancy and the Humboldt
Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District.

The board meets at 9 a.m. in the supervisors' chambers at the county
courthouse.