The City Council on Tuesday, June 5, voted 5-0 to update its municipal code to make growing pot an unacceptable use of property, even if the holder has a medical marijuana card, according to Assistant City Attorney Bill Sartor.
“A medical marijuana card would provide no defense” when it comes to code enforcement, he said.
Under the amended statute, city code enforcement may issue abatement notices to anyone found growing medical marijuana.
If people follow through with the abatement appeal process, said code enforcement head Ana Contreras, the process could take quite some time. Contreras did not give a direct answer, however, about how long the timeframe might be in that circumstance.
Police Chief Gary Hampton favored the vote, which followed a Nov. 15 council discussion about the disruptive force growers can be in their neighborhoods. At that meeting, Hampton told the council it was his experience that even state-legal grow operations attract crime — especially other people trying to steal the cultivated pot.
It remains illegal to grow marijuana for any purpose under federal law.
Sartor added the state Legislature has recently considered and failed to pass a bill that would prevent California cities from outlawing the cultivation of medical marijuana.
Sign accepted
The council also unanimously approved a change to the municipal code so the city can accept a sign from several Tracy service clubs.
The sign — paid for by the Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis and Soroptimist clubs in town — would welcome motorists driving east on 11th Street near Tracy’s western entrance. Senior planner Victoria Lombardo said an exact location hasn’t yet been determined.
Lombardo added that the language approved by the council would allow similar signs to be posted at other entrances to the city, in case other service organizations also wish to display their shingles.
but until you have hundreds of pot plants growing in your neighborhood and worry about the crime it may bring...don't allude that I'm the reason Tracy is getting messed up. I'm living what the council voted to stop...and I for one am thankful!
I don't often agree with the mayor and council members, but this time...they hit a homerun!!!
Go on not worrying about what others do, but don't complain when someone does something that affects your life...because you just stated that you don't care about that. I care about everyone...and I pay attention to what they do. That way, I don't get hit by a car crossing the street, because I pay attention to what the other folks are doing. You aren't the ONLY person on the planet...or the only family. We all have to co-exist here.
Maybe the problem is actually that nobody cares about anyone else. If they did...the world would be a lot better place.
Yes...humans are greedy...this is a fact...and something that cannot be changed unless you kill all of the humans...which is not a viable option.
There are restrictions on land use because some people are too stupid or possibly greedy to understand that there are inappropriate places to have certain uses. For instance...a farm in the middle of town...or a nuclear reactor in the middle of the downtown area. Neither is beneficial to the surrounding area...and that is why we ELECT officials to help set guidelines. Granted, often the elected officials are as stupid/greedy as those we're trying to protect against. :-(
As to the loud music...um...yes, as a citizen I have a right to live my life...and if you want to blast your music at concert level...that disturbs MY right to live my life as I wish. Therefore, there are sound ordinances (that should be upheld better...bass cars, I'm looking at you!) to protect us all.
-cont-
Water is provided by the city if you live in town. If yours tastes like poo...call the city and let them know. They can run tests and make sure your water system is ok. I have city water and it does NOT taste like poo...in fact, Tracy water is some of the better city water I've had.
If you think that growing your own medications because you can't afford to join a club or you don't want to pay their prices...um...ok...so I don't want to pay the prices at the gas pump. I'm going to explore for oil in my backyard (which let's just pretend is next to yours). Because of this, your water now tastes like oil instead of poo...and there are people constantly jumping my fence to steal my oil. Oh, and they come through your yard and maybe see that you have a nice TV and break in and steal it.
That's the issue with the grow houses. Not one comment has been against the person growing a few plants for personal use...and we all support legalization. But currently, it IS illegal to have pot...and therefore it's a criminal feast. I live near a nice big growhouse and people are always eyeballing it, jumping the fence and stealing things...you name it. Not good for everyone else.
Laws don't make the state corrupt...corporations and the uber-rich pumping money into the campaigns of corrupt politicians make the state corrupt. Until we stop that...yes, the rich will get richer and us poor we'll just keep sinking.
You are attacking the wrong people here. I'm pretty sure even the TPD would favor legalization...it would make their jobs easier!
If you take the illegal aspect out of pot, then the crime will also abate. So a couple of plants...no issue for me. But a crop? No. Just the same as if I were to plow up my yard and put in an orchard...people would probably get upset that I wasn't zoned properly.
I just want to know when I can expect the pretty large house near me to get their notices...I know the PD knows about them!
It is when the grow for profit young gang type people showing off their cash crop to their criminal friends that cause problems.
Once again, the law abiding public loses rights to "prevent" what the criminal population does anyway.
Just like banning guns only takes them from the ones who obey the laws.