The Lake County Chapter of California Women For Agriculture is opposing Measure D, the Medical Marijuana Cultivation Act of 2012, which will appear on the June 5 ballot.
The initiative attempts to qualify marijuana as an agricultural crop. We believe this initiative threatens the integrity of the “Right to Farm Ordinance” and we are concerned about its land use provisions and the lack of adequate grower regulation.
Commercial growers, both conventional and organic, must apply for spray permits and follow specific rules for handling pesticides, employee safety training, pesticide use reports, and record keeping.
They are periodically inspected for compliance. As long as marijuana is not legally recognized as an agricultural crop, it cannot be regulated the way traditional county crops are.
Measure D would override existing zoning laws, allowing cultivation in residential areas, including vacant parcels, where agricultural practices are not allowed under existing rules.
This poorly-written initiative has negative consequences for our environment, economy and quality of life.
California Women For Agriculture
Lake County Chapter
