Pubdate: Sat, 19 Oct 2013
Source: Porterville Recorder (CA)
Copyright: 2013 Freedom Communications Inc.
Contact: http://www.recorderonline.com/sections/editor-form/
Website: http://www.recorderonline.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2887

SUPS TO CONSIDER MEDICAL MARIJUANA POLICY CHANGES

County Aims to Reduce Illegal Growing

A variety of proposed medical marijuana policy changes will be
discussed at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday that range
from a permanent ban on new dispensaries and cultivation sites to
reducing the number of plants an individual can grow.

The study session is in response to a number of State Appellate Court
decisions this year that provide clarification of State law regarding
the ability of local governments to regulate or ban marijuana activity.

For example, in May 2013 the State Appellate Court affirmed the right
of cities and counties to regulate and ban medical marijuana operations.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Pete Vander Poel said reviewing and
strengthening local medical marijuana policy can be an important tool
to combating illegal grow sites.

"Illegal medical marijuana grow sites pose a tremendous threat to the
safety and well-being of Tulare County's residents," Vander Poel said.
"The Board will ensure that our policies provide ample opportunity for
County staff to continue to eradicate illegal marijuana."

Currently, there is a moratorium, or ban, on the opening of any new
storefront, mobile dispensary, or collective grow sites. In addition,
individual legal grow sites can cultivate up to 99 plants, per the
State's Compassionate Use Act of 1996. Under Tulare County's
ordinance, legal grow sites require marijuana to be grown within a
secure, locked, and fully enclosed structure and located in proper
zoning.

Enforcement

Tulare County's Resource Management Agency (RMA), Sheriff's
Department, and County Counsel are the main agencies responsible for
identifying, eradicating, and enforcing medical marijuana ordinance
code issues.

According to RMA, more than 520 illegal medical marijuana sites have
been identified since Jan. 30, 2012. Property owners are provided
abatement notices after identification. After abatement notices had
been served, approximately 84 percent of property owners have abated
illegal medical marijuana from their property.

According to the Sheriff's Department, more than 220,000 plants have
been eradicated to date in 2013 compared to a total of 200,000 plants
in 2012. During site visits in 2013, the Sheriff's Department made 92
arrests and seized 234 weapons and $524,374 in assets.

In 2012, the Sheriff's Department made 265 arrests and seized 140
weapons and $63,741 in assets.

The proposed policy changes will be presented at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday
during a "Marijuana Study Session" at the Board Chambers, located at
2800 W. Burrel Ave. in Visalia.
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MAP posted-by: Matt