Pubdate: Sun, 31 Jan 2016
Source: Appeal-Democrat (Marysville, CA)
Copyright: 2016 Appeal-Democrat
Contact: 
https://appeal-democrat-dot-com.bloxcms-ny1.com/site/forms/online_services/letter/
Website: http://www.appeal-democrat.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1343
Author: Eric Vodden

NIELSEN OPPOSES MEDICAL POT BILL

Area state Sen. Jim Nielsen last week opposed a bill that would 
eliminate a deadline for cities and counties without marijuana 
cultivation ordinances to adopt local growing rules.

Nielsen, R-Gerber, voted against Assembly Bill 21, correcting what 
lawmakers say was a mistake in the state's medical cannabis 
regulations approved last year. It passed the Senate 35-3 and next 
moves on to the Assembly.

Nielsen, one of three Republicans opposing the bill, told The 
Associated Press he couldn't support legislation that might help 
further the medical marijuana industry.

"As a farmer, it's hard for me ... to legitimize medical marijuana by 
making it a bona fide agricultural endeavor," he said.

The state legislation last year set a March 1 deadline for cities and 
counties with no cultivation ordinances to adopt local rules or risk 
losing local control.

Marysville, the lone local city or county without a cultivation 
ordinance, adopted a new law banning all cultivation unless it is 
grown indoors in connection with a dispensary. That law takes effect Feb. 18.

Three bills that passed in the state Assembly designed to make 
improvements to mental health care were praised by area Assemblyman 
James Gallagher.

"While there is more work to be done in order to establish a robust 
and effective mental health system, I am encouraged by the 
legislation that the Assembly passed today," said Gallagher, RPlumas Lake.

Bills passed this week and moving on to the Senate were AB 1300, 
which requires some hospitals to notify counties if an individual has 
been on involuntary mental health detainment for 72 hours; AB 59, 
which extends the repeal date for a law allowing court-ordered 
assisted outpatient treatment for those with specified mental 
conditions; and AB 1500, which exempts homeless housing projects from 
the California Environmental Quality Act.

Opponents of two Yuba County marijuana-related voter initiatives on 
the June 7 ballot have formed a political action committee to oppose both.

A letter from the newly-formed STOP Commercial Pot committee asking 
for donations is written over the names of Buck and Colene Weckman. 
The Weckmans have supported a restrictive marijuana cultivation 
ordinance approved in spring 2015 by Yuba County supervisors.

One of the two initiatives would replace the existing cultivation 
ordinance with one that is less restrictive and the other would allow 
dispensaries in unincorporated Yuba County.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom