Pubdate: Wed, 22 Jun 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

LAWSUIT AGAINST MENDOCINO COUNTY OVER MARIJUANA REGULATIONS SETTLED

Mendocino County announced Tuesday that it had settled a lawsuit with 
a local wildlife group over recently passed medical marijuana regulations.

The Mendocino County Blacktail Association alleged the Board of 
Supervisors passed its medical marijuana urgency ordinance last month 
without first considering environmental review under the California 
Environmental Quality Act.

The board approved an agreement in a closed session portion of its 
meeting Tuesday.

As a result, the county said it would stop accepting permit 
applications under the urgency ordinance as of 5 p.m. Wednesday. No 
new applications will be accepted after this time.

Applications already submitted or received by 5 p.m. Wednesday will 
continue to be processed under the urgency ordinance. The urgency 
ordinance will continue to be enforced by the county until its 
permanent ordinance is established in the future.

The board adopted the urgency ordinance last month after finding it 
necessary due to recent state regulations that were likely to result 
in more local marijuana growers. The county was also hoping to bring 
growers into compliance by enacting the temporary ordinance.

Under the ordinance, if growers are granted an exemption from the 
Sheriff's Office, they could legally cultivate 99 plants on 10 acres, 
or 50 plants on five acres, though a 25-plant per parcel limit still 
exists for those not granted the exemption.
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