Sheriff @ County Republican BBQ (Photo credit: McGuiresPlace.net)
Hard-right blogger Rebane at same GOP BBQ (McGuiresPlace.net)
While Sheriff Keith Royal and some “electeds” play “Constitutional Sheriff” with the CABPRO, “Oath Keepers,” “Defend Rural America” and hard-right blogging contingent in our county, he and the board of supervisors are about to face a real “battle royal” with Americans for Safe Access, the nation’s largest medical marijuana activist group.
ASA is confident it has enough support to launch an initiative to overturn the county’s ordinance to regulate marijuana cultivation, according to its latest newsletter.
It’s laying the groundwork to replace the Sheriff’s ordinance (passed 4-1 by the supes last year) with one more akin to Yuba County’s (crafted with the help of its lawyer, Jeff Lake).
Among the supervisors, Terry Lamphier voted against the county measure. Though billed as a guest speaker at a recent CABPRO-”Oath Keepers” event, Royal said “We’re not going to be extremists” about a marijuana cultivation ordinance.
A cultivation initiative could wind up being the most polarizing initiative in our county in years. It also could provide fodder for our county’s “progressives” in other local political races that — if successful — could tilt the balance of political power in our county.
And on this issue, the normally conservative The Union could play an unwitting role in swaying public opinion toward the ASA view, not the Sheriff’s — in return for welcome ad revenue.
The ASA already ran “a very touching ad” in the newspaper with the message: “no cultivators, no medicine.” You can expect more of them too. Medical marijuana ads are a boon for local newspapers, as the N.Y. Times reports.
In the end, people “in the middle” will wind up being the “swing votes” with any such initiative, and you have to wonder if the Sheriff and the supes have the capital to win their support nowadays, thanks to the recent antics with hard-right extremists (that always can backfire).
Supervisor Ed Scofield recently invited a hard-right activist — Doyel Shamley — to speak for 2 1/2 hours about “forest management” (AKA, “defend rural America”). The hard-right vote is only good for about 30 percent of the vote in many county races (such as Nate Beason-Sue McGuire last June). President Obama only lost by a few hundred votes in our county, (though ASA thinks Obama “wimped out” on weed).
ASA is counting on broad-based support.
“In the meantime, we will continue unabated with our efforts to replace the Ordinance,” reads the Americans for Safe Access newsletter. “Feb 5 we are holding a training on how to conduct our telephone survey. We plan on reaching over 1,000 registered voters in Nevada Co to get their opinions on a wide range of cultivation related issues. We will use this information to judge whether we have enough support to launch an initiative. I think we do.”
“The people in Butte County fought back against their Ordinance and got their BOS to overturn their own Ordinance once enough signatures were collected to force a special election. It would cost Nevada County approximately $250,000. to hold a special election so that’s a pretty big carrot. The point is, if you don’t fight back, there is no way you can win.”
As for The Union’s role, the newsletter added: “February 11 – 17th is National Medical Marijuana Week and we have got some great events planned to remind people that patients are suffering out there because of the Cultivation Ordinance. We are running a very touching ad in the Union from Feb 11 – 16 to raise public awareness. ASA recognizes that a patient’s first line of defense starts with cultivators. It’s simple: No cultivators, no medicine.”
In addition, ASA has opened a chapter in Truckee, a progressive stronghold. The first meeting is scheduled for noon March 9 and will continue to take place the second Saturday of the month in the Truckee-Donner Community Recreation Center Conference Room.
ASA is the largest national member-based organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens who support cannabis for therapeutic use and scientific research. The organization works on the local, state and federal levels to promote laws that protect patients’ rights.
ASA membership provides access to resources designed for budding activists, including the Training Center, Think Tank & Policy Shop, Federal Advocacy Project and the Patients’ Right Project. ASA-NC hosts numerous educational events, including recent medical discoveries, legal rights seminars, responsible growing techniques and Good Neighbor policies.
The group occasionally hosts fun events like movies, music festivals and community barbecues.
Filed under: Uncategorized
I don’t see an innitiative passing. Too many growers are growing far in excess of what they’re supposed to and too many med cards are getting into the hands of recreational patients. Marijuana cultivation remains primarily in the hands of a criminal element. Most neighborhoods don’t want it in their neighborhood as long as it invites other criminal activity. With that said I don’t have anything against true patients choosing marijuana as their medicine from doctors that know how to prescribe it. I do have a problem with large (or small) groups medicating themselves at music festivals and public places. My choice at a restaurant is to pair my meal with wine or a good brew not the odor emanating from a table nearby from ‘medication’.
I have to love Mr. Rebane’s fashion sense of knee-highs and shorts. Excellent commentary Jeff. I would rather someone out and about with mmj than with alcohol or hard drugs including pharmaceuticals.
Annie, I think those are pressure stockings, used to treat edema.
So, maybe we ought not to make fun of the style sense of our elders.
Our turn’s coming, right?
But yeah, they could make them with at least a hint of color.
In that case he may want to try some mmj salve – or we
Jon,
When you look at the lies that were given by our Sheriff, as well as the simple fact that the Poll in the Union on this (passed 85% to 15% no) I do believe that you’re wrong.
When our Sheriff lies to the whole community (and does a rather poor job at it) about the thousands of calls he said his office got, then when the Freedom of Info requests come in and he says “we didn’t write them down” (LOL!!!), but then in following years he produces 157 complaints something is very wrong here.
Your comments about being medicated by the smell, and you being in the farming community and knowing that this is not accurate at all greatly concerns me, especially when this is a loss of your property rights, as well as it allows for the Sheriff’s department to come into your residence without the need for a warrant,
Are you OK with the fact that your county officials can lie to you to get something the want?
If this does become recreational (hey I’ve never smoked it, so I wouldn’t know) like it is in Colorado / Washington then what’s the problem?
I’d rather have it regulated and taxed then try to stop this stupidity called prohibition which has never worked in the first place.
Marijuana needs to be removed from the war on drugs. The only reason it was added is because it’s easiest to target. It’s not a gateway drug, it doesn’t make people go crazy or cause health problems like meth and other drugs do.
For generations, marijuana was grown in the garden with the tomatoes.
I live in a neighborhood where there are 8 growers. They all claim to be permitted, one to supply a medical marijuana clinic and grows 40+ plants on 2/3 acre with 2 buildings on it. Some property owners and renters have more than 1 permit so they grow 12. The concentrated smell of budding from August through harvest in October is unpleasant. Everyone is freaked out about criminals coming to rip off the plants.
If Marijuana was legalized and de-criminalized there would be no incentive to grow for medical purposes or for clinics.
I don’t see how any ordinance can be enforced without added law enforcement, investment in helicopter surveliance, etc. This is what I believe conservatives want. They want the growing and the enforcement because they’ll make money at both ends
It’s time to push for legilization and de-criminilization and let those who want to use marijuana grow it with their tomatoes. Law enforcement shuld be concentrating on meth production.
“MJ doesn’t cause health problems like meth and other drugs do”.
Wanda did you know the lung cancer rate amoung regular MJ users is quaduple that of cigarette users? (one reason medical MJ isn’t backed by the AMA) to solve a problem while creating another.
I agree with Jon. Too much of the Criminal Element is involved with these so called “Medical” marijuana growing operations. If the government decides to legalize MJ then fine lets tax the crap out of it just like cigarettes. Also count on Phillip Morris pulling up tobacco crops and replacing it with MJ putting these local growers out of business anyway.
Brad…I never said anything about being medicated by the smell, I said I’d rather pair my meal with wine or brew, not the marijuana odor emanating from a nearby table. Pairing for me is enjoyment, not medicating and the last I checked, legal, both on a state and federal level. I don’t remember mentioning the Sheriff, either. As for the Union, you give their polls credence?
Jon, I give their polls credence when you compare it to national,and state trends that match the Union’s, and if you consider that 85% of local poll voters disapproved of this ordinance, as it seems to be an outright ban.
Have you read it? Both of us have a background in agronomy and how can you follow it truly unique restrictions, as it’s not possible.
How many times has anyone else been eating dinner and had someone smoking pot next to them? I go out 3-4 times a week and it’s never happened to me in the 13 years I have lived here full-time, and the 25 years I have lived here on and off.
Here are some of the silly provisions of the current rules:
How can the county expect for people to grow on a flat “plane” in our hilly county?
How can they expect for someone to grow inside with both of their plants under the same lighting that will either not let the plants flower, or will not allow for them to grow – it doesn’t work!
I have a real issue as the “facts” that our Sheriff presented was a fabrication – from the 20′ tall pot plants, to number of calls his office was getting.
I disapprove of this whole issue based upon several factors and one of them is that I don’t want the county telling me what I can do on my property, especially when it’s legal according to state law – do you?
I also don’t like the fact that this ordinance was passed on a number of fabrications from the President of the California Sheriff Association, as I feel that we should expect “more” from this type of official, or do you think that it’s OK?
I don’t like the fact that the county receives more complaints about barking dogs and high school kids having loud parties than they do about the pot issues in this county, but they will waste millions of our dollars now trying to support this fabrication of the truth.
I want this issue mediated by the BOS, or voted upon by the county voters, but I am disappointed that the Sheriff has (according to the latest Union articles) refused to do.
Let the voters decide this issue as this again will only cost our county $250,000, plus the other million spent by our county so far…. (more stupidity thrown down the drain that could have been spent on something “useless” like after school programs, or enforcing the meth laws!).
http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Legal-pot-favored-in-new-California-poll-4312545.php
54% to 43% it seems the majority of Californians want legalization for recreational use. If we (Californians) voted to legalize, what would become of our current “emergency ordinance”? Tracking cost to the Sheriff (and consequently us) over any new ordinance that calls for additional enforcement, would be an interesting graph. Because at some point the Sheriff should be asked how much additional time and money went into his budget because of this “new” set of guidelines. I don’t recall the BOS saying that they would “earmark” extra money for this, so perhaps they will divert funds from somewhere else, so they can put more “enforcement” officers in the field. Maybe I’m not seeing the relative idea that when the politicians make new stuff up, someone (the police) has to go out and back them up- That always has a price.
The Union has long used the street word “Pot”, in their headlines and stories. Under the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungus and plants, the correct designation is Cannabis. Sativa, Indica and Ruderalis are the main varieties. Using street language in newspaper articles indicates a bias inconsistent with quality journalism, not to mention fair and balanced. reporting. Besides that, it just sounds adolescent.
My great-grandmother was a healer. She was Hamawi Pit-River and Modoc. When she was a child, owing to a near death experience that drew her into a life of healing, she trained with elder healers who passed on their knowledge to her. By the standards of her culture and time she was a “Doctor”. She had extensive knowledge of medicinal plants and their uses and was a trusted and well-respected practitioner in her community. Cannabis was a valued part of her pharmacopeia and she knew many ways to use it to help her patients.
Washington and Colorado are now getting set to make a lot of money, reduce jail loads and restructure society’s thinking on this valuable medicinal plant.
What I see is that we have many facilities in the area standing empty and people out of work. Those facilities could be used to do the research and development that would un-tap the vast potentials of this medicine. In other words, we could prosper from pioneering this industry in our own financially strapped county. We could also set standards currently not in place under the dispensary system, which failed because it was not regulated and failed to meet AMA standards. We could make that happen here and get rich.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabinoid
Would our lawmakers approve of Cannabis as a medicine if there were a way to separate the euphoric properties from those which simply relieve pain? Well, there is. Only here in Nevada County we probably won’t be blazing that trail to prosperity. Washington and Colorado will.
Is there a health value to the recreational aspect of Cannabis similar to that of taking a glass of red wine with your dinner? There most certainly is, the key, as with anything, is in avoiding excess.
As for smoking, that is not the only effective delivery system there is for Cannabis. It can be made into tintures, vapors, teas, candy, oral sprays, capsules, suppositories (especially useful for end-of-life palliative care), topical ointments and liniments, and the list goes on.
It will be interesting to see how the new relaxed Cannabis policies will affect the economies of Washington and Colorado. If things go as well as they expect, California and Nevada County may have a change of heart (and votes) and follow those states. Pioneers we are not. It take vision and guts to get big things done and here in our Golden State we seem content to let others take those risks.
I would hope, for the dignity of the patients who suffer, and their families who suffer with them, that our news sources up their game and begin to use proper language. After all, we don’t refer to Viagra or Ciallis as “Boner Pills for Limp Noodles”, do we? No, of course we don’t, it wouldn’t be respectful.
Thank you Judith…So interesting. We’ve known so many that have used alternative, simple methods to heal people who couldn’t get help from standard medical practices. I get a kick out of the terrible side affects from so many “acceptible” medications. The same goes for mj, alcohol etc., etc. What may help one person can be an addiction to another. The addicted abusers are the ones causing the bad reputation. The Sheriff is merely fulfilling his position under the law…and, from the trend…it looks like local law enforcement’s got plenty to do with all the thefts and abuses by those with addictions. very
Bonnie,
We have one ferocious foe that needs all hands and resources to quell.
It’s way too Methy around theses parts. And medicated or recreating, cannabis users are more likely to overeat or fall asleep than go out and use a hammer on an elder in his doorway.
It is past time for our law enforcement officials to make Meth our Enemy Number One. It’s ripping communities apart all across the country.
Yeah, I am with Brad (and others) on this one. Focusing on legal pot cultivation as a law enforcement priority just seems stupid and ideologically driven to me. And creating local land use policies that intentionally makes it more difficult to legally cultivate marijuana for personal use, thus criminalizing an entire segment of the population who choose to grow, seems like a waste of time.
It is just another example of our Sheriff saying, “Hey I will hyper-enforce the laws I like and not enforce the ones I don’t”.
I am concerned that our elected Sheriff lied about the statistics in order to support the marijuana ordinance at the county level. Sheriff Royal talks about defending property rights to CABPRO, about defending second amendment rights to The Oathkeepers, takes an oath to defend his own personal interpretation of the Constitution to the ‘Constitutional Sheriffs’, and does so while being the President of the California State Sheriffs Association. It is unconscionable to me that we have an elected official who would fabricate evidence in order to pass an ordinance, and one who does so from such a position of authority in his professions state association.
I’m going to go to some of the meetings about repealing the marijuana ordinance, just to see what’s up. I’m not sure the data would show such a repeal could pass here.
However the big job that needs to be done is that we need an experienced law enforcement hand to step up and challenge Mr. Royal at the next election; one who is committed to local law enforcement and focusing on local issues, instead of one who seems bent on becoming the darling of the right wing, tin foil hat wearing, conspiracy theory propagating, nullification minded, red shirt wearing, crypto-fascists in our midst.
Kudos Steve, well put!
Apparently it is common for “growers” to offer landlords an extra $500 for allowing a “garden”. As a landlord I didn’t feel right about accepting this payment because I felt marijuana growing was none of my business. Now I think it is my business because of the many problems I have had to face because of the excessive use of this powerful psychoactive drug. People can completely lose touch with reality. Several houses were trashed and two potentially disastrous fires were lit and through the magic of their magical marijuana mind they take no responsibility. Marijuana certainly has potentially good medicinal values but it is not a benign drug.
The first step for us as a society is to at least admit that excessive marijuana use has become a huge mental health problem. I sympathize with Keith Royal and what he faces every day seeing the dark side of this drug.There must be a better way to deal with it than by arbitrarily tightening growing restrictions.
This is a good conversation. I agree with most of what has been put forth. I am for legalization of cannabis, marijuana, pot, or whatever one wants to call it. I agree, the sheriff has gone too far but so have the growers and users. I am tired, personally, of some of the criminal element telling me they have a med card to smoke in public or permit to grow when it’s obvious they are beyond the confines of the current state law. I don’t believe many polls that I’ve seen in the Union. Sample size, ‘convenient’ wording on the question, etc. make them questionable. I compare them to the ASA saying the majority of those attending the Supervisors meeting were in favor of cultivation. This means what? Maybe I need to imbibe in some fashion to find the truth?
Jon,
I agree with much that you’ve said here, as when my past wife was sick (with cancer), and considering that I’ve never smoke it, I had a hard time even finding this material which was essential thru her chemo.
I did end up going to a club in Sacramento and I was amazed as I sat in the parking lot for @1 hour before going in and during this time I expected the dread-locked hippies, but I was surprised as the customers that I saw did not match my perception of the client base for this type of business.
I saw elderly people in walkers, young well dressed business professionals, mom’s (with kids in the station-wagon’s), older people – including people of color (like we have lots of them in our hamlet – LOL!!!) all entering this place of business. It was not the typical cross section of Americans’ and a BOS meeting might not show this cross section as most of their meetings are during working hours for most American’s.
I saw people driving Mercedes, Porsche’s, Ford’s and even a few Kia’s come running thru the parking lot.
There was a huge cross section of American’s coming in to purchase this material, and not just the atypical crowd you’d expect.
The facts are much easier for all of us to ingest, such as the facts given to us by the Sheriff, as there’s no questioning these comments and how truthful they were…..
Again I have never heard of anyone telling someone that because they have a recommendation that they can smoke in public (as that’s beyond the scope of any recommendation). Can you please show me where you’ve found this to be accurate?
Thanks!
“I am tired, personally, of some of the criminal element telling me they have a med card to smoke in public or permit to grow when it’s obvious they are beyond the confines of the current state law.”
I agree John, similarly patients do not wish to have to rely on criminals for their medicine. When they are put out of business, legitimate contractors will enter the equation, research will advance, the professional level of understanding the product will ensure quality and safety for the patient.
As for smoking in public or wearing heavy scents to the gym or a crowded theater, for that matter. It’s inconsiderate of others. That is why we don’t do certain things in public that are better done in privacy. Being situationally aware takes an upbringing and life lessons that supports valuing and respecting others. Successful communities foster these important values.
To bring this back to the discussion thread, if happy days are to be again for our “Golden State”, we have to do it ourselves because no one out there is going to come in and rescue us. An industry is ramping up in two states in our sector of the continent. It’s a sitting duck. It’s the new gold.
And we all know, especially our leaders and law enforcement, that nothing makes a town more beautiful and easier to love than a good reputation and home grown prosperity.
Marijuana sure helped my Mom when she had breast cancer and lymphoma ….never even considered the legality because it helped her recover from chemotherapy and stay strong during the ordeal.
I find it ironic that the same people who say “guns don’t kill people, people kill people”, and “we need to enforce the laws we have now”, have such a hard time understanding that medical marijuana and recreational marijuana are two entirely different things.
I for one would support the legalization of recreational marijuana, but that is not the law today. The law today says Californians can grow and use or purchase marijuana for medicinal purposes.
The job of the elected Sheriff in our county is to implement and enforce the law, not make value judgements about whether or not he likes the law. That is the job of the legislature.
Thus the connection between Sheriff Royal’s public statements that he will not enforce laws he believes violate his interpretation of the Constitution regarding the second amendment, and his clear attempt to impede implementation of Proposition 215. The fact that Sheriff Royal feels entitled to make value judgements about which laws he will enforce and which he will not, and is willing to game the system through misinformation to effect the implementation of those laws, is a damn good reason to make sure he does not get another term as Sheriff.
I totally agree, Steve. I voted for Royal first in 1998, and every subsequent election since then (2002, 2006, and 2010). He has been (so far, anyway…at least until Obama was elected to a second term) a level-headed public servant for whom I’ve had a great deal of respect.
Royal is up for re-election in 2014. I have to wonder if he is considering his current term to be his swan song. Perhaps we are seeing the “real” Sheriff Royal for the first time, since he knows he is not going to run again?
Sheriff Royal should not have been such a front-and-center figure at the recent John Birch and Oathkeepers meetings. I have no problem with him attending, but to be such a prominent speaker at both venues is troubling. I would feel the same way if he was a prominent speaker at a pro-Prop.-215 meeting, or speaking at a meeting that was about immigration amnesty, or being an active protester at a pro-abortion rally.
The job of Sheriff is to enforce existing law. The Sheriff must bend over backward to maintain a non-partisan persona. S/he must defer to all legislative and executive decisions and opinions to those branches; s/he is a member of the judicial branch, must be blindfolded, and only weigh upon the scales of justice.
I will not be voting for Keith Royal again. And if he runs for a 5th term, I will be actively and aggressively campaigning for whoever is his opponent.
Lastly, I am also troubled that this missive from Sheriff Royal is on our county website. I find it to be insensitive and unrealistic. I expect more from my elected officials: http://www.mynevadacounty.com/nc/sheriff/Pages/Sheriff-Royal%27s-position-on-Constitutional-Rights.aspx
I could not agree with you more Michael. I voted for Keith Royal at each election he stood, primarily for the same reasons you did. I do not believe that the office of Sheriff is a partisan one. The definition of a partisan according to Merriam Webster is : “A fervent, sometimes militant supporter or proponent of a party, cause, faction, person, or idea.”
There seems to be a desire by many in our community to make every office, position, organization, or issue, partisan ones; and many public officials are satisfying that desire by kowtowing to an angry mob. The essence of good governance is cooling passions to make data driven rational decisions. I believe that the Constitution, the real one, not the one that people twist to wave like a bloody shirt, creates the framework for good governance. The mob is antithetical to good governance.
Let’s hope Mr. Royal does not run again, or if he does, an experienced law enforcement official with real Constitutional values emerges to run against him.
I agree with your latest post, Judith. I think with legalization growing would be more centralized, regionally and not just about anywhere it can be grown. In August/September there was some budding going on in Emipire State Park, even. For Brad, you must not get out as much as I do to see Live Music in Nevada County.
I am catching up with this discussion, and it has been a good one. Thank you.
I can still never understand the efforts, largely by the “old timers” and their like-minded contemporaries, to turn our county’s nonpartisan elected positions into partisan ones.
It has been an ongoing theme in this blog, going back to the clerk-recorders’ races (even in the Fran Freedle days). They are relentless.
It seems rather sophomoric and selfish, confusing socializing with your like-minded friends with professionalism in your elected position. I think ego plays a big role too (“big fish in a small pond”).
BTW, the CABPRO supporters have forwarded the Doyel Shamley posts to that group’s “powers that be,” who want to “educate” me. I’m so busy this time of year, I told them, but I will suggest May Day. LOL!
Some of these folks (in their mind, at least) are well meaning. (Others have a real agenda.) But I really do not understand this effort, particularly in light of the Shamley “You Tube” video rant.
We have so many challenges in our county, and this seems so far removed from the reality of what needs to happen. It’s almost like living in a “bubble.”
On this issue, for example, why not spend your energy working with our competent forester, Tom Quinn. He lives and works right in our own neighborhood. He’s a very reasonable fellow. http://www.uniondemocrat.com/Opinion/Editorials/Tom-Quinn-saw-the-forest-for-the-trees-we-benefited
The “old timers” (and their like-minded contemporaries) also have a tendency to reject expertise for ideology — a disturbing trend that can keep our community “stubbornly backward.”
We are a small community and need to stay more focused on the reality. We are not going to “change the world,” as Orange County once did with its right-wing activism. Even that is “yesterday’s lettuce.”
Why not just enjoy our vast trails and forest land with our children, or grandchildren? Smell the fresh air. Gadzooks.
I saw the video from the meeting with Doyle,Shamley and I thought it was rather interesting as the Oath Keepers want to have the Constitution upheld (which I agree upon that premise), but it’s rather interesting how the elected officials (who these same people seem to support) do no,t as they are continually disassembling the laws that were passed by the residents of this State.
Do the Oath Keeper’s support our Sheriff’, and BOS actions or will they stand behind the Patients group?
This is a deciding moment, as they may not support the whole premise of people being able to grow MMJ, but this is a right that was given under State law, so based upon this, where are they going to be?
Do they also support a significant property right restrictions? If this is the case, them wouldn’t it be much like the proposed NH2020 restrictions that were soundly defeated by the CABPRO group.
I find it hard to believe that a property rights group could stand with the Sheriff and BOS on this.
The laws that were passed by the voters 215/420 have been revised by anyone that seem to have the “want” to do away with the freedoms that the populations granted by this law.
There was a very interesting radio show a few weeks back (on KVMR) where the people that wrote up 215/420 were on and they said that all of the changes that have happened after this law was passed were never written into them, so do we sit back and allow for our rights to be compromised?
Do we let others interpret “their vision” of what these laws said?
That seems to be happening here, and just because we don’t like specific sections of laws, then our elected officials should then be required to do what people do, go out and go through the process for amending the law (much like what I hear the patients group will be doing), rather than try to change laws to make it work in your favor.
I am sorry Brad but just an FYI…..NH 2020 never proposed, nor was it designed to propose, any specific property restrictions. NH 2020 was designed to give our duly authorized representatives, the Board of Supervisors, the information (science) they needed to implement the 1996 General Plan. It was also designed to gather community input into how that General Plan might be implemented and make some recommendations for the Board to consider. It would have been up to the Board to determine how to implement the General Plan.
I do find it ironic that CABPRO appears to be supporting restrictions on property rights for people who grow and use marijuana, but would remove restrictions from those who mine, develop or cut forests.
Steve wrote, “I do find it ironic …….”
Everything, without exception, the conservatives accuse others of is what they, in their hearts, are guilty of themselves. There is nothing conservative about them in any broad sense. Their frame of reference is simply their immediate needs.
The left needs to step back from arguing with the hard right’s phony “conservative” positions. These baseless positions are really just a smoke screen to disguise their own culpability. The better approach is not to defend, as the “conservatives” hope we will do, but to point out what hypocrites they are.
I’m not seeking to get off on an NH 2020 tangent; but that is one of the “myths of Nevada County”, that should not be allowed to stand. There is a wide body of academic research available on this topic on the web now.
I also find it ironic that some of the same people who loathe government have been career “public servants,” reaping the benefits (“double dipping,” etc). Or people who claim to abhor government are often the same ones who run for these local government jobs (with the big income and benefits that go with it) despite a lack of qualifications. It’s rather comical (or tragic) once you stop to think about it. Look in the mirror, folks!
Jeff..we were out enjoying the trails in Empire today but mainly because we don’t have any public trails of any significance in South County. The County and in particular one supervisor (Scofield…again)have gotten in the way of one trail (Emigrant) proceeding to be opened even though there have been public trail easements in place for many years. This will all be discussed March 12 at the BOS meeting..could be interesting.
Jon,
I know from a NID meeting that trials are in the making in So County. How far along they are is a different question. The issue of the meeting from a few months ago was about a bridge and private property easements.
I think Sheriff Royal is safe for as long as he wants the job – 2014 and beyond. It would take a “Royal screw up” to open the door. Keith was smart, he ran on his “out of County” experience in 1994 – as expected Troy Arbaugh, the next in command/selected and highly endorsed won. The Sam Strange case and Michael Minnick shooting hammered Arbaugh and his department over the next few years, and Royal cleaned up in 1998. I think Nevada County was ready for some outside experience and leadership.
I don’t see ASA having a successful campaign to overturn the MJ ordinance. Yes, the Obama vs Romney vote was close, and if you add in the Stein, Johnson & Paul votes you have the number you need. We don’t need Nate Silver to tell us what precincts would vote big to overturn the ordinance, but I think a “law and order” campaign to keep the current MJ ordinance would prevail.
Mark,
Can you give me your take on why Yuba County went the direction they did?
Thanks for your insight!
Brad,
I have not looked at the Yuba County election. In Nev Co – I assume the current MJ ordinance would be supported by 3(or more) sitting supervisors, local police chiefs, law enforcement agencies and employee groups too. I bet there would be a list of other local elected officials(City Council, School Board,etc) supporting the current ordinance too. Crime is on the mind of many residents. A “law & order” campaign to keep the current MJ ordinance would have plenty of headlines from the last few years – key issues/words tied to MJ in recent years – home invasion, gangs, guns,etc. It would be interesting election, but I think the status quo would prevail.
Mark, I would tend to not agree as the data that I have shows that the crime is not a “major” factor relating to MJ in Nevada County.
Meth is……
Our Sheriff’s data has shown one thing, and this is that they have not reported “accurately” most of the crime statistics in Nevada County. I find this to be very true, especially when you look at the conviction rates for MMJ crime in this county as over 97% of the people charged walk away when done with their court appearance. 97%!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The only way that this county gets convictions is to offer a very, very reasonable plead bargain
This number speaks volumes about the ability of the LE community to:
1. Follow the law;
2. Actually find so called criminal’s (which they have now increased that power in their eyes);
3. Present truthworthy data to the community – well you know my position about our Sheriff and that one)
I do agree that their are problems in the system, but the question for me is how do we keep this material available to patients?
The current rules will not allow for this to happen, and I would expect the patients group to (on a yearly basis) to file an initiative on a yearly basis at a $250K cost to the county.
Would you agree that it’s better to come up with a mediated solution that works for everyone, as this whole process will just not “disappear”?
I tend to disagree with your status quo statement, as the trend through-out the state, and especially in this county (based upon the polling result, and I bet with the phone survey, show that people want this done in a reasonable manner (with a medicated solution) rather than to keep spending tax dollars on a fabrication……
Thanks!
Brad – good points – I see the difference of MJ crime vs Meth,etc. Crime is crime though, and a fairly rudimentary “law & order” campaign will focus on crime vs MJ Crime. Home and family safety are easy heart strings in a campaign.
Another point – if ASA and the anti MJ ordinance have to focus on the difference of MJ crime vs other drug crime – it will be a “loose-loose” campaign issue for them.
Opps, I meant Mediated not Medicated!
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