Supervisors want restrictive marijuana ordinance

By Todd R. Hansen

FAIRFIELD — The Board of Supervisors directed its staff Tuesday to bring back a menu of options that will tightly regulate personal marijuana cultivation in Solano County.

That starts with no outdoor gardens, and then enters the homes with restrictions that range from odor control, to child-protection measures, to landlord notification to whatever else the staff can think of before Dec. 6 when it all comes back for a vote.

“I think it is going to open a can of worms with Proposition 64 . . . (when) you are talking about unintended consequences,” said Supervisor Skip Thomson, who repeated his opposition to recreational marijuana use.

In fact, all five supervisors made it clear that they oppose the ballot measure, but the reality is the Adult Use of Marijuana Act has been favored by 60 percent or more in virtually all statewide polls.

With passage comes the right for any resident over the age of 21 to grow six plants for personal use. So the primary issue facing the board is what kind of regulations and restrictions does it want in terms of personal cultivation.

“We don’t know if Prop. 64 will pass, but it is polling like it is going to pass,” said Deputy County Counsel Davina Smith, who has been working on the varied marijuana issues. “It is up to you to go to light regulation or heavy regulation.”

Supervisors, with Sheriff’s Office support, do not want any outdoor cultivation. They strongly believe it will create more negative impacts on neighbors and increase criminal activities.

The board wants a litany of other regulations attached, along with an enforcement ordinance that will spell out fines and abatement by those who violate the rules.

Enforcement, most everyone agreed, however, will be more difficult with indoor cultivation.

The board is also expected to continue its prohibition of any commercial operations – for recreational or medical marijuana – in the unincorporated area, with a 12-month extension that will allow the staff to further explore the possibility of allowing such businesses in the future.

The board on Aug. 2 voted to put its own measure on the Nov. 8 ballot that will allow it to impose a business license tax of up to 15 percent on all commercial operations.

Supervisor Jim Spering said the board also has an obligation to protect agricultural interests, and most specifically the water supply.

Statewide licensing and other regulations for medical marijuana are due by Jan. 1. The statewide framework for recreational use, if Proposition 64 passes, has a Jan. 1, 2018, deadline.

In order for anyone to get a state license, he or she must first get a local license.