Pubdate: Mon, 18 Apr 2016
Source: Chico Enterprise-Record (CA)
Copyright: 2016 Chico Enterprise-Record
Contact:  http://www.chicoer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/861
Note: Letters from newspaper's circulation area receive publishing priority
Author: Chris Sommers

MEASURES G AND H HELP WITH MARIJUANA LIMITS

Butte County voters can reaffirm their support of reasonable medical 
marijuana cultivation limits this June by voting yes on Measures G 
and H. Together, these measures strengthen the enforcement of Measure 
A, which was passed overwhelmingly in 2014. If you supported Measure 
A, then you will like Measures G and H.

Measure G specifically excludes marijuana as a protected crop under 
the Butte County "right-to-farm" ordinance. This cherished ordinance 
protects farmers against nuisance claims for conducting agricultural 
"business as usual." Imagine extending the same protections for the 
marijuana industry - "business as usual" being all-hours traffic, 
honey-oil labs, vicious guard dogs, armed sentries, grow lights, tent 
encampments, dilapidated travel trailers with no septic hookup, 
incessant generators, tax-free illegal income, etc. The opposition 
complains that Measure G will stigmatize growers - but their behavior 
accomplishes that already. Vote yes on G to deny them this undeserved 
protection.

Measure H adds teeth to Measure A. It speeds up the enforcement 
process and closes loopholes that growers use to avoid paying fines. 
In 2015, out of $2.9 million in citations, only $171,000 - a mere 6 
percent - were collected. While some growers came into compliance 
voluntarily and/or paid their fines like responsible citizens, many 
violators resisted, delayed their hearings and unfairly avoided 
paying fines, because when their hearings finally did occur, their 
gardens had been "abated," i.e. harvested and sold.

The opposition claims that "Measure A is unenforceable." So let's fix 
it - vote yes on H. See www.bcfact.org.

- - Chris Sommers, Bangor
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom