Pubdate: Wed, 23 May 2012
Source: Porterville Recorder (CA)
Copyright: 2012 Freedom Communications Inc.
Contact: http://www.recorderonline.com/sections/editor-form/
Website: http://www.recorderonline.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2887

COUNTY SEEKS INJUNCTIVE RELIEF AGAINST CUTLER MARIJUANA COLLECTIVE

Tulare County this week filed for injunctive relief against a medical
marijuana collective in the community of Cutler.

According to the complaint filed on Monday with Tulare County Superior
Court, the county alleges that the collective violates the
requirements of the county's zoning ordinance, which states that
marijuana collectives and cooperatives must be located on land zoned
for commercial or manufacturing use within the unincorporated areas of
the county. The collective is located in an agricultural zone. In
addition, the complaint states the collective violates the county
ordinance by not being grown, "within a secure, locked, and fully
enclosed structure."

According to a news release issued Tuesday by the county, from October
2010 to October 2011, there were eight homicides linked to marijuana
operations. Since September 2011, there have been three attempted
homicides linked to marijuana in the county.

In August 2011, the county won a civil injunction against
Ivanhoe-based Foothill Growers Association Inc., a cooperative of
about 100 people with doctors' recommendations to smoke or ingest
marijuana to treat symptoms of health conditions.

The Superior Court found that the cooperative violated an ordinance
adopted by the Board of Supervisors in 2009, which states that
marijuana collectives and cooperatives must be located on land zoned
for commercial or manufacturing use within the unincorporated areas of
the county.

The move comes nearly two weeks after supervisors voted to amend the
county's code enforcement regulations affecting medical marijuana
growing, reducing the amount of time a grower has to comply from as
many as 180 days to as few as 30 days. The amendment speeds up the
process and at the same time places a $765 fee and a daily fine of
$100 on violators.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt