Amador County – Amador County Supervisors discussed an influx of marijuana growing in the county, and moved toward a temporary ban while working on a localized ordinance.

Supervisors heard from Robert Snyder who last year had a small growing operation start 300 feet from his home. It didn’t bother him, but this year, a larger operation with 96 plants went in “about 220 feet from my house.” It had no setback, no security, and was a 19-person growing collective.

Snyder said in May, they brought in plant starts and “almost immediately the smell started,” leaving his home with a non-stop, 24-7, stench – a combination of hot tar roofing and dead skunk. He and his wife have suffered coughs and headaches.

Without state regulation, localities are left to regulate, and lack of law attracts the operations to the county, Snyder said. Supervisor Brian Oneto went to the property and said Snyder was not exaggerating.

Amador County Undersheriff Jim Wegner said the 19 members and 96 plants were well within their limits and with medical recommendations, a case would be dismissed. Wegner was currently aware of six cooperatives in Amador County. “We have properties that have been leased specifically for medical marijuana cultivations.”

He recommended looking at all ordinances, and including interested parties, local citizens and law enforcement in the ad hoc committee. He cautioned against limiting specific numbers of plants per acre, saying it might be better to regulate canopy size. He said the Supreme Court threw out limits by number because the Compassionate Use Act was voter-approved.

Wegner said Sacramento has had a number of shootings, one before, one after our shooting in Carbondale. He said the shooters actually went to the wrong house before they went to the grow site where the shooting occurred. ¶ County Counsel Greg Gillott said “you still have your land-use authority, and many cities and counties are regulating in this area.” Long Beach went too far with use permits, he said, limiting 100 plants. A court felt the “city was getting into business with pot growers,” including annual fees of several thousand dollars.

Wegner said federal Drug Enforcement Agency is now looking into medical marijuana grows, and this year the Amador County Sheriff’s Office has not found any large-scale commercial pot growing operations on public lands, the first time in a long time. Wegner said feds believe cartels have shifted to medical growing operations.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.