11/21/11 4:20 Break

Medical marijuana, subsurface water on Butte supervisors' agenda Tuesday
By ROGER H. AYLWORTH - Staff Writer
Posted: 11/21/2011 12:14:10 AM PST


OROVILLE -- Medical marijuana will be back on the supervisors' agenda Tuesday, but this time it shouldn't generate crowds or controversy.
In fact, the item is on the board's consent agenda and could well be handled without any discussion.

The measure is a mandated resolution that will put the county's medical marijuana cultivation ordinance up to a referendum vote during the June 5, 2012, Primary Election.

On May 24, after a series of hugely crowded, passionate, often angry hearings, the supervisors adopted the ordinance.

Applicable only to property in county jurisdiction, it prohibited marijuana gardens on any lot a half-acre or smaller, prohibited gardens on any property, regardless of acreage, within 1,000 feet of a school, park, residential drug or alcohol treatment facility, and included other restrictions on grows.

Opponents to the ordinance immediately started a petition drive and by early August the County Clerk-Recorder's Office, which also oversees local elections, certified enough signatures had been collected to qualify the measure for the ballot.

The supervisors were then given a choice of rescinding the ordinance or scheduling the members for a public vote.

Tuesday, the supervisors will officially set the date for the vote.


In documents going to the board for Tuesday's meeting, the Clerk-Recorder's Office predicted the election will cost the county $50,000 or less.

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