Plainsman1963

10-16-2004 | The Daily Journal

District Attorney Norm Vroman met with local police chiefs Thursday morning to discuss the problem of marijuana gardens in residential areas.

Vroman wanted to make it clear that his office is not the place to look for a solution to what many in the community believe is out of control pot growing in local neighborhoods.

In two recent incidents, a man was slightly wounded when a pot thief shot at him during an effort to steal pot plants from a back yard garden. Another man died of a heart attack - presumably while trying to climb a fence into a pot garden - and was found dead in another back yard.

These and the numerous complaints of pot plant odors wafting through the city of Ukiah and its outskirts have put pressure on local politicians to do something to curb the growing.

The marijuana growing has steadily increased since the passage of Prop. 215 legalizing medical marijuana in the state of California. As part of the law, people are allowed to grow pot either as users or as caregivers to medical marijuana patients.

Either designation has become relatively easy to get in Mendocino County.

Vroman says each local community has to deal with the marijuana growing problem as a nuisance, not as a criminal event to which his office must respond.

"I get letters every day accusing me of not prosecuting marijuana growing, or not understanding the problem," Vroman said, adding, "There's definitely a problem, but not a law enforcement problem."

Vroman said that if someone sneaks into someone's back yard to steal the marijuana, yes that's a prosecutable offense and he has prosecuted cases of medical marijuana theft as he would prosecute any theft from a home.

But as far as just the fact that pots plants exist in residential neighborhoods, or that they give off an odor, is not law enforcement's problem as long as medical marijuana is legal in California.

"There's a lot of emotion about it from both the public and law enforcement," he said.

As Vroman sees it, most of the concern about marijuana growing in back yards falls under local nuisance ordinances - "and there are adequate laws for that."

Ukiah Police Chief John Williams said that's what he's going to try to find out: what are the ordinances in place now, are they enough and are measures needed to regulate medical marijuana growing specifically, even though it is legal.

"(Prop. 215) has led to problems we're experiencing now where we have individuals in residential areas growing marijuana which is causing concern with neighbors," Williams said. "As things stand right now they do have the right to do that.

"As a city we are investigating what possible avenues are available to us to at least have some control within residential areas, to maybe at least address the concerns of people," Williams said.

Williams said that while the odors from marijuana plants are a problem to some - (Vroman says regulating for odors opens a "whole Pandora's box") of more concern to law enforcement is the "safety aspect which we witnessed here this year."

Both Vroman and Williams noted that the kind of marijuana growing the county saw emerging in the hills 20 to 30 years ago has now been brought down into town.

With people able to see pot plants over a neighbor's fence, it's like growing "a money tree" in your back yard, Vroman said. How do you keep people from inviting crime?

"That's what were trying to determine," Williams said, adding that he will soon be going to the Ukiah City Council with some recommendations. First, City Attorney David Rapport is investigating what legal avenues the city may have to regulate medical marijuana.

"But we do think that we can have some control over it, just to limit the exposure and public safety problem," Williams said. "Eventually it's something the City Council will be looking at."

Liberty4All

To the best of my knowledge Norm Vroman, the DA of Mendocino County, CA, is the only Libertarian DA in the country. This, people, is what a Libertarian in office is like. More of them need to be elected.

Stephanie S.

Angry Neighbor to Cop: "He's got weed growingin his backyard right next to my backyard. Arrest him, he is a dnager to society and his plants look better than my roses."

Cop: "This is a civil matter ma'am, talk to a judge in civil court."

Angry Neighbor: "How am I supposed to relax when there is an illegal substance grwoing next door to my home? Those people might have reefer madness and come over to my house and....gawd only knows what might happen."

Cop: "Take it court lady, ain't an arrestable defense for him to grow weed, it's medicine."

Angry Neighbor: You know, I have this pain...right here...

Cop: These times, they are a changin...

__________________
"See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda." —George W. Bush, Greece, N.Y., May 24, 2005 (Listen to audio)

AlucardOrange3

I'm glad there's at least ONE Libertarian in office somewhere. I'll be voting for Libertarians every chance I get, including the presidential election.

AO3

__________________
"When a true genius appears in the world, you shall know him by this sign; that all the dunces are in confederacy against him." Jonathan Swift

Dalamar49

I didn't know the Libertarians finally elected a DA to office. That is majorly sweet! I wish I knew a Libertarian lawyer in Reno to run for DA, as our current DA is a total fascist.

I think this event has warrented a vote for Mike Badnarik, the Libertarian candidate for President.

Stephanie S.

Um, I am very unhappy with the current system of electing officials. However, at this juncture, a libertarian vote is just as bad as a vote for George. You really don't want that do you? Why not vote for someone who really has the possibility to win and get him out of office? The sad fact is that with our current system, voting Libertarian will in essence help keep George in office.

Take a Look At This Then spend the next four years campaigning for Libertarians and convincing people to change the system.

peace

Plainsman1963

Well, I respect your right to believe this and understand the reasoning that I get when most people explain to me why they hold the same opinion, I just don't agree.

I will be voting for somebody this election year, not against.
I am 41 years old and have never voted against somebody yet. I remember from the time I became cognizant of politics I always would have voted for somebody if I could have voted in all of them...And I remember the Administrations (and elections) of Nixon and Ford and Carter and Reagan and...

If my vote happens to go to a third party candidate, there is the added bonus of knowing I am helping that party to get federal funds, recognition, encouragement, etc...

Just another view.

Stephanie S.

You know, I just talked to Greenman thuther evening about that and he made mention of the Federal Matching Funds as well. I value that logic and totally understand your point. Still, it scare the hell out of me to have 4 more years of Bush. I am old enough to remember Carter,(Iran hostage release) Reagan, Bush and Clinton too.

Only during the past 3 elections or so have I really taken an "adults" view of things and voted my conscience. Dude, I voted for Ross Perot.

I also recall the L.A. Riots after the Rodney King fiasco and seriously wonder if a repeat would happen if Bush were re-elected. Those protesters were pretty well behaved outside the RNC...I'd hate to see them enraged by another fallacious election result.

Man I'll be glad when these elections are over.

And again....there I go off topic. sorry.

peace