Maybe there's hope for us on the other side of the mountain...Way to go Lake Co gro-folks!
First, the bs -
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/3940071-181/clearlake-kills-ban-on-marijuana
Clearlake moves toward ban on growing pot
BY GLENDA ANDERSON
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
February 13, 2015, 7:35PM
For pot, politics remain local in California
Lake County fight over marijuana going back to voters
Advocates vow to challenge Clearlake pot ban
The Clearlake City Council is poised to ban all marijuana cultivation in the city limits.
The council voted 4-1 Thursday night to pursue the ban following a lengthy hearing attended by about 200 people, Councilman Russ Perdock said.
If finalized, the ordinance would be the strictest pot ordinance in Lake County. It was triggered by a failure of the city’s former ordinance to control marijuana-growing in the city, said Perdock, a former Lake County sheriff’s deputy who was seated on the council in December.
The existing ordinance allows up to six plants in residential neighborhoods and more on larger parcels, but some residents have been growing substantially more than that, as many as 100 plants, a problem city officials and police have been unable to quash, Perdock said.
The ordinance was tentatively adopted despite an outpouring of opposition. Perdock said most of the people at Thursday night’s hearing were pro-marijuana.
Some of them threatened to sue the city if it adopted the ordinance, he said.
A second reading of the ordinance and possible final vote is scheduled for Feb. 26.
And then the push-back -
The Clearlake City Council has rescinded its ban on all marijuana cultivation in the face of a lawsuit and a successful signature-gathering campaign that required the city to either drop the ordinance or place it on the ballot.
Instead, it will amend the previous ordinance — which allowed between six and 12 pot plants, depending on parcel size — to make it easier for police to enforce. The revision will include limiting the number of plants that can be grown to six plants per household under the premise that it’s better to “keep it simple, stupid,” City Councilwoman Joyce Overton said.
Medical marijuana advocates Friday were celebrating the Thursday night vote overturning the ordinance, adopted in late February.
“We’re extremely happy,” said Jeri Spittler, a former city councilwoman and one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. She said the lawsuit is now moot and will be dropped.
Despite the setback, Overton said she believes the council accomplished at least one of its goals. It demonstrated it is ready and willing to take on illegal marijuana growers, she said.
“I think we made our voices heard; we don’t want these illegal grows in our town,” Overton said.
The Clearlake council majority who voted for the ban said they were forced to do so by scofflaws who were growing well in excess of the city’s plant limits. Other residents were complaining about the skunky smell and said they were worried about associated crime, which has included home-invasion robberies.
But marijuana advocates contended the total ban — one of only four in the state at the time it was adopted — was illegal and unfair to people who depend on pot to treat their ailments.
Spittler, whose husband has cancer, said the city could have limited illegal pot cultivation simply by enforcing the ordinance it had in place.
“I’m really hoping now the police department steps up and eliminates the illegal grows,” she said.
City officials said their earlier ordinance lacked clarity and enforcement tools, which they now plan to add.
"If them, why not us...? cc
First, the bs -
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/3940071-181/clearlake-kills-ban-on-marijuana
Clearlake moves toward ban on growing pot
BY GLENDA ANDERSON
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
February 13, 2015, 7:35PM
For pot, politics remain local in California
Lake County fight over marijuana going back to voters
Advocates vow to challenge Clearlake pot ban
The Clearlake City Council is poised to ban all marijuana cultivation in the city limits.
The council voted 4-1 Thursday night to pursue the ban following a lengthy hearing attended by about 200 people, Councilman Russ Perdock said.
If finalized, the ordinance would be the strictest pot ordinance in Lake County. It was triggered by a failure of the city’s former ordinance to control marijuana-growing in the city, said Perdock, a former Lake County sheriff’s deputy who was seated on the council in December.
The existing ordinance allows up to six plants in residential neighborhoods and more on larger parcels, but some residents have been growing substantially more than that, as many as 100 plants, a problem city officials and police have been unable to quash, Perdock said.
The ordinance was tentatively adopted despite an outpouring of opposition. Perdock said most of the people at Thursday night’s hearing were pro-marijuana.
Some of them threatened to sue the city if it adopted the ordinance, he said.
A second reading of the ordinance and possible final vote is scheduled for Feb. 26.
And then the push-back -
The Clearlake City Council has rescinded its ban on all marijuana cultivation in the face of a lawsuit and a successful signature-gathering campaign that required the city to either drop the ordinance or place it on the ballot.
Instead, it will amend the previous ordinance — which allowed between six and 12 pot plants, depending on parcel size — to make it easier for police to enforce. The revision will include limiting the number of plants that can be grown to six plants per household under the premise that it’s better to “keep it simple, stupid,” City Councilwoman Joyce Overton said.
Medical marijuana advocates Friday were celebrating the Thursday night vote overturning the ordinance, adopted in late February.
“We’re extremely happy,” said Jeri Spittler, a former city councilwoman and one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. She said the lawsuit is now moot and will be dropped.
Despite the setback, Overton said she believes the council accomplished at least one of its goals. It demonstrated it is ready and willing to take on illegal marijuana growers, she said.
“I think we made our voices heard; we don’t want these illegal grows in our town,” Overton said.
The Clearlake council majority who voted for the ban said they were forced to do so by scofflaws who were growing well in excess of the city’s plant limits. Other residents were complaining about the skunky smell and said they were worried about associated crime, which has included home-invasion robberies.
But marijuana advocates contended the total ban — one of only four in the state at the time it was adopted — was illegal and unfair to people who depend on pot to treat their ailments.
Spittler, whose husband has cancer, said the city could have limited illegal pot cultivation simply by enforcing the ordinance it had in place.
“I’m really hoping now the police department steps up and eliminates the illegal grows,” she said.
City officials said their earlier ordinance lacked clarity and enforcement tools, which they now plan to add.
"If them, why not us...? cc
