cannabisnews.com: Measure To Curb MJ Growing in Mendocino Approved Measure To Curb MJ Growing in Mendocino Approved Posted by CN Staff on June 04, 2008 at 04:15:50 PT By The Associated Press Source: Associated Press Ukiah, Calif. -- A measure approved by Mendocino County voters to scale back one of the country's loosest marijuana laws isn't likely to end pot growing beneath the redwoods any time soon. But backers of Measure B, which had 55 percent of the vote with nearly all ballots tallied early Wednesday, said discouraging personal use of the drug was never their intent. "It's not the goal to arrest people," said Ross H. Liberty, a spokesman for the Yes on B Coalition. "It's the goal to get compliance with the law." Eight years ago, voters approved a measure that let county residents grow up to 25 marijuana plants for medical or recreational use, far higher than the state standard of six. Measure B repeals the 2000 measure and returns the limit to six plants. Momentum for the newly approved measure came from residents fed up with growers pouring in from outside the county to set up criminal operations in what they considered the "marijuana capital of the country," Liberty said. Supporters say passing Measure B lets illicit growers in particular know they're not welcome. A spokeswoman for No on B did not immediately return calls seeking comment after the results of the vote were in, though opponents have said during the campaign that they also want to evict the criminals. They argue that Measure B will do little to curb crime but will punish people who need the drug for medical reasons. The issue offers a glimpse into the murky world of medical marijuana in California, which is legal under state law but banned by the federal government. Using marijuana for medical purposes has been legal in California since 1996, when voters passed Proposition 215. State lawmakers subsequently allowed counties to issue ID cards to protect medical users from being prosecuted by local authorities. Each cardholder is allowed to have up to a half pound of dried marijuana or six mature marijuana plants, although local governments can set laws exceeding the state's limits. Meanwhile, federal authorities, who never recognized Proposition 215 and deny that marijuana has medicinal properties, have won a number of legal showdowns over the measure.Complete Title: Measure To Curb Marijuana Growing in Mendocino ApprovedSource: Associated Press (Wire)Published: June 4, 2008Copyright: 2008 The Associated PressRelated Articles:California County May Scrap Pro-Pot Law http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23977.shtmlPot is Burning Issue on Mendocino Ballothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23971.shtmlBacklash Against Pot Growing in Mendocinohttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23969.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by FoM on June 04, 2008 at 04:24:14 PT SFC: Mendocino Voters Repeal Lenient Pot Policy Kevin Fagan, Chronicle Staff WriterWednesday, June 4, 2008CA -- Mendocino County relinquished its crown as the nation's epicenter of pot leniency Tuesday, with voters decisively approving a hotly contested measure to limit residents to six plants apiece under the state's medicinal pot law.With 85.5 percent of precincts reporting, Measure B had already locked up an unbeatable 55.5 percent of the vote. The measure - which repealed an initiative approved by county voters eight years ago allowing residents to grow as many as 25 pot plants for personal use - needed majority approval to pass.Snipped:Complete Article: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/04/BAU8110DOQ.DTL [ Post Comment ] Post Comment