CLEARLAKE >> The Clearlake Planning Commission decided to recommend a new medical marijuana ordinance to the city council and made some changes of its own.
The ordinance, which was unanimously approved 5-0, is an effort by the city to address what many consider rampant problems under the current legislation and to crack down on commercial grows.
“To me this is the most logical and best prepared ordinance presented to us,” Chair Carl Webb said. “We’ve been fighting this since 1996 — it’s been a long time.”
Webb’s praise was shared by the rest of the commission, but members also proposed some changes.
In the original draft prepared by the ad hoc committee, permits would be processed by the Clearlake Police Department. Instead, the commission proposed that those permits be determined by the city itself. According to City Manager Greg Folsom, those $150 permits may be handled by the finance department, but he was not certain.
Further alterations to the permit process included a requirement for a physician’s reference, following California law’s requirements for individual use grows.
State regulation also inspired the ordinance’s limit on plants at six per residence — a significant change to the current code that allows up to 48 plants depending on land size.
To Vice Chair Cheryl Hutchinson, the permit and limit suggestions were “perfect,” but some members of the public criticized to the proposed maximum and the prohibition of commercial grows.
“Basically, it feels like you are throwing a net over the entire city,” Clearlake resident Stephan Sam said. “Most of us have tried to comply with the state. With this ordinance, none of that is taken into consideration.”
The commission did discuss the possibility of commercial grows on larger properties on the outskirts of town, but came to the consensus that the issue should be determined at a later time.
“Stay with the six plants — we’ve got to get a handle on crime,” a resident said. “Maybe we can revisit commercial grows, but we have to get the city under control.
She and Sam were part of a large group of people that came to the hearing. Additional audience supported the ordinance, airing complaints of odor and public health/safety issues.
“How can you abate the stink of a skunk?” another resident asked. “You can abate at six plants and possibly control the smell.”
The ordinance will now move to the Clearlake City Council. It will discuss the matter in its 2016 meetings.
