Pubdate: Thu, 02 Jun 2016 Source: Chico Enterprise-Record (CA) Copyright: 2016 Chico Enterprise-Record Contact: http://www.chicoer.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/861 Note: Letters from newspaper's circulation area receive publishing priority Author: David Masarik PROTECTIONS ARE FOR FARMERS, NOT POT GROWERS The "right to farm" act was enacted to protect real farmers against developers and newbies, who wanted the quiet peaceful life of country living but soon found out that living in the sticks had its drawbacks. Loud machinery, pesticides, dust. Hog farms and dairy farms with their stink and noise. Lawsuits soon cropped up, and sadly some farms were shut down. But that all changed when the "right to farm" act came into being. Farmers are now protected. They have ag zones for their food crops and protections for ranches, cattle, hogs, etc., plus water rights. Zoning is the key word. Most farms have been in the same business at the same location for generations. Now comes the pot growers trying to grab the same protections as our legitimate food and livestock farmers. They are trying to change their image from pot growers, users and dealers, into "farmers." And no, marijuana is not a harmless plant. The negatives and abuses are well documented. Residential zones, and that includes foothill residential, are for family life. Vote yes on Measure G. Protect our ag industry, against pot growers. Protect our residential zones. - - David Masarik, Oroville - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom