The last ad hoc meeting on the future of medical marijuana growing in Nevada County was held today (Tues.). It’s featured two supervisors and growth advocacy groups, for the most part, trying to agree to an urgency ordinance before the ban is lifted, because of the defeat of Measure W. Supervisor Hank Weston reports progress but no agreement on the number of plants and acreage…
click to listen to Hank Weston
The county has suggested no more than 16 plants on 20 or more acres, but growers would like to see 25 to 50 plants on a range of 2 to 20 acres. The ban could have been lifted on July 7th. But Weston says both sides have agreed that it won’t be lifted until some sort of ordinance is in place. He says the draft interim, or urgency, ordinance will likely be released early next week, with a deadline of the 21st, in order for it to be heard by the full board at their next meeting on the 26th. It would need approval of four of the five supervisors. If it’s passed, then efforts begin on formulating a permanent ordinance…
click to listen to Hank Weston
If the urgency ordinance is not passed, Weston says a regular ordinance would need to be considered and passed, and would take another 90 days to take effect. Weston says both sides ARE close together on banning medical marijuana in residential zones.
Carolyn Price
I don't see how amending the ordinance to increase non-compliance gets our county closer to solving problems. Have we forgotten that No on W campaigned for regulation and that voters defeated measure W by a huge margin? How do you regulate those out of compliance? You can't. How do you separate those who use best management practices from those who are damaging the environment? Permits. Then the Sheriff can focus on those who are unpermitted. Win-win.