Supports Measure B

Ukiah Daily Journal Staff
Article Last Updated: 04/14/2008 08:44:26 AM PDT

To the Editor:

I am in favor of Measure B on the June 3 ballot. We need to bring Mendocino County regulations in line with state law. Our current county limit of 25 plants is way beyond the reality of what a medical marijuana patient needs. This has led to an influx of money-hungry corporate growers coming into our neighborhoods.

My neighborhood is a perfect example. A guy bought two houses on the street behind us. He has been growing large amounts of marijuana (200 plants) on the other side of our back fence. The stench is so intense that one can smell it two blocks away from July to October. During most of the summer and fall we don't even go into our backyard because of the smell.

In October of 2004 a criminal (no doubt attracted by the smell) tried to rip off his crop. He came into my back yard with a gun. He climbed over my back fence and confronted the grower. He then shot the grower in the hand. After the altercation he jumped back over my back fence and made his escape (still carrying the gun) right by our bedroom window.

If we had been in our back yard at the time we would have been in danger of being shot ourselves.

We must limit the amount of marijuana one can grow to the state limits. It must be grown only indoors. If we do that guys with guns won't be attracted by the smell to my back yard.

In our neighborhood we are all living in fear every day, wondering what will happen next.

Larry Puterbaugh
Ukiah