LAKE COUNTY >> The Lake County Democratic Central Committee and the Lake County Democratic Club recently voted to endorse the Medical Marijuana Control Act, Measure O, but some opposition from members has cropped up following the endorsement.
The issues committee of the central committee, which is the governing body of the Democratic party in the county, voted 8-0 to endorse the measure and the central committee later accepted the recommendation to endorse. The Lake County Democratic Club, a charter of the central committee, voted 9-6 to endorse Measure O and voted 6-8 against providing funds to the Yes on O campaign.
Michael Horner, a member of the Yes on O campaign, stated the central committee chose to support Measure O as it offers effective enforcement with a vehicle in place for fee collection to fund enforcement; has a mechanism in place to deal with individual cases and complaints and creates a clear process for abating nuisances, which protects the civil rights of non-growing neighbors, as well as medical marijuana patients.
According to Horner, in its endorsement the central committee also noted the measure”s strict environmental regulations and ability to prioritize complaints for quick response to nuisances affecting public health and safety; provision of oversight requiring proof of a legal water source and farming plan to prevent erosion and fertilizer runoff and a regulatory framework for the county, which comes as Democrats anticipate the state”s full legalization of marijuana in 2016.
The central committee also voted to oppose Measure P, The Freedom to Garden Human Rights Restoration Act, noting its members feel the measure is poorly worded and will not accomplish its intended goal.
Not all of the party”s members support the endorsement of Measure O though.
Monica Rosenthal, a party member and member of the No on O and P campaign committee, states she agrees with the party”s goal of legalization but feels the cultivation aspects of the measure are a community issue, not a political one.
Rosenthal also questions the manner in which the endorsement was approved by the central committee as Ron Green, a supporter and co-author of the measure, was a member on the central issues committee when the committee made its decision. She also alleges that Daniel McLean, another supporter of the measure, was allowed to sit in on the committee”s discussions about the endorsement while Ron Kiczenski, his two guests and Rosenthal were asked to leave the room.
However, Becky Curry, the chair of the central committee, said Green is the chair of the issues committee and even if he hadn”t voted, the vote still would have been a 7-0 unanimous vote. She also said she has explained to Rosenthal that McLean is a due-paying member and any such member is allowed to sit in on the issues committee”s discussions although they cannot cast a vote.
Rosenthanl, Kiczenski and his guests were not due-paying members though.
Other party members have also sent in letters to the Record-Bee expressing their opposition to the endorsement.
