[420 Girl]

Ca. - The Shasta County Board of Supervisors will consider adopting a medical marijuana ordinance on Tuesday, as recommended by the Planning Commission.

The ordinance was developed by the county Planning Commission in conjunction with several other county departments after the supervisors turned down a proposed 45-day moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries in November.

The new ordinance includes zoning and permit requirements, as well as restrictions on how much and where marijuana can be grown.

Department of Resource Management Director Russ Mull opposed the moratorium and said he thinks the new ordinance will adequately address the issues concerning the board.

"There's a world of difference between a moratorium and a zoning ordinance," Mull said. "The ordinance will address a long-term issue."

Medical marijuana, legal under Proposition 215, has been a big issue in the north state since the Obama administration made it clear that it wouldn't make enforcing the federal laws against marijuana a priority.

Use permits will be required for dispensaries in the county and will be subject to a term limit and monitoring fees, along with a requirement that dispensaries file detailed operating plans.

Mull said he doesn't think his staff will be overwhelmed with enforcing the regulations because there are no dispensaries in the unincorporated areas of Shasta County at this time and he doesn't expect many to be established in those regions.

"They (the dispensaries) go where the most people are," he said.

Board Chairman David Kehoe said he saw the zoning amendments as very proactive, but noted that since the political and legal landscape of the issue is constantly changing, the issue may need to be revisited in the future.

"Who knows how this will eventually end up," he said. "But we're trying to take a proactive approach ... so people know what the rules are."

The ordinance also addresses the issue of medical marijuana cultivation, mandating a zoning permit for cultivation sites requiring the signature of the land- or homeowner and the verified medical marijuana patient or primary caregiver.

"We spell out in the cultivation ordinance what the requirements are for them to legitimately grow marijuana on their property and what size those gardens can be," Mull said.

The ordinance limits outdoor grows on an acre or less to 60 square feet and grows on larger parcels can be no larger than 240 square feet.

During the public hearing conducted by the Planning Commission last month, several people spoke out against the regulations on cultivation, including Sheriff Tom Bosenko who said he didn't think the 6-foot fences required for outdoor grows were tall enough.

The Board of Supervisors also will hold a public hearing before the ordinance is considered for adoption. Kehoe said he didn't think the turnout of the Planning Commission's public hearing was very big and he hopes more attend the supervisors' meeting.

"A lot of folks have some pretty strong opinions one way or another," he said. "I really encourage people to attend and express their views."

To read a copy of the draft ordinance, go to Shasta County Planning Division or go to the Board of Supervisors chambers in the County Administration Building at 1450 Court St., Redding.

Reporter Amanda Winters can be reached at 225-8372 or awinters@redding.com.

If you're going

What: Shasta County Board of Supervisors meeting.

When: 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Where: County Administration Building, 1450 Court St., Redding.

Agenda includes: Public hearing on proposed medical marijuana ordinance.

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