Pubdate: Mon, 21 Dec 2009
Source: Appeal-Democrat (Marysville, CA)
Copyright: 2009 Appeal-Democrat
Contact: 
http://www.appeal-democrat.com/sections/services/forms/editorletter.php
Website: http://www.appeal-democrat.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1343
Author: Howard Yune
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/topic/Dispensaries

BIGGS PROHIBITS MEDICAL POT SALES

Biggs is the latest Mid-Valley community standing in  the way of the 
sale and cultivation of medical  marijuana - even before anyone asks.

A new ordinance next month will bar marijuana sales and  distribution 
from all residential, commercial and  industrial parcels in the Butte 
County town. City  Council members made a second vote Monday to add 
the  restrictions, clearing the way for them to take effect  Jan. 20.

Also Monday, the council also launched an ordinance to  tighten curbs 
on outdoor pot cultivation, which the  city added to its list of 
public nuisances last year. A  second vote to put it into effect is 
planned for  January.

The law would shorten the city's notice period for  alleged outdoor 
growers from 14 days to 72 hours to  remove the plants, and impose 
daily fines up to $500  for ignoring the notice.

City officials say the shorter period would prevent  offenders from 
harvesting their pot before the city can  enforce its code - and 
reduce the risk that exposed  drugs could become a magnet for theft 
and violence.

"Our code calls any outdoor growing a public nuisance,"  said City 
Administrator Pete Carr. "When people know  there's a cash crop out 
there outside, it invites  burglary and other crimes."

No people or collectives have applied to sell marijuana  for medical 
use in Biggs, according to City Planner  Scott Friend.

Voters in 1996 passed Proposition 215, making  California the first 
state to allow marijuana  dispensaries to sell the drug for medical 
purposes,  such as nausea relief in cancer and AIDS patients. 
However, attempts to legally sell pot in the Mid-Valley  have 
foundered on counties' unwillingness to create  zoning areas 
permitting the drug, or challenge the  federal prohibition on it.

Yuba County has blocked two attempts this year to  establish 
marijuana outlets in Lin da, saying it has no  specified zoning for them.

Olivehurst resident Steve King was ordered to close a  dispensary 
eight days after it opened without a permit  on Oct. 14. In July, the 
Marysville Healing Center shut  down after a few days after District 
Attorney Pat  McGrath warned it was illegal for not belonging to a 
cooperative, which both grows and sells marijuana.  Owner Chander 
Sidher later said McGrath and the Yuba  County Sheriff's Department 
threatened to arrest him if  the shop stayed open, a claim the 
district attorney  denied.

Yuba City bars medical marijuana sales by ordinance,  and Sutter and 
Colusa counties are among the minority  of California counties 
without card programs to let  residents legally possess medical pot. 
Colusa County  began a study into launching a card program in 
late  2008, but Sutter County has resisted such efforts.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom