Pubdate: Wed, 25 Jul 2001
Source: Daily News of Los Angeles (CA)
Copyright: 2001 Daily News of Los Angeles
Contact: http://www.DailyNews.com/contact/letters.asp
Website: http://www.DailyNews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/246
Author: Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

OAKLAND CUTS ALLOWABLE MEDICAL POT PLANT GARDENS IN HALF

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) The City Council voted Tuesday night cut in half the 
number of plants a medical marijuana grower can cultivate but left the 
limit at a still sizable garden of up to 72 plants.

The vote cuts the legal limit from its current 144 plants.

Council President Ignacio De La Fuente wanted to chop the crop to 10 
plants, but hashed out a compromise with local medical marijuana advocates. 
The new rules passed on a 6-0 vote, with two members abstaining.

Medical marijuana advocates said the stricter limits mean about 20 percent 
of local medical marijuana users will not be able to grow enough pot to 
meet their needs.

"The reason we agreed is because we were forced to," Jeff Jones, executive 
director of the Oakland of the Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative, told 
the Oakland Tribune.

Oakland approved the 144 plant limit in 1998. With the changes, people who 
get a doctor's recommendation to use marijuana for their illnesses can grow 
20 plants outdoors. Alternatively, they could grow on up to 32 square feet 
of inside space enough for about 72 small plants or around 60 mature plants.

Outdoor marijuana plants produce an average yield around 5 ounces in 
California annually, according to a city staff report. The report said 
indoor plants can produce up to 3 ounces and be harvested three times a year.
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