Endless hours spent on S. Tahoe pot law without resolution
By Kathryn Reed
Many of the rules to control the cultivation of medical marijuana in South Lake Tahoe are already on the books, but it would be hard to know that based on the number of hours staff, council and the public has to endure when it comes to discussing the topic.
Once again, it was an agenda item for the City Council. Once again, they delayed passing the ordinance.
On April 19 the five electeds gave staff direction to come up with another version that may be voted on at the May 3 meeting.
California’s landlord-tenant rights handbook will take care of a number of concerns. City building codes dictate much of what can be grown where, along with the fire codes. Health laws also are already in place. Then there’s the Fourth Amendment about search and seizure. Law enforcement should be able to handle the rest. Plus, Proposition 215 – state law – has a say in what the city can do.
All the city needs to decide is how much growing area to allow (probably will be 10 percent of the square foot of the dwelling), the fine structure (most likely starting at $1,000) and if the name of people with a cultivation permit will be public information (could be secret unless a violation occurs).
Once the council figures out an ordinance, then the nearly 600 residences out of compliance can be brought into compliance. This could be a moneymaker for the city because the suggested fee for a permit is $300, plus an annual inspection by the fire marshal of more than $200.
One reason the city needs to allow cultivation to occur is Proposition 215 does not allow the transportation of medical marijuana. So, the three collectives must get their supply locally.
Why does the city need to get involved with this at all? It seems to me that there are plenty of laws that aren’e enforced that involve much more serious problems. The city is bogged down with a number of issues and this is what they spend their time on? Let the free market decide on what works and what doesn’t and if there is a criminal concern, collect evidence, charge the perpetrators with the crime and proceed to court. Let landlords control their property through lease agreements. Is all this discussion really because the city just wants it’s share of tax revenue?
More than anything else, the five electeds appear to like hearing themselves talk. When will all this talk lead to action? Not any time soon I’m guessing. If they act, what will they have to talk about?!
Does this only apply for sale of medical pot or also for allowed personel use?
“Once the council figures out an ordinance, then the nearly 600 residences out of compliance can be brought into compliance. This could be a moneymaker for the city because the suggested fee for a permit is $300, plus an annual inspection by the fire marshal of more than $200.”
That’s why this is being talked about in city council meetings. $$$$$$$$$$$$
Someone in the City should contact San Jose City fathers to inquire about their new ordinance limiting the locations of sales of POT to 10 which will primarily be housed in an industrial park. San Jose presently has 100 locations on the books. The police dept is backing the city on this issue.
South Lake Tahoe might learn something.
Somebody should contact the city of Phoenix. They don’t allow residential growing at all unless you live 20 or more miles away from a dispensary.
The three collectives can get their supply locally by growing it themselves in a commercial zoned area. Residential housing is not meant to be used for supplying collectives.