New medical marijuana restrictions will go before the Paradise Town Council Tuesday, Sept. 6 which would limit pot gardens to 50 square feet at qualified patients' homes only. The town is now under an emergency ban of collectives and cooperatives and the new ordinance would ban them and dispensaries. The law has seen a number of changes since its initial drafting following the January 2011 emergency moratorium that expires mid-December. The newest version cuts out any provision for collectives lest the town be federally prosecuted. [continues 392 words]
The Paradise Planning Commission approved a draft medical marijuana ordinance Thursday evening with minimal changes from the 12 -page staff-drafted document. The draft will be presented to the Paradise Town Council for its consideration and approval at a later date. During the public hearing on the ordinance, a few citizens had concerns with the draft. One concern was from former school board candidate and expectant mother Rachelle Zuccolillo. Key among her concerns was the fact that the town's ordinance doesn't limit growing medical marijuana within a school zone. [continues 653 words]
The Paradise Planning Commission voted unanimously to close its public hearing on a new draft medical marijuana ordinance after a handful of people spoke on the matter Thursday evening. The commission recommended a few minor changes to the draft ordinance that will be presented at a continued closed public hearing 6 p.m., July 7 at Town Hall. There the commission will consider the ordinance in public but will not take public comments on the record, Town Attorney Dwight Moore said. [continues 885 words]
A committee at Town Hall has proposed a draft ordinance that would restrict medical marijuana cultivation, processing and distribution in the Town of Paradise. The ordinance could become effective as soon as September of this year if the Paradise Planning Commission approves it June 2 before sending it to the Paradise Town Council in July. The town is now under an emergency ordinance prohibiting cooperative medical marijuana cultivation, processing and distribution until Jan. 11 2012. Town Community Development Director Craig Baker said the draft ordinance likely will change shape before it is finally adopted. [continues 577 words]
Recommendation Expected in May About 50 people showed up at Town Hall for Thursday night's public forum voicing concerns about the Town of Paradise's proposal to regulate medical marijuana. Vice mayor and member of the committee handling the medical marijuana issue, Steve "Woody" Culleton said he had hoped to see more people at the forum. "I was really surprised," he said. "I thought it would be packed." But Culleton said those intimidated by public speaking can still tell the town about their wants or concerns about the town's proposal. The town is taking comments by any available means including in person, by U.S. mail, e-mail or fax. The Town of Paradise is now under an emergency moratorium that temporarily bans the establishment of marijuana dispensaries and collective grows. The idea behind the move was to allow time to draft zoning ordinances to curb any potential problems with the controversial subject. [continues 623 words]
A moratorium on medical marijuana cooperative gardens and dispensaries was approved on a split vote Tuesday night by the Paradise Town Council. Next month the council will host a public hearing on the matter before it can consider extending the moratorium past 45 days to 10 and a half months. The ban can't last more than two years. Mayor Alan white was the lone vote against the measure, saying the moratorium would slow the regulation process too much. One man supporting marijuana rights Tuesday was Jon Remalia, who came with his lawyer, Eric Berg, who challenged the town's legal right to restrict medical marijuana to patients and its right to restrict property use. [continues 606 words]
