Voters halt medi-pot law

Last month, Citizens for Compassionate Use, a group formed in opposition to Butte County’s medical-marijuana-cultivation ordinance, filed a petition against the law that called for it either to be repealed or put to a popular vote. They’d gathered 12,306 signatures—7,605 were needed—and last week Candace Grubbs, Butte County clerk-recorder/registrar of voters, validated the petition.

Citizens for Compassionate Use, working with local attorney Robert W. MacKenzie, has submitted its own version of a cultivation ordinance to the county. MacKenzie outlines the differences, and chief among them are two items: That up to six plants be allowed on lots smaller than .5 acres (not allowed in the county ordinance), but only indoors; and that each year the county collect a statement of lawful intent for each cultivation premises—rather than collecting each qualified patient’s recommendation.

The Board of Supervisors, which approved the ordinance in May, is expected to discuss the referendum at its next meeting Tuesday, Aug. 9.