Pubdate: Sat, 19 Mar 2016
Source: Appeal-Democrat (Marysville, CA)
Copyright: 2016 Appeal-Democrat
Contact: 
https://appeal-democrat-dot-com.bloxcms-ny1.com/site/forms/online_services/letter/
Website: http://www.appeal-democrat.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1343
Author: Eric Vodden

MEDICAL POT BACKERS AIM FOR LAND USE INITIATIVE

Medical marijuana supporters in Yuba County have filed a notice that 
they intend to circulate petitions for a November election initiative 
that would link cultivation to county land use designations.

Deborah Tharp, a political consultant to local cannabis supporters, 
said the proposed initiative would not conflict with cannabis-related 
measures on the June ballot in Yuba County. It is mainly being sought 
to comply with state marijuana regulations approved last year by the 
Legislature, she said.

"We had to do it because it's the law now," Tharp said. "It has to 
happen administratively to further direct how cultivation is going to work."

The proposed initiative, listing Woodrow Powers of Olivehurst as a 
proponent, would establish land use rules to allow and regulate 
medical marijuana in the county in coordination with the state. It 
neither addresses whether dispensaries would be allowed nor provide a 
number of plants proposed for various land-use designations.

It differentiates between requirements for three-year administrative 
permits "issued by the planning commission" or conditional use 
permits for specific commercial purposes.

If successful in landing on the November ballot, it would follow two 
Yuba County marijuana-related measures up for a vote on June 7. One 
is aimed at replacing the county's current cultivation regulations, 
and the other would set up rules to allow cannabis dispensaries in 
unincorporated areas.

Measure A on the ballot seeks to overturn county regulations that 
currently ban outdoor grows and limit indoor plants to a dozen in a 
qualified accessory building. It would instead allow 18 plants on 1 
to 5 acres, 36 plants on 5 to 20 acres and 60 plants on 20 or more acres.

The dispensary initiative will be Measure B on the June ballot. It 
would "create a mandatory licensing administrative process" for no 
more than one dispensary within each of five supervisor districts.

Supporters of the initiative being sought for November have 180 days 
to gather 10 percent of registered voters to put it on the ballot or 
20 percent for a special election.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom