NEVADA CITY, CA: Medicinal pot growers rail against DA

Robyn Moormeister, robynm@...

12:01 a.m. PT Apr 19, 2007


City Hall in Nevada City was packed Wednesday night with more than 100
medicinal marijuana growers concerned that the district attorney would
take away their right to puff their pain away.

Nevada County District Attorney Cliff Newell ran into a hailstorm of
objection to his proposal to reduce the amount of marijuana medicinal
users can grow.

"Up the numbers," yelled one woman when Newell asked what people wanted.

"We shouldn't decrease the guidelines," said Dr. Stephen Banister, a
Grass Valley doctor who frequently prescribes pot to his patients,
many of whom applauded him when he stood. "That will lead to problems
for patients and law enforcement."

Supporters of medicinal marijuana, most of whom did not want to be
identified and asked that their pictures not be taken, freely voiced
their criticism of law enforcement and the proposed changes, which
would reduce the number of plants allowable by law enforcement from
the current limit of five to 10 plants to a new limit of six mature
plants or 12 immature plants.

Users are currently allowed to have two pounds of dried pot on hand,
while the proposed change would reduce the dried amount to eight ounces.

The standards are supposed to allow for a year's supply of marijuana.

"Eight ounces? I can't work with that," shouted one man. "Marijuana
helps me survive."

Many said they could easily smoke eight ounces in a month. Some wanted
to put the standards to a vote on a ballot initiative, which Newell
said he would not pursue.

However, Newell said people will be allowed to grow amounts based on
their recommendations, and police will honor recommendations if the
amount prescribed is more than the amount outlined by law
enforcement's new standards.

"Whatever your recommendation says, you're allowed to have that on
hand," Newell said.

Confusion ensued when people tried to weed through the vague state
law, which permits local governments to set standards.

"People need an average of three pounds per patient," said a young man
holding a baby girl. "The guidelines should encompass most patients.
These standards are for law enforcement."

Others agreed, saying officers would use the standards to harass
legitimate medicinal users.

Newell fielded the shouting and arguing like a middle school teacher
in a rowdy assembly.

"You're acting like I'm focusing my life on eradicating marijuana from
Nevada County," Newell said, reiterating that is not the case. "Like
them or not, these are the laws I'm dealing with."

One person in the crowd of approximately 120 was in favor of the
proposed changes. She said the smell of plants growing next to her
home bothers her, and as a recovering addict, she said the presence of
pot is an unnecessary nuisance.

"It's a volatile subject," the woman said after the meeting. She did
not want to be identified. "A lot of people feel the same way, but
they were afraid to come to the meeting."

Newell said he would take Wednesday night's comments into account in
determining the new standards. Until then, he said, the current
standards will remain in place.


To contact Staff Writer Robyn Moormeister, e-mail robyn@the union.com
or call 477-4236.

http://www.theunion.com/article/20070419/NEWS/104190234/-1/rss02

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