cannabisnews.com: City: Pot Gardens are a Problem





City: Pot Gardens are a Problem
Posted by CN Staff on November 13, 2004 at 12:59:05 PT
By Claudia Reed, Staff Writer
Source: Willits News 
Fear of violence, air quality issues, and skunky smells were the key reasons given by city council members for seeking an ordinance banning marijuana gardens.At Wednesday's city council meeting, however, District Attorney Norm Vroman said an outright ban would probably be overturned in court. Restrictions, on the other hand, might be possible.
"If you prohibit growing of medical marijuana in Willits I can guarantee you'll have a lawsuit on your hands," Vroman said. "I would work with you on setting limits."Vroman reminded the city that state Proposition 215 legalized medical marijuana."You can grow. You can designate somebody else to grow. It's poorly drafted, but it's the law," Vroman said. Dean Wolbach of the Mendocino Air Quality Management District said he's receiving "an increasing number of (air quality) complaints" related to marijuana growing. He suggested regulating the amount of the crop that can be grown in close proximity to neighbors, school children and others who may be negatively affected. One such neighbor, Laura McBride, said she's developed migraine headaches and respiratory problems from a large pot-growing operation an estimated 75 to 100 plantsclose to her house. "The stench was really strong," she said. "I called Mr. Vroman and he recommended talking to the neighbor about putting it in a greenhouse."The neighbor agreed, but it didn't help, McBride testified. "There were so many plants I couldn't breathe. Why don't they grow it in a plantation out in the hills? What about people who have allergies? If nothing is done I'm going to have to leave Willits."Wolbach, who reported seeing marijuana growers wearing respirators, agreed the problem can be serious. Health effects aside, just the smell of marijuana can generate nuisance complaints. "(Marijuana) has a sulfide, similar to the odorant of skunks," Wolbach said. He said he handles such complaints by giving growers 10 days to abate the problem. "They sell the crop and the same thing happens next year," Wolbach said. Creating a more specific ordinance, however, could be nearly impossible."Can you say you can't grow a plant that causes an odor? Some people have a problem with gardenias," Wolbach said.The council thanked McBride for coming forward, saying many residents who object to marijuana growing are afraid to complain since growers are sometimes armed. Wolbach spelled out the reason why marijuana theft and related violent crime is not out of the question. Noting that growing medical marijuana is supposed to be a nonprofit enterprise, he said the price in at least one legal dispensary (Talmage Health Care Center) is up to $45 for an eighth of an ounce. At that rate, a poundthe likely yield of a single healthy plantcould be $5,760. By the same calculation, two gardens the size of the one across the creek from McBride could easily bring in $1 million."With so much money, it's worth committing a crime to defend it," concluded Councilman Denny McEntire.Mayor Karen Oslund, noting there has already been one Willits shooting related to marijuana theft, asked how the city could protect its citizens."Every day we get reports of houses being burglarized for things other than marijuana," Vroman responded, "TVs, money" He called it the responsibility of individual citizens to protect their valuables and recommended an ordinance limiting marijuana growing to greenhouses, where it would be less visible."We all have TV sets and computers and money in our houses," countered Councilman Ron Orenstein, "but that doesn't mean we pack a weapon."Orenstein noted a gun battle could endanger the neighbors as well as those directly involved."A bullet can go right through the wooden walls," he said. Source: Willits News (CA)Author: Claudia Reed, Staff WriterPublished: November 12, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Willits News Contact: editorial willitsnews.comWebsite: http://www.willitsnews.com/Related Articles:DA Says Pot Growing Complaints Civil Matterhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19654.shtmlPungent Pot Causing Stink in Mendocino Countyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19492.shtmlPot Odors Wafting in Valleyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19470.shtml 
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Comment #1 posted by Craiig on November 13, 2004 at 14:05:38 PT
lol
"If you prohibit growing of medical marijuana in Willits I can guarantee you'll have a lawsuit on your hands,"
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