Pubdate: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 Source: Chico News & Review, The (CA) Copyright: 2015 Chico Community Publishing, Inc. Contact: http://www.newsreview.com/chico/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/559 Author: Denice Lessard WHAT ABOUT THE PATIENTS? So now Measure A has passed. What does this mean for cannabis patients? The Board of Supervisors claim to support patient rights to access, but this is just not true. Collectives have been eliminated. There are no dispensaries in Butte County. In some areas of the county, you cannot legally grow at all. Large numbers of residents live in apartments and trailer parks that do not permit cultivation. Landlords actively prohibit "420 growing." Neighbors must give approval. Most importantly, don't forget those who are unable to grow due to physical limitations. There was no consideration of the canopy space necessary to farm a marijuana plant that is pest- and disease-free (mold, worms or disease result from inadequate space). It is 81-plus miles, one way, to find a dispensary. Patients who have to use these dispensaries will be forced to travel several hours and pay for medicine that was provided free by their local cooperatives. The county failed to disclose it would spend millions of taxpayer dollars ensuring there is no legal access to medical marijuana for most patients in Butte County. Is that really what the voters want? Denice Lessard Chico - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom