cannabisnews.com: Pot Grows Set Off Safety Concerns Pot Grows Set Off Safety Concerns Posted by CN Staff on June 18, 2007 at 15:28:14 PT By Thadeus Greenson, The Times-Standard Source: Times-Standard California -- In 1996, Proposition 215 was proposed to decriminalize people growing and using medicinal marijuana. More than a decade later, Arcata Assistant Fire Chief Ed Trigeiro is wondering why many of the area's 215 patients are still acting like criminals. ”What we don't understand is, if these people are (growing marijuana) as a 215 grow, if it's legitimate, why aren't they doing it legitimately?” Trigeiro asked. “We see people that have their 215 letters on the walls claiming 215 grows, yet they're hiding them behind false walls.” Grow houses have been a hot topic in Arcata lately. A recent City Council meeting saw neighbors vent frustrations over the grows, with some expressing worries about the grows attracting criminal activity and others simply complaining about the smell. Meanwhile, the April 4 meeting saw a rally of about 80 people threatening litigation if the city were to step between them and their 215 cards. Arcata Community Development Coordinator Tom Conlon, who is working on a report about the subject for the council, said the issue is complex. First, he said, the city firmly supports compassionate care -- a seemingly more politically correct term for medical marijuana -- both in terms of dispensaries and private grows. But, having a labyrinth of grow houses, some consisting of one room dedicated to marijuana cultivation and others entirely converted to nursery-like operations, is causing problems. Trigeiro said poorly set up grows cause a lot of the structure fires the department responds to in Arcata. He estimated about 75 percent of those have some kind of 215 documentation on the wall. ”The biggest thing we're concerned about is the safety factor,” Trigeiro said, adding that fires caused by poorly operated grows can damage adjacent properties and pose a serious threat to firefighters. Growers with 215 cards don't need to hide in the shadows, Trigeiro said. They can call the fire marshal and request an inspection. The marshal will point out any improper wiring or other fire hazards, he said. City Manager Michael Hackett said he knows Arcata has its fair share of grow houses, but worries most about the ones occupied by renters. With Humboldt State University welcoming its largest-ever freshman class, the issue of how rentals are used seems especially timely. Not only do the grow houses take up a chunk of the already limited supply of the city's rentals, but they also often require structural modifications and sometimes leave rental units seriously damaged. ”The district attorney calls it a victimless crime,” Trigeiro said. “But owners are the victims. They are doing major damage to these structures.” Some see zoning ordinances as a possible solution that would stick major grow operations in one section of town. Conlon said that solution raises the questions of where to draw the line. ”This whole thing about it's a weed and I'm able to grow it in my back yard has changed quite a bit,” he said. “It becomes very complex, very quickly.” Councilman Paul Pitino said he sees a fairly easy solution to all this -- legalization. ”Like Mendocino County is asking the state for,” Pitino said. “It would be nice if Humboldt County would follow its neighbor.” Pitino delved into history to illustrate his point. ”I grew up with my parents telling me how pointless and how stupid prohibition was,” he said, adding that liquor still fires used to be commonplace. “Now, we're living through another prohibition.” Source: Times-Standard (Eureka, CA)Author: Thadeus Greenson, The Times-StandardPublished: Monday, June 18, 2007 Copyright: 2007 MediaNews Group, Inc. Contact: editor times-standard.comWebsite: http://www.times-standard.com/Related Articles:Supervisor: Legalized Pot Long Overduehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23086.shtmlSupes Call for Pot Legalizationhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23064.shtmlMendocino: Legalize Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23043.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #11 posted by FoM on June 19, 2007 at 15:49:24 PT afterburner It seems that police really are trying to make the laws. I thought police were not to have an opinion of a law but enforce the laws as they are and no more. They shouldn't do that because of how easy it would be to make more laws so they get fancier equipment and have more power. That is really dangerous in my mind. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by afterburner on June 19, 2007 at 15:30:49 PT FoM #6 Public inquiry would restore trust in RCMP, Hamilton Spectator, Canada - 15 hours ago, By James Travers Ottawa (Jun 19, 2007) http://tinyurl.com/yw2vscExcerpt: "Exactly what is it that Stephen Harper's government doesn't want you to know about the RCMP? Is it how the force helped put Conservatives in power, let young, green Mounties die in a preventable shootout, dipped into the pension and Quebec sponsorship cookie jars or figuratively kicked down a reporter's door?..." [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by schmeff on June 19, 2007 at 11:06:21 PT More Valuable Than Gold “We see people that have their 215 letters on the walls claiming 215 grows, yet they're hiding them behind false walls.” Duh! [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by josephlacerenza on June 19, 2007 at 09:30:32 PT: Of course their hiding it!! The reality is one, the feds are still prosecuting individuals even if they have consent from the state to grow medical marijuana. Two, we are still talking about an illegal black market product that people steal, lie and, victomize others to get. I would hide my medication too! Does anyone remember the scare that was going on about Oxycotin? Elderly people were targeted outside of drug stores so addicts could get their fix. This type of targeting would make me hide my stash. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by ekim on June 19, 2007 at 08:43:49 PT thanks afterburner-Alison Myrden is a Leap Speaker ck her writing out on the http://blog.leap.cc/ and see her bio at www.leap.cc/Canada: Dosage Debate Has Pot Users Smokin' Mad, The Calgary Sun, (17 Jun 2007) http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n729/a02.html?176 http://www.leap.cc/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on June 19, 2007 at 06:28:16 PT afterburner I wish I knew why people in Canada voted in a conservative government. I knew that Canada would walk in line with Bush's administration with a conservative in power. It's like Canada is getting on board with how America deals with the drug war and that is so darn sad. Remember you have oil and they like to take what they want. You will be run by us soon at this rate. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by afterburner on June 18, 2007 at 23:03:17 PT Health Canada Muscles Doctors Canada: Feds Panned For Pot Meddling, Times & Transcript, (18 Jun 2007) http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n732/a03.html?176Canada: Dosage Debate Has Pot Users Smokin' Mad, The Calgary Sun, (17 Jun 2007) http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n729/a02.html?176BTW, my browser ate my last post RE the cyclical manipulation of the youth culture by music producers. I'll try again Tuesday evening. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on June 18, 2007 at 18:19:52 PT mayan I didn't watch it but I can imagine how bad it was. You're welcome for the NYT's link. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by mayan on June 18, 2007 at 18:17:40 PT FoM Thanks for that NYT link. The huge, taxpayer funded ONDCP ad about made me gag, though! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by mayan on June 18, 2007 at 18:13:21 PT There's A Reason Trigeiro asked. “We see people that have their 215 letters on the walls claiming 215 grows, yet they're hiding them behind false walls.”You see, there's this evil entity called the federal gov't which loves to lock up growers and break up their families. THE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...9/11 'Truthers' uncovering disturbing anomalies: http://www.vancourier.com/issues07/063207/opinion/063207op2.html9/11 INDEPENDENT PROSECUTOR ACT: http://peaceinspace.blogs.com/911/2007/06/international_l.htmlJersey Girls Deliver Petitions, Request Support: http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20070618150700828Howard Dean Meets The Student Scholars for 9/11 Truth (video): http://prisonplanet.com/articles/june2007/180607Dean.htmVancouver 9/11 Truth Conference - June 22-24: http://www.v911truth.org/conference2007.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on June 18, 2007 at 17:38:23 PT Supreme Court Upholds Rights for Car Passengers New York Times: http://tinyurl.com/3dxtwt [ Post Comment ] Post Comment