Pubdate: Fri, 12 Feb 2016
Source: Ukiah Daily Journal, The (CA)
Copyright: 2016 The Ukiah Daily Journal
Contact: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/feedback
Website: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/581
Author: Adam Randall

PROPOSED BOONVILLE MARIJUANA EVENT VOTED DOWN BY FAIR BOARD

The board of directors for the Mendocino County Fair voted down a 
man's proposal this week to hold a marijuana festival at the 
Boonville fairgrounds property, citing concerns of federal laws, 
while perhaps creating a new precedent at the facility for future 
marijuana-related activities.

Chad Rea, a Boonville resident and producer of the "Mendo Grow Show," 
said he had approached the fairgrounds board about hosting his event, 
titled "The Spring Planting Show," that was scheduled for the weekend 
of May 14.

The "21-and-over" event was to focus on medical marijuana-related 
workshops covering community education, safety, hazard mitigation, 
networking, legal roundtables, political discourse and gardening tips 
for growers, according to Rea.

"The fairgrounds will not do this because they don't feel they can 
legally do it," Rea said.

He said his event was not about promoting illegal marijuana use, but 
was to provide a forum for information, discussion, networking and 
patient support, a type of event he said is needed for the greater 
Mendocino County community, and would have stimulated Anderson 
Valley's economy.

Rea said he was also planning to have paid staff, local music, 
vending, camping and food, and said the fairgrounds gates would have 
closed by 8 p.m. each evening during the event weekend that Rea 
expected to draw around 2,000 people. The live music would have also 
been shuttered by 10 p.m. at the latest, he said.

The board took an extra month to consider the idea and tabled Rea's 
proposal in January before making its decision Monday. Fair board 
members ultimately wanted to wait for federal legalization despite 
reforms in state laws and local ordinances.

However, Rea did say he was planning on offering marijuana clones, 
seeds and plants for sale, which was part of the board's discontent 
with the idea, but Rea said that sales could have been pulled off the 
event docket if it were necessary to move forward as planned.

Overall, Rea believes he has followed the board's mission statement 
governing the fairgrounds, which he said in part states the 
facility's goal is to promote agricultural programs having cultural, 
social and economic benefits to the public.

While Rea's proposal for Boonville is over, he said he has approached 
other venues in the area including the Redwood Empire Fair in Ukiah, 
and also plans to talk with the Black Oak Ranch in Laytonville.

"The event's going to happen," Rea said. "But, it's perfect for 
Boonville and the fairgrounds. To me, it's a shame."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom