Opinion: Solving the medical pot cultivation issue in S. Tahoe
Dear City Council members,
What can be done to solve the medical marijuana garden “crisis”? Do we threaten sick people with home invasions and huge fines, or do we place the responsibility where it legally belongs?
It is not the job of the City Council to serve as property managers. That is the legal responsibility of property owners and rental property managers. It is their responsibility to clearly spell out the terms of their lease, to screen their potential tenants and perform whatever inspections are required to maintain their property. Absentee owners should take responsibility and hire a local property manager. If tenants are in violation of their lease, then owners and managers have ample legal remedies ranging from eviction to civil and even criminal actions in court.
Steve Kubby
It is also not the job of the City Council to thwart state law and the will of the voters. If the council thinks their cultivation ordinance is so great, then stop threatening patients with fines, public exposure to burglars and make the entire program voluntary.
Medical marijuana patients have legal rights. They are your neighbors and friends. They are sick even though it may not be apparent to you. They are not the problem. In fact they could be your solution.
Most patients I know would be happy to pay an additional 20 percent in rent to have the permission and peace of mind that comes from renting from a “215 friendly” property owner. A voluntary “215 friendly” program that provides patients with city guidelines and permits to grow would be popular and help all involved.
Let freedom grow,
Steve Kubby, South Lake Tahoe
Maybe we should plant marijuana all around lake tahoes shoreline it will help with the clarity of the water im sure, it is the cure for everything else.
Robert that is a great idea. It is a little too early in the season to plant marijuana all around lake Tahoe’s shoreline just yet. We should wait another 30 days when we can be sure there won’t be anymore frost.
I’ll prep some clones how many do you think we will need to get around the whole lake? We will need some soil amendments as well, you seem full of crap so maybe you can help with that part?
“We will need some soil amendments as well, you seem full of crap so maybe you can help with that part?”
AWESOME.
Getting real tired of the marijuana rants from Mister Kubby. Glad he didn’t get on the Council–that seems to be all he considers. And, ys, it is the job of the Council to be property mangers. Do your really think that just a clause in a lease will stop a dedicated pot-head?
I say Council should be involved as well. Too many properties are being destroyed by improper cultivation techniques. By the way – is it legal to be preparing food without a license at the Dispensory on 3rd St.?
When did the Wellness Center become the Dope Store?
Sooo tired of hearing medical MJ users referred to as sick people when we all know 80% of ’em simply want to smoke dope. Sure they have a piece of paper from a doctor who recognized an opportunity to make big money handing bogus subscriptions to ANYONE willing to walk in the door for Some qualifying ailment that makes dope smoking legal for them, but come on, an apple is an apple.
With that said I agree that the law is is the law–state law–and the city should not be imposing any ordinances contrary to to this law. If property owners do not want pot grown inside of their rental units then they and/or their management company–not the city–must take control of the situation Prior to it’s inception, with leases clearly spelling out the consequences. Otherwise if they really want to make some money from their rental units advertise 215 tolerant, charge 35% more rent (I bet they’d get it from some one)and take the time to learn what proper, non damaging growing methods are, and make sure your prospective tenant is compliant with these methods.
The city has enough more important matters to deal with to worry about who’s growing dope.
It is not and never will be the responsibility of the city council to be property managers. That is a ridiculous statement. I have been dealing with property management for many years here in Tahoe. I have seen one house out of hundreds damaged from someone growing. The owner’s were out of town and once the tenants were late with rent they sought out help from my boss to get rid of them. This was an absent landowner who didn’t have a property manager here in town. Landowners need to be responsible for their property not our city council.
If you have had the chance to drive through Al Tahoe, Bijou or Sierra Tract recently? you would observe that property owners in SLT don’t take very good care of their properties in the first place.
Forget the pot issues. Rentals in SLT have dumpsters that are not secured and trash everywhere, dilapidated home fronts, no window screens. Our rentals look terrible, this is what our visitors see. Last year I rented for a few months and was little surprised I had to sign a no grow clause when I arrived at my place the water heater was leaking gas in the air, there was black mold in the wooden shower walls and the previous renters trash was still in the garage to name a few of the unsanitary living conditions. Who would grow pot in an unsanitary place like that?
To sum it up if City Council wants to be property managers they can start by cleaning up our neighborhoods and holding leasers accountable for the 3rd world crap holes they are peddling.
“Getting real tired of the marijuana rants from Mister Kubby.”
Good. Stop reading them.
If you are going after pot growers, you really should target tomato growers for the same reasons. Lots of people like to grow plants, and some of them have medicinal value.
Those who would make life difficult for med pot patients by challenging their bonafides, ought to extend the same principle to prescription drugs. The (unsupported) 80% estimate could be said by some to apply there as well.
I guess it is obvious that I am poking at hypocrisy and self-righteousness that I sense is behind a few of the attitudes expressed by other commenters here.
Think about it :)
No more rants by Kubby would be a good start.
To put the choice of growing your medicine in the hands of your land lord is like asking him for permission to take vicoden or percocet or any other prescription drug the only difference is the feds do’t acknowlege pot. but why would you go out of your way to cause trouble for some one unless your moral beliefs drive you to be a snitch. and your hypocrosy demands your attention to be a jerk to medical pot users. discrimination is a factor here
it takes an informant to turn you into the feds. Is it worth the damage the cops will do to the place when they come destroying your doors and burning holes in the carpets with their tear gas and explosive devices. Not to mention the lives of the tenants will be put at risk with the gun toting John wayne shoot first attitudes of Federal agents. How will you feel when a child gets killed for your moral attitude concerning pot.
the people have voted yes but there seems to be this loyalist movement for the feds the people have said yes the majority of people say yes to leagalised medical pot but you people with this moral issue what happened to the rule what you do in your home is your business every one makes it a habit to get involved in every one elses affairs. stop and let those who are following the rules as set forth by the state we live in alone we do not need your permission to self medicate.
we the people of the state of Washington have voted that the medical use of marijuana is allowed and also have given allowance to cultivation for medicine to be obtained. then the ” FEDS, who cares what the feds want when did we give up our rights and the feds tell us we can not do what the state says we can do do we have rights as citizens or not. I say stop the crap with this issue change the definiton in the federal appointment and schedualing of pot end this war on pot users how would you feel if you were given a prescription for vicoden but your landlord deemed it some how dangerous to other tenants and will evict you because your behavour was altered by the use of the drug .
I also understand the fears and the legal issues that come from this. some “medical users are no more than legal pot dealers. but the dude who has a few plants in his closet is not that guy.
listen to this and tell me weather you agree any legal pot user who in turn causes a fire will be held liable for the damage caused or should be required to have insurance for their grow weather it be in an apt or house rented. any suspected drug activity not authorized by the state laws shall be grounds for eviction. and referral to local police for investigation into the matter. failure to show insurance for a medical grow upon request would result in a fine of $125.00 your insurance card must be posted in your grow room. An inspection of your grow room would be required by a certified electrician who would certify by documentation the soundness of the equipment and set up of the room.
By putting these ideas into law it would eliminate some of the fears about back room growers. If we allow Land lords to tell us what we can and can not have in our homes soon your privacy is gone and then your guns won’t be allowed beer making won’t be allowed you will have to give your land lord a list of medications your family uses
and so forth
Are you loyal to the states laws or are you a federalist. we are put into this position by the lack of action to change the policy concerning marijuana. Why won’t the government let go of this drug and give in why. M O N E Y PROPERTY SEIZURES LAND FORFIETURES THE MONEY THEY WOULD LOSE BY NOT BEING ABLE TO TAKE YOUR HOMES YOUR CARS YOU KIDS YOUR LIFE. THIS GOVERNMENT IS AGAINST US NOT FOR US YOU CAN WORK IN AMERICA BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE PERMISSION TO DO IT. YOU HAVE TO PAY TAXES AND INSURANCE AND FEES TO WORK YOUR NOT FREE TO DO IT WITH OUT PERMITS. MY POINT IS THEY CAN NOT KEEP CONTROL OF THE MONEY IT WOULD GENERATE.
THE POLICE WHO SEIZE MARIJUANA COULD INSPECT THE POT FOR QUALITY AND THEN DESPENCE IT TO MEDICAL CARD HOLDERS THROUGH A NEW OFICE OF POLICE AFFAIRS
ONLY MEDICAL GRADE MARIJUANA SEIZED FROM ELEGAL GROWERS
blah, blah blah, so tired of hearing the medical marijuana doctrine.