Pubdate: Thu, 23 Jul 2015
Source: Sacramento News & Review (CA)
Column: The 420
Copyright: 2015 Chico Community Publishing, Inc.
Contact:  http://newsreview.com/sacto/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/540
Author: Ngaio Bealum

WATER WASTE REGULATION UNNECESSARY

The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors just passed a law stating 
that growing medical cannabis is a "waste of water." Can you elucidate?

- -Wet Willy

Yup. Sigh. Last week, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors 
revised a few parts of the water code to further Supervisor Roberta 
MacGlashan's vendetta against medical cannabis users. The new laws 
state that anyone growing more than the county limit of nine plants 
is "wasting water" and can be fined up to $500 per day. MacGlashan 
told the local press, "According to the California Department of Fish 
and Wildlife, a single marijuana plant uses an average of six gallons 
of water per day during the growing cycle." I am not sure where the 
DFW came up with that number, but I can tell you that marijuana 
doesn't need that much water.

This new law is unnecessary, ridiculous and pretty much 
unenforceable. I don't see the county BOS going after people for 
growing too many tomatoes or keeping their lawn green in this drought 
or taking 30-minute showers. I am not sure why MacGlashan feels the 
need to continue to persecute cannabis users (Sac County has already 
banned cannabis dispensaries and outdoor growing), but she and the 
rest of the BOS really should take a look at themselves and see if 
they can figure out why they hate marijuana so much. Or all of the 
MMJ users in the county can get off of their apathetic butts and vote 
these cannaphobes out of office.

Last time I went to renew my letter of cannabis recommendation, my 
doctor's office had a sign offering a recommendation that would allow 
me to grow 99 plants. Is this a good deal?

- -Gene Thumb

This is not a good deal. It is damn near a lie. California state law 
allows medical cannabis patients to grow their own medicine. The 
state default is six adult plants and 12 baby plants. Cities and 
counties are allowed to set their own limits. Some places are very 
liberal (in Oakland you can grow 99 plants, no problem), some are 
less so (looking at you, Fresno "no one can grow marijuana ever" 
County). But a doctor can't give you special permission to break the 
rules. This is from California NORML's "Patient's Guide to California 
Law": "In a state Supreme Court ruling, People v. Kelly (2010), the 
court held that patients can NOT be prosecuted simply for exceeding 
the S.B. 420 limits; however, they can be arrested and forced to 
defend themselves as having had an amount consistent with their 
personal medical needs. Patients can be exempted from the limits if 
their physician specifically states that they need more; but beware 
of physicians who charge extra for 'cultivation' licenses for large 
amounts. The validity of recommendations for specific plant numbers 
is doubtful." Please keep this in mind when you are getting your 
letter and planning your garden.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom