Pubdate: Tue, 20 Aug 2013
Source: Fresno Bee, The (CA)
Copyright: 2013 The Fresno Bee
Contact:  http://www.fresnobee.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/161
Note: Does not publish letters from outside their circulation area.
Author: John Ellis

FRESNO COUNTY CONSIDERS BEEFING UP POT LAWS

Fresno County supervisors on Tuesday asked their legal team to 
explore ways to toughen up the county's laws on illegal marijuana growing.

The move came after several residents -- especially those living in 
Squaw Valley -- complained about rampant marijuana farming that, at 
the least, disrupts their rural lifestyle, and at the worst has them 
living in fear.

"We're not getting any help," Squaw Valley resident Ray Unruh said.

Residents talked of generators humming all night, dogs running loose 
and squatters. They said they are afraid to walk off their property 
or have guests over.

The Sheriff's Office made a presentation on its eradication efforts, 
but said it can only do so much.

"We're getting to as many (illegal grows) as we can based on our 
resources," Sheriff Margaret Mims said.

A major problem, she said, is the current ordinance, which is no more 
than a slap on the wrist. It is far more profitable, Mims said, to 
pay a fine of around $100 and keep growing pot.

"We need to beef this up to allow our law enforcement personnel to go 
in and do more," Supervisor Debbie Poochigian said.

Unruh was skeptical. The ordinance, he said, is fine. It's just not 
being enforced.

But the board disagreed. They looked to the county counsel to beef up 
the ordinance.

One possible solution is to emulate Kern County, which treats 
violations as misdemeanors, subject to a maximum penalty of six 
months in the county jail or a $1,000 fine.

The Kern ordinance also says each day a violation continues counts as 
a separate offense.

County counsel Kevin Briggs cautioned, however, that the Kern County 
ordinance is being challenged.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom