Rules put in place to grow medicinal marijuana in S. Tahoe

By Kathryn Reed

The South Lake Tahoe City Council barely discussed the cultivation of medicinal marijuana at its meeting May 2.

Changes made from input given at the April meeting were incorporated into the policy the council is expected to approve at its May 17 meeting. The first reading of the ordinance was Tuesday.

Changes from last month include separating out the penalty structure for those who are found be violating the ordinance who have a permit and for those who don’t. Infractions will be harsher for those in the second category.

Only one person spoke during the public hearing.

Jerida Vochatzer said, “I don’t know where to start. I’m outraged. Druggies don’t follow rules.”

To which Mayor Hal Cole said, “I agree this ordinance doesn’t address smoking marijuana.”

Vochatzer responded, “Why are we allowing them to smoke pot?”

The ordinance the city has crafted has to do with allowing people to grow pot for medical reasons under the auspices of Proposition 215.

Councilman Tom Davis was still miffed the names of people with permits to grow the weed will not be public information unless they are found in violation of the ordinance.

Councilwoman Claire Fortier explained to him health laws are murky in terms of privacy issues, plus it’s a safety issue in not wanting people to break into a residence with a legal pot grow.

In other South Tahoe pot news, at the second meeting in June a draft ordinance regulating dispensaries is slated to be discussed. City Attorney Patrick Enright expects to have the document out in circulation in the next 10 days.