Pubdate: Tue, 30 Jul 2013
Source: Merced Sun-Star (CA)
Copyright: 2013 Merced Sun-Star
Contact: http://www.mercedsunstar.com/284
Website: http://www.mercedsunstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2546
Author: Ramona Giwargis

MERCED COUNTY SUPERVISORS TO CONSIDER HOW MUCH MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS TOO MUCH

MERCED - The Merced County Board of Supervisors today will consider 
approving the first steps of a new ordinance that regulates the 
number of marijuana plants residents can grow for medicinal use.

The proposed ordinance would limit the cultivation of medical 
marijuana to 12 plants for any parcel of land, regardless of the 
property's size, whether it's indoor or outdoor, or the maturity of the plants.

Merced County currently follows state law on allowable amounts of 
medical marijuana, which is a maximum of six mature or 12 immature 
marijuana plants, in addition to 8 ounces of finished product.

Under the new ordinance, people growing more than 12 plants total 
could face three levels of stiffer penalties: abatement at the 
owner's expense, an administrative procedure resulting in penalties 
or a misdemeanor charge resulting in six months in jail and-or a $1,000 fine.

Merced County Management Analyst Mike North said the ordinance, 
proposed by the Merced County Sheriff's Department, is designed to 
prohibit large-scale cultivation.

"The goal is not to crack down on people that need it for medicinal 
purposes," North said. "The goal is to promote safety and deal with 
people that are cultivating very large grows."

Medical marijuana collectives have been operating in Merced County 
for "several years with minimal local regulations" and are linked to 
serious crimes such as armed robberies, according to county documents.

Many growers come to Merced County because it doesn't have 
regulations that prohibit large grows, officials said.

Merced County Sheriff Mark Pazin said the current law has a lot of 
gray area, but the proposed ordinance would enforce legal growing 
limits while carrying criminal and civil penalties for those who break the law.

"There was really an open-ended interpretation of Proposition 215," 
said Pazin, adding that the ordinance would close some of the law's 
loopholes. "Right now, we're having persons come in and grow acres of 
illegal marijuana plants."

The Board of Supervisors will meet at 10 a.m. today in the board 
chambers on the third floor of the Merced County Administration 
Building, 2222 M St. in Merced.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom