Pubdate: Sun, 18 Jan 2004 Source: Times-Standard (Eureka, CA) Copyright: 2004 MediaNews Group, Inc. Contact: http://www.times-standard.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1051 Author: Andrew Bird, The Times-Standard FORTUNA POLICE CHIEF WANTS CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE A STAND ON MED POT GUIDELINES FORTUNA -- Police Chief Kent Bradshaw wants the City Council to take a stand in the debate over how much medical marijuana Humboldt County residents should be allowed to possess. The City Council meets 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 621 11th St. At the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors meeting 14 hours later, the supervisors will take up a request to adopt guidelines allowing medical marijuana patients to possess up to 3 pounds of dried buds per year and cultivate up to 99 plants in a 100-square-foot area. These guidelines are too liberal, said Bradshaw, the county's longest-serving police chief. "The duly elected and very competent sheriff of this county does not need enforcement direction from the Board of Supervisors in this matter," Bradshaw said in his report to the council. A new state law that took effect Jan. 1 sets much lower possession and cultivation limits: a maximum of 8 ounces of dried cannabis and no more than six mature or 12 immature plants. However, the new law, SB 420, does allow local jurisdictions to adopt guidelines that exceed the state's limits. Supervisor Roger Rodoni, who represents the southern Humboldt County, is introducing the ordinance to the Board of Supervisors. The guidelines mirror those already set by District Attorney Paul Gallegos for law enforcement. "As far as I am concerned," Bradshaw said in his report, " there is no reason to enact this ordinance, except to exceed 420's more limited guidelines. Passage of this ordinance will only give credence to the district attorney's guidelines, as he will be able to say he is following the county ordinance." Bradshaw's agenda item asks the City Council to discuss the issue and take "action to establish (a) position" on the proposed guidelines. California voters passed the Compassionate Marijuana Act in 1996, allowing patients who obtain a doctor's recommendation to use cannabis for medical purposes. "Federal law does not recognize the Compassionate Marijuana Act of California and still considers marijuana an illegal drug," Bradshaw said. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake