Pubdate: Sun, 16 Sep 2012 Source: Chico Enterprise-Record (CA) Copyright: 2012 Chico Enterprise-Record Contact: http://www.chicoer.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/861 Author: Darryl Gorham FOCUS ON BIGGER ISSUES THAN POT The supervisors of Butte County just don't get it. First of all the voters of California went out and garnered over 700,000 signatures and placed a referendum on the state ballot to basically legalize marijuana plants for personal use, and the voters of California passed it. Then those we elected to do our wishes adopted an ordinance that would basically ban the growing of marijuana plants even though it was now legal law in California. Again, the voters of Butte County defeated this by 56 percent. Now, just a few months later they're at it again, trying to ram though yet another ordinance to ban outdoor growing, ignoring what the people want. Supervisor Bill Connelly's only argument against growing marijuana is that some of his constituents have emailed him complaining they can't barbecue a chicken outdoors because of the smell coming from marijuana plants. Well, I have a flash for Connelly. His district has more problems than putting a chicken on the barbecue. I took a tour on the southside. Statistics say crime is high, but I didn't see one neighborhood watch sign. In certain areas I saw unmowed yards, uncut bushes, broken windows, trash on people's property and junk cars sitting around. These are the things citizens should worry about. These are the things that create opportunity for crime. In a real world, the majority rules, of which I don't always agree with myself. - - Darryl Gorham, Oroville - --- MAP posted-by: Matt