Pubdate: Sun, 22 Jul 2012
Source: Record Searchlight (Redding, CA)
Copyright: 2012 Record Searchlight
Contact:  http://www.redding.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/360
Author: Sean Longoria

DUNSMUIR MEDICAL MARIJUANA GROWING RULES HEADED TO NOVEMBER BALLOT

DUNSMUIR - Voters here will decide in December whether the city's
medical marijuana growing rules should be loosened.

The City Council on Thursday night approved placing a measure on the
November ballot to relax some restrictions on growing medical
marijuana in city limits, City Manager Brenda Bains said Friday.
Petitions were circulated by Leslie Wilde, owner of Dunsmuir's sole
dispensary.

She said the initiative came about after the council in August passed
a strict growing ordinance.

"I immediately started looking into how we could amend it or change
it," Wilde said. "But I wanted to time it for the November general
election. I didn't feel the June primary would garner many supportive
votes."

She and others collected the necessary 100 valid signatures out of
Dunsmuir's approximately 960 registered voters to put the item on the
ballot. The measure needs a simple majority to pass.

The changes, if the measure is approved by voters, include the
following:

Removing canopy area limits for qualified patients.

Removing limits on qualified patients growing on any
parcel.

Allowing growers to cultivate on property other than where their homes
are.

Growing outdoors, in public view, inside an attached or detached
garage, in the city's historic district or near youth-oriented activities.

The current rules restrict or prohibit those activities, though Wilde
said they were permitted under state law before the city passed its
regulations last year. She said the changes were to align Dunsmuir's
rules with what state law allows.

She said people shouldn't be worried about grows next to schools or
kids parks, because Dunsmuir residents between 1996 and 2011 could
always grow at their homes next to those types of places.

"Unless the state of California says you can't grow near
child-oriented activities, that would be the only way it would be out
of bounds in Dunsmuir," Wilde said.

The changes, if approved, also cap penalties for violations to $100
per day and $1,000 maximum for any single penalty.

The measure doesn't change requirements for no adverse health or
safety affects of growing. Growers must also remain in compliance with
state laws.

Bains said the initiative already has cost the city legal fees to
write the measure and could cost more by going on the ballot. She
didn't have specific figures on either cost.
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MAP posted-by: Matt