A draft urgency ordinance for medical marijuana growing in Nevada County has been posted on their website, as part of the Tuesday meeting agenda. One notable change in previously-discussed proposals is an increase in the maximum allowable outdoor plants, from 20 to 25, on more than 20 acres. 16 plants would be allowed on 10 to 20 acres. There would be no outdoor grows on smaller parcels and still a maximum of 12 indoor plants countywide. Growing would still be banned in the most heavily-populated areas. Per-day/per-plant fines are also included, for the first time, starting at 100 dollars for a first violation, to as much as 500 dollars for more than two violations within a year. Voters rejected the ban on outdoor growing, in June, but both sides on the issue agreed to keep it in place until an interim ordinance was created. County Supervisor Nate Beason was one of two supervisors who held three meetings with growers…

click to listen to Nate Beason

But growers are still indicating opposition. The chair of the Nevada County chapter of Americans for Safe Access, Patricia Smith, says the ordinance still means a ban for about half the county. She was also disappointed, but not surprised, that small indoor personal growths in urbanized areas were not included…

click to listen to Patricia Smith

Since it’s an urgency ordinance, and would take effect immediately, it would need approval of four of the five county supervisors. After that, work would continue to come up with a permanent ordinance with likely revisions.