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State Deadline Sparks Local Medical Marijuana Laws

Courtesy of Brett Lebin

Dozens of California cities and counties, including many in the Central Valley, are moving quickly to pass bans on medical marijuana growth and sale.

The bans are often modeled on existing rules in Fresno and Kern Counties that prohibit either the cultivation or sale of medical marijuana.

Brenda Linder, a lawyer who works with medical marijuana clients, says the reason for the rush is new state regulation that sets a March  deadline to adopt local rules or otherwise they will default to what the state dictates.

“I believe that there are jurisdictions, cities and counties, who like the idea of a total ban anyway and they are using the March 1st deadline to do it and do it quickly,” Linder said.

Linder says this can create huge pockets of the valley where a patient can get a medical marijuana recommendation but is then unable to purchase or grow it legally.

Fowler, the city of Merced, and Lemoore are just a few of the numerous communities considering bans.

Supporters of a ban cite concerns about crime related to growing or selling marijuana.

The author of the law says the March first deadline is a typo and he will seek to amend the law to give municipalities more time to decide if they want to institute a ban or not.

Jeffrey Hess is a reporter and Morning Edition news host for Valley Public Radio. Jeffrey was born and raised in a small town in rural southeast Ohio. After graduating from Otterbein University in Columbus, Ohio with a communications degree, Jeffrey embarked on a radio career. After brief stops at stations in Ohio and Texas, and not so brief stops in Florida and Mississippi, Jeffrey and his new wife Shivon are happy to be part Valley Public Radio.