Pubdate: Thu, 09 Oct 2008 Source: Record Searchlight (Redding, CA) Copyright: 2008 Record Searchlight Contact: http://www.redding.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/360 Author: Timbre Beck-Murphy Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California) TRINITY RESIDENTS: PULL MARIJUANA ORDINANCE The Trinity County Board of Supervisors heard comments Tuesday regarding the county's medical marijuana law that allows prescription holders to possess up to 12 mature plants and 3 pounds of processed marijuana, up from the state's limit of six plants and 8 ounces. More than 40 community members addressed the board, urging supervisors to repeal the ordinance, and several suggested the county comply with federal law by disallowing medical marijuana use altogether. Only five spoke in favor of the ordinance. Officials with the county's health department reported that the ordinance has led to an increase in hundreds of violations that included guard dogs running loose, unpermitted dwellings, rentals being destroyed as grow houses, and septic lines draining into the ground or creek. Teachers said their students are dropping out to "go into the family business." Residents and business owners reported attacks by dogs protecting grows, threats by people guarding pot gardens, and pot smoke in public places -- including playgrounds and in front of stores. Undersheriff Eric Palmer estimated 25,000 plants are growing in the Hayfork area alone. "They're everywhere," he said. "One of my guys said it looks like a marijuana jungle over there." Medical marijuana advocate Tom Ballanco argued for the county to support legal sales of prescription marijuana, legalized under Proposition 215. "Proposition 215 is saying that we, the citizens of California, want a medical marijuana economy." Judy Stewart disagreed. "People in Hayfork are scared," she said. "They're scared of their neighbors, the dogs, and they're very angry with you three on the board who voted on this. Go to a zero tolerance and let Trinity County be a model for the rest of the state." Supervisor Roger Jaegel concluded, "It is very clear that our communities want us to rescind this policy, and that is the very least we can do. I would even support a zero policy." This issue is set as an agenda item for action on Oct. 28 at the Weaverville library. Timbre Beck-Murphy is a freelancer in Trinity County. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin