Siskiyou County, California, Medical Marijuana Cultivation Ordinance Referendum, Measure U (June 2016)
| Measure U: Siskiyou County Medical Marijuana Cultivation Ordinance Referendum |
|---|
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| The basics |
| Election date: |
| June 7, 2016 |
| Status: |
 Approved
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| Topic: |
| Local marijuana |
| Related articles |
| Local marijuana on the ballot June 7, 2016 ballot measures in California Siskiyou County, California ballot measures |
| See also |
| Siskiyou County, California |
A medical marijuana cultivation regulation measure was on the ballot for Siskiyou County voters in Siskiyou County, California, on June 7, 2016. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of enacting more strict limitations on marijuana cultivation, including stricter plant limits, a ban on outdoor cultivation, lighting limits, and prohibitions against the use of generators. |
| A no vote was a vote against enacting more strict limitations on marijuana cultivation, leaving the existing restrictions in place. |
Election results
| Siskiyou County, Measure U | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 9,572 | 58.89% | ||
| No | 6,682 | 41.11% | ||
- Election results from Siskiyou County Elections Office
Overview
What were measures T and U?
Measures T and U were both referendums designed to prevent the enactment of further restrictions on marijuana cultivation. The measures targeted county ordinances designed to further restrict marijuana cultivation and allow easier enforcement of county laws governing and regulating marijuana cultivation. They were both put on the ballot through signature petition campaigns sponsored by the same group of marijuana cultivation advocates and were designed to give voters a chance to overturn the county ordinances by rejecting them at the ballot. Thus, the sponsors of the referendum petition campaigns that put Measures T and U on the ballot are advocating for a "no" vote. Measures T and U generally have the same supporters and opponents and have the same issue at stake. "Yes" votes on Measures T and U were votes in favor of harsher restrictions on marijuana cultivation designed to cut down on the number of growing operations. "No" votes on Measures T and U were votes against harsher restrictions and in favor of allowing the same amount or increased marijuana growing activity.
The November 2016 initiative
The pro-marijuana cultivation petitioners behind Measures T and U also launched an initiative petition campaign to put their own set of less restrictive marijuana cultivation regulations on the ballot before county voters in November 2016. These sponsors, who advocate for "no" votes on Measures T and U, called this initiative a "plan B" in case Measures T and U don't work.[1]
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[2]
| “ |
Shall Ordinance 15-18 which establishes new procedures for code enforcement related to the cultivation of medical marijuana be adopted? [3] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Siskiyou County Counsel:
| “ |
This measure is a referendum on Siskiyou County Ordinance 15-19, an ordinance adopted by the Board of Supervisors in December 2015 that changed the County Medical Marijuana Cultivation Ordinance (MMCO). If approved by a majority of the voters, this ordinance will go into effect and change the restrictions on growing marijuana, as described below. Existing law allows cultivation of marijuana with plant limits based on parcel size, ranging from 12 immature or 6 mature plants on parcels less than one acre in size up to 36 immature or 24 mature plants on parcels 20 acres or larger. This measure would establish a limit of 12 plants (mature or immature) per parcel, regardless of parcel size. Existing County law generally does not address the location of marijuana cultivation. This measure prohibits marijuana cultivation outdoors or in a structure used or intended for human habitation. This measure permits marijuana cultivation only in a greenhouse or a detached residential accessory structure. Existing law allows a generator to be used in the cultivation of marijuana, subject to setbacks from property lines and noise limitation. This measure prohibits the use of generators to cultivate marijuana, except for temporary use in the event of emergency power loss. Existing law does not address lighting used for marijuana cultivation. This measure limits lighting to 2,000 watts; requires shielding and window coverings to confine light and glare inside a structure; and prohibits grow lights within greenhouses. Existing law does not address odor control when cultivating marijuana. This measure requires a facility used for marijuana cultivation to be equipped with order control filtration and a ventilation system adequate to prevent odor, humidity, or mold problems on the premises or on adjacent parcels. Existing law requires structures used for marijuana cultivation to be secure against unauthorized entry and to have locking doors. This measure adds a requirement for an audible residential alarm. Existing law does not regulate marijuana cultivation based on neighboring land uses. This measure would prohibit marijuana cultivation within one thousand feet of a school, public park, public library, church, or youth-oriented facility, as such facilities are defined in the ordinance. Existing law requires anyone cultivating marijuana to have a legal source of water on the premises. This measure adds a specific prohibition against the unlawful or unpermitted drawing of surface water for marijuana cultivation or the illegal discharge of water from a premises. This measure prohibits the owner of a parcel from allowing the cultivation of marijuana in violation of the Siskiyou County Code. This measure prohibits anyone other than the sole owner(s) of a parcel from cultivating marijuana without the notorized written authorization of the owner. [3] |
” |
| —Siskiyou County Counsel[4] | ||
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Support
- Note: Those who supported the county ordinances in question and endorse a "yes" vote on Measures U and T are referred to as "supporters" in this article.
Supporters
The following individuals signed the official argument in favor of the measure:[5]
- Siskiyou County Supervisor Grace Bennett
- Siskiyou County Supervisor Brandon A. Criss
- Siskiyou County Supervisor Ray A. Haupt
- Siskiyou County Supervisor Michael N. Kobseff
The Siskiyou County Republican Central Committee and the Siskiyou County Republican Women Federated also endorsed a "yes" vote on Measure T and Measure U.[6]
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[7]
| “ |
The Siskiyou County Code limits the amount of marijuana that may be grown on any parcel, from as few as six plants on smaller parcels to as many as 24 plants on 20 aces or more. Last December, the Board of Supervisors attempted to simplify these limits and provide a more effective means of ensuring compliance and protecting neighbors by limiting plant numbers to 12 plants per parcel and banning outdoor grows in Ordinance 15-19. The ordinance also requires that plants be grown in a greenhouse or accessory structure that is built to certain standards addressing security, odor control, fire safety, light pollution, and noise from generators used for marijuana production. Ordinance 15-19 also protects legal water users and the environment by prohibiting theft of surface water to grow marijuana and requiring connection to a proper wastewater disposal system on any parcel used for marijuana cultivation. Ordinance 15-19 is modeled after ordinances that have been implemented – and that have been effective – in other counties in Northern California. Other parts of the state have been dealing with the consequence of increasing marijuana grows for years and their new laws are pushing growers into Siskiyou County. It is time to eliminate the incentive to come to Siskiyou County to grow illegal marijuana. Vote “yes” on Measure U and support the permanent enactment of Ordinance 15-19.[3] |
” |
Opposition
- Note: Those who collected signatures to put Measures U and T on the ballot targeting the county ordinances in question and advocated for "no" votes on Measures U and T are referred to as "opponents" in this article.
Opponents
A Vote No on Measures T and U campaign was formed to collect signatures for the veto referendum petitions that landed Measure T and U on the ballot and to urge voters to vote "no."[8]
Arguments against
The Vote No on Measures T and U campaign facebook page featured the following arguments against the measures:[9]
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VOTING NO, HELPS PLATFORM STRUCTURE TO CREATE FUNDS FOR SCHOOLS THAT OUR LOCAL AREA IS IN MUCH NEED. VOTING NO, PROTECTS YOUR RIGHTS AS A MEDICAL PATIENT, voted in by California 1996 VOTING NO, PROTECTS YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, VOTING NO, TAKES BACK YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS VOTING NO, PROTECTS THE LEGAL COMPLIANT GROWER VOTING NO, WILL HELP ENFORCEMENT RID ILLEGAL GROWS ON PUBLIC LANDS, FOCUS ON ILLEGAL, NON-COMPLIANT GROWS, PROTECT TRUE MEDICAL PATIENTS[3] |
” |
Campaign ad
| VOTE NO ON MEASURES T AND U IN SISKIYOU COUNTY video |
Official arguments
No official arguments in opposition to Measures T and U were submitted for inclusion on the ballot.
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a successful referendum petition campaign.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Siskiyou County marijuana cultivation Measure U and T. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Opposition
Footnotes
- ↑ Facebook, "Vote No on Measure T and U," accessed May 26, 2016
- ↑ Siskiyou County, California, "Measure U Resolution," accessed May 24, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Siskiyou County, California, "Impartial Analysis: Measure U," accessed May 24, 2016
- ↑ Siskiyou County Elections Office, "Argument in favor of Measure U," accessed May 27, 2016
- ↑ Facebook, "Siskiyou County Republican Central Committee," accessed May 26, 2016
- ↑ Siskiyou County Elections Office, "Argument in favor of Measure U," accessed May 27, 2016
- ↑ Vote No on Measures T and U, "Home," accessed May 26, 2016
- ↑ Facebook, "Vote No on Measures T and U," accessed May 26, 2016
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