NEVADA CITY, Calif. February 29, 2016 – Today, February 29 to March 9, 2016 the public examination period of the measure begins. Below are the impartial analysis written by County Counsel, as well as the arguments and rebuttals for and against Measure W.
REVISED IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS MEASURE W
Restrictions on Marijuana Cultivation
Measure W is a County-initiated ballot measure that was placed on the ballot by the Nevada County Board of Supervisors pursuant to Elections Code section 9140. On January 12, 2016, the Nevada County Board of Supervisors adopted Nevada County Ordinance No. 2405 (hereinafter referred to as “Existing Law”) containing new restrictions on marijuana cultivation in the unincorporated area of Nevada County. This Existing Law allows qualified medical marijuana patients and their primary caregivers to cultivate medical marijuana in qualified permitted structures on properties where those patients or their primary caregivers reside, and prohibits outdoor marijuana cultivation.
Existing Law also:
• Allows only indoor marijuana cultivation of up to 12 plants per parcel on parcels zoned primarily for residential or rural uses (e.g., R-1, R-2, R-3, R-A, AG, AE, FR or TPZ)
• Allows marijuana cultivation only for medical purposes in accordance with federal, state and local laws, including regulations and restrictions adopted by the Nevada County Board of Supervisors
• Prohibits outdoor cultivation of marijuana
• Prohibits all commercial cannabis activities
• Requires that parcels used for cultivation be occupied by the patient or primary caregiver as his or her primary place of residence
• Requires that parcels used for marijuana cultivation contain a permanent, occupied, legally permitted structure
• Prohibits marijuana cultivation in any portion of a structure used as, designed or intended for human occupancy
• Prohibits marijuana cultivation in non-permitted structures
Because the Existing Law was passed by the Board of Supervisors, it is subject to amendment or rescission by a majority vote of the Board of Supervisors. Measure W also contains the above-mentioned restrictions, and if passed, would amend Sections G-IV 5.4(C) and G-IV 5.4(E) of the Nevada County General Code accordingly.
Measure W also contains a new provision (“Section Ill”) which would allow the Board of Supervisors to adopt any additional ordinances, resolutions or other regulations necessary to reasonably interpret and clarify the ordinance, without a vote of the people, so long as the Board’s interpretation or clarification is consistent with the language and original intent of the voter-approved ordinance.
Therefore, Measure W proposes to enact a voter-approved ordinance, enacting the above-mentioned restrictions on marijuana cultivation and commercial cannabis activities in unincorporated areas of the Nevada County, which can only be changed by a vote of the people except as set forth in Section Ill of the proposed ordinance, Measure W.
A “Yes” vote on Measure W is a vote to adopt the proposed ordinance contained in Measure W which would amend Sections G-IV 5.4(C) and G-IV 5.4(E) of the Nevada County General Code, and would allow the Board of Supervisors to interpret and clarify the ordinance in accordance with Section Ill of Measure W. Any other amendments to, or rescission of, the Measure W provisions would require a vote of the people.
A “No” vote on Measure W is a vote to reject the proposed ordinance contained in Measure W. A “No” vote would result in no change to Existing Law, which can be amended or rescinded by a majority vote of the Board of Supervisors.
The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure W. If you desire a copy of the measure, please call the Nevada County Elections office at 530-265-1298 and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you.
Argument in Favor of Measure W
In 2012, the Nevada County Board of Supervisors adopted a Medical Marijuana Cultivation ordinance intended to allow qualified patients safe and reasonable access to medical marijuana, while also protecting the quality of life and property values for neighboring residents. Despite reasonable attempts to address nuisance concerns, the county has experienced an increase in large outdoor marijuana cultivations and associated criminal activity, nuisance complaints and damage to wildlife, water supplies and other environmental degradation.
The unbridled outdoor cultivation is having a direct impact on the quality of life in Nevada County. Prohibiting outdoor cultivation would simplify enforcement, allow citizens to once again enjoy outdoor activities, and return a sense of safety to the community while still permitting access to medical marijuana for those who need it by allowing regulated indoor cultivation ofup to 12 plants.
A Yes vote on Measure W would:
• uphold the current ban on outdoor cultivation and associated commercial marijuana activities.
• help reduce the environmental damage from large outdoor grows such as discarding of trash, human waste, illegal use of pesticides, poisoning of wildlife, unauthorized diversion of water from streams, substandard storage of hazardous materials and other threats to public health.
• relieve pressure on County social services programs such as mental health, behavioral health, adult/child protective services and welfare.
• re-define Nevada County’s legacy as safe and welcoming for families and new businesses.
All residents have a right to expect protection from nuisance and public safety issues associated with marijuana cultivation. Measure W provides that protection and still allows qualified patients, and those who grow for them, continued access to their medicine; while providing the Sheriff the ability to immediately abate outdoor grows and limit or at least minimize the unlawful activity. Vote Yes on Measure W.
The above argument is signed by:
Hank Weston – Vice-Chair, Nevada County Board of Supervisors
Willard N. Drown III – Retired
Marty Lombardi – Retired businessman
Lindy Beatie – Non-profit Executive
Daniel Swartzendruber – Business Owner
Authored by: Dan Miller – Chairman, Nevada County Board of Supervisors
Ballot argument against Measure W
Unregulated cannabis cultivation must come to an end in Nevada County, but Measure Wis not the solution. An outdoor grow ban will push illegal growers further into the woods and onto public lands, posing greater environmental risk to our rivers and streams.
Importantly, Measure W rejects our State’s new multi-agency framework for regulating cultivation enacted in 2015. Rather than accept help from the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the State Water Board, the Department of Consumer Affairs, and Department of Agriculture, among others, Measure W places full responsibility for regulating both cultivation, and other cannabis-related activities upon the shoulders of our already overburdened Sheriffs Office, diverting their officers from serious and violent crime.
Measure W does not impose any taxes or fees on growers, dispensaries, or testing laboratories, shifting the full cost of enforcement upon us, the taxpayers; an estimated burden in the millions of dollars.
Measure W expressly forces legitimate cultivators to grow indoors under artificial lights, adding additional load do to our already overtaxed power grid. It creates a new set of potential dangers associated with mold, fire, chemical and electrical hazard.
Today, the majority of growers openly ask for regulations, which would allow the County to impose strict environmental and public safety regulations and address problems associated with odor. We agree that unregulated cannabis cultivation must come to an end in Nevada County. Measure Wis not a solution. Opponents of Measure W respectfully ask that our community work together to fashion effective regulations.
A “No” vote on Measure Wis a vote for regulations that actually work.
The above argument is signed by:
Forrest Hurd – Executive Director of HOPE
Martin Webb – Member, Coalition for a Drug-Free Nevada County
Patricia Smith – Chair, Americans for Safe Access Nevada County
David Rice – Nevada County Spokesperson Calif. Growers Association
Authored by: Harry Bennett – Executive Board member Coalition to Tax and Regulate Medical Cannabis
Rebuttal to Argument Against Measure W
Nevada County adopted regulations in 2012 that permitted outdoor marijuana grows and contained provisions to protect the environment, reduce crime and minimize nuisance impacts; but those regulations were ignored and abused. Today, unchecked outdoor cannabis grows make residents afraid to walk in their neighborhoods or report criminal activity. Measure W will allow the Sheriff to abate outdoor grows more quickly and restore our sense of safety.
Measure W does not reject the State’s Medical Marijuana Regulatory and Safety Act (MMRSA). However, MMRSA does nothing to control the large black market and nuisance grows causing our problems. Even under MMRSA, counties are responsible to enforce local regulations that safeguard public health and safety.
This is not an economic windfall as marijuana advocates claim. Most of the proceeds from taxes and permitting would go to the State for specific purposes such as substance abuse education, prevention and treatment, and do little to benefit us locally. Before imposing new local taxes (which must be approved by a vote of the people), let’s see where the voters stand on outdoor cultivation.
Measure Wallows legitimate patients to grow up to 12 plants indoors, which is not restricted to artificial lighting, and would require the proper permits to ensure building safety. While outdoor grows proliferate, Nevada County is becoming “legendary” for pot cultivation. Measure W will drive large nuisance growers from our county, protect our reputation as safe and welcoming for families and help safeguard our quality of life. Vote yes on Measure W.
Rebuttal to Argument in Favor or Measure W
No evidence exists that any of the arguments made in favor of Measure W are valid.
Sadly; Measure W will have no affect on illegal grows or the damage they inflict on the environment, public health or quality of life. To argue that criminals who don’t abide by current regulation will abide by more regulation is ridiculous. Indoor versus outdoor growing will not relieve pressure on social services. These are intended to be emotional arguments; they are not grounded in fact.
Here are the facts:
Everyone agrees illegal grows need to be stopped. We support laws that protect our community from black market enterprises, allowing law enforcement to accurately target and address delinquent operators.
Large outdoor grows are already illegal, as is the discarding of trash, human waste, illegal use of pesticides, poisoning of wildlife, unauthorized diversion of water from streams, substandard storage of hazardous materials and other threats to public health.
There is no evidence that Measure W would impact County social services.
Effective enforcement of current regulations will be what re-defines Nevada County’s legacy as safe and welcoming for families and new businesses.
There has been an outdoor cultivation ban in place since January 12, 2016. Our elected officials have the authority to uphold this ban without this ballot measure.
Your No vote requires policy makers to respect the needs of patients while accepting responsibility for the trust we have placed in them to make informed decisions on behalf of our community.
Vote No on Measure W.