Pubdate: Wed, 21 Oct 2009
Source: Ukiah Daily Journal, The (CA)
Copyright: 2009 The Ukiah Daily Journal
Contact: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/feedback
Website: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/581
Author: Zack Cinek
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

MARIJUANA GROWS' FIRE DANGER, PESTICIDE USE DISCUSSED

The Anderson Valley fire chief weighed in on proposed  medical
marijuana guidelines affecting fire departments  Monday, and the ag
commissioner also talked about  pesticide regulation.

The Health and Human Services committee chaired by  supervisors
Kendall Smith and John McCowen met to  continue review of medical
marijuana regulations in  county nuisance code.

Anderson Valley Fire Chief Colin Wilson said he is  concerned about
indoor grow fires and also who will be  assigned to enforce the
ordinance. "It refers to  hazards, but provides no mitigation
measures," Wilson  said. Wilson suggested language to authorize the
building and planning department to inspect.

Inadequate electrical service combined with outdoor  agricultural
products that have flammable vapors create  a fire hazard that when
there is a fire can go  unnoticed until neighbors or passersby see it,
Wilson  stated in a letter to the Board of Supervisors.

Too much demand for electricity on too little supply  can be a fire
hazard. Wilson said he is also worried  about it being a "paper permit
process."

He said he has seen a barn destroyed when complaints  went unanswered,
for example.

"The neighbor had complained on a number of occasions  and no action
was taken by anyone," Wilson said.

He estimated that about 50 percent of buildings lost to  fire in the
county are marijuana grow-related.

"I have seen a number of fires related to marijuana  grows that were
in the 25-plant limit," Wilson said.

County Ag Commissioner Tony Linegar also spoke briefly about
pesticides and medical marijuana crops.

"No pesticide can legally be applied to marijuana,"  Linegar said.
Marijuana is not legal under federal law  and it would be costly to
get on a pesticide list,  Linegar said.

"You cannot use any pesticide in conflict with its  registered label,"
Linegar said. A member of the public  said "organic" medical marijuana
would be preferable to  her.

"There are lots of organic pesticides," Linegar said.  But organic
regulation would not be likely from the  state, as federal law states
that marijuana is illegal.

"It is going to have to be private industry driven," he
said.

A lengthy proposed permit application to allow medical  marijuana
collectives to grow up to 99 plants on a  parcel was debuted by the
committee (see accompanying  article). 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D