Meredith Lintott issued the following statement April 30:
Today I am announcing my endorsement for Measure B. I do so because Measure B is consistent with the protection of the rights of legitimate medical marijuana patients and will provide consistency in the law which will greatly assist in the successful prosecution of commercial growers.
As a candidate for District Attorney I pledged to protect the rights of medical marijuana patients and caregivers. I also said I would prosecute those who abuse the protections given to medical marijuana as a cover for commercial growing.
As District Attorney, it is obvious to me that Measure G has become a barrier that greatly complicates the prosecution of solid cases, even where there is overwhelming evidence of commercial cultivation, possession, transportation and sales. The defense attorneys never fail to cite Measure G as a defense for those charged with violating the laws against commercial marijuana. This is true even for the largest growing operations.
Measure G was widely considered to be an advisory measure when it passed, but was later codified as part of the Mendocino County Code. More recently the Board adopted the 25 plant limit from Measure G as the standard for the County, although there is some question whether or not the action of the Board adequately covered all the legal bases.
Measure G, if it is law at all, is bad law because it is internally inconsistent and its major provisions are of dubious legality. Most significantly, it is in direct conflict with state law and defense attorneys are skillful at emphasizing conflicts in the law in order to create doubt on the part of jurors.
As a prosecutor, Measure B will make my job easier by providing consistency in the law. I also believe the state limits protect the rights of medical patients and therefore no legitimate medical patient will suffer if Measure B passes. Otherwise, I would not support Measure B. The current situation threatens to create a backlash that would undermine support for legitimate medical marijuana.
I will accept the passage of Measure B as a mandate from the public to focus marijuana enforcement and prosecution activities on the large commercial growers and those that are endangering public safety and harming the environment. I will also challenge the public to support adequate funding for enforcement and prosecution so that Sheriff Allman and I can carry out the mandate of the public to go after the commercial growers that are harming our county and our environment.
Meredith J. Lintott
District Attorney
Thursday, May 1, 2008
District Attorney Meredith Lintott endorses Measure B
Friday, April 18, 2008
Marijuana reform measure endorsed
With a unanimous vote Wednesday night, the Ukiah City Council joined the Willits and Fort Bragg councils in endorsing Measure B, the local marijuana reform measure on the June 3 ballot.
The council previously considered the item in February and decided not to take a position at that time, electing to host a forum on Measure B instead. The item was eventually placed on the agenda after dozens of area residents requested the council to reconsider its stance at its April 2 meeting. Recognizing the importance of the decision, Vice Mayor Phil Baldwin tried to explain the magnitude of such an endorsement.
"This decision to endorse the issue is precedent setting," Baldwin said, warning that battling against Measure B would only continue to polarize voters. "Not supporting Measure B simply achieves nothing to expand the base. The reason it doesn't help anyone on the left is that the majority of the working people perceive a gross injustice here, with people making money without paying any taxes on it. This actually alienates the people on the left."
But Baldwin's comments were not without mixed opposition and support from the public.
Tom Davenport from the Mendocino Medical Marijuana Advisory Board warned the council that endorsing Measure B would be fruitless.
"It's simply inappropriate," Davenport said. "One of the difficulties that we have here is that Measure B is being presented to the voters in a very emotional way. I would be flabbergasted if I found out that any one of you have researched this in close detail."
Laura Hamburg, a member of No on B, followed Davenport's comments expressing her belief in the zip-tie system as well as residents' ability to support and monitor each other instead of using tax dollars for enforcement.
"Law enforcement has to enforce the law," Hamburg said. "People -- our neighbors -- have to encourage each other to stay within the law. I think we should go back to the idea of the proposal to sell zip ties."
Hamburg's comments didn't mirror those of the Ukiah Police Department, with Chief Chris Dewey explaining his belief that Measure B would bring consistency to what has been a confusing situation.
"I think that Measure B in an important step in that direction. It establishes consistency," Dewey said. "It will really aid in the confusion that exists today because the jurisdictional lines aren't painted, but this will create a standard for our whole community."
Following Dewey's comments, Councilmembers Benj Thomas, John McCowen and Mari Rodin each articulated their reasons for endorsing the measure.
"We just can't deny the magnitude of the problem," Rodin said. "It's just growing and growing. While it's not perfect public policy, we can't be a vacuum within this county. That's why it's necessary to support Measure B. It sends a message that the people of Mendocino County have had it."
After explaining her stance, Rodin made a motion for the council to endorse the measure, which was seconded by McCowen. A unanimous vote followed the motion.
Measure B, which was placed on the ballot by the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors in January, would repeal Measure G and set medical marijuana limits in Mendocino County at the state limits of six mature or 12 immature plants and eight ounces of dried marijuana.
Measure G, which was passed by Mendocino County voters in 2000, instructed law enforcement to make the prosecution of marijuana gardens of 25 plants or fewer the lowest possible priority.
Zack Sampsel can be reached at udjzs@pacific.net.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
City Council to take another look at Measure B
The Ukiah City Council will once again consider endorsing Measure B at its next meeting on April 16.
The decision to reconsider endorsement comes just weeks after the Fort Bragg City Council voted to endorse Measure B. The Willits City Council is scheduled to discuss endorsing the measure on Wednesday.
Measure B, which was placed on the ballot by the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors in January, would repeal Measure G and set medical marijuana limits in Mendocino County at the state limits of six mature or 12 immature plants and eight ounces of dried marijuana.
Measure G, which was passed by Mendocino County voters in 2000, instructed law enforcement to make the prosecution of marijuana gardens of 25 plants or fewer the lowest possible priority.
Last year, the Board of Supervisors used Measure G as a guide to set county medical marijuana possession limits at 25 plants per parcel and two-pounds of dried marijuana.
Although all five Ukiah council members said they personally support Measure B, the City Council in February put off the decision on whether or not to endorse Measure B in order to organize a forum on the subject.
That forum is set for 6:30 p.m. on April 14. Members of both sides of the argument have been invited to share their arguments and answer questions from the audience.
Supporters of Measure B say it's passage would correct a perception that Mendocino County is a good place to grow marijuana and help put a stop to increasing commercial marijuana growing in the county.
Opponents say the passage of Measure B would take law enforcement resources away from more important problems and make anyone in possession of more than six medical marijuana plants a felon.
Opponents also say Measure B will have no impact on large scale commercial marijuana grows.
The election has been scheduled for June 3.
Ben Brown can be reached at udjbb@pacific.net
Monday, March 24, 2008
Fort Bragg City Council endorses Measure B on 4-1 vote
On Monday night, March 24, the Fort Bragg City Council accepted a recommendation from its Public Safety Committee and voted to endorse Measure B, which appears on the June ballot in Mendocino County.
Councilman Jere Melo made the motion, seconded by Dave Turner. Other "aye" votes were Dan Gjerde and Meg Courtney. The only dissent was from Doug Hammerstrom.
The vote came after substantial public comment that began with Lori Cimolino, who lives on Cedar Street in Fort Bragg. She described how a next door neighbor has been growing a large number of plants in the backyard, so many that she described it as a "crop." She stated that the "stench" prevented her family from enjoying their own backyard and caused another neighbor to move away. Things got worse when the marijuana grower got a vicious dog to defend the crop, and the dog repeatedly got loose and has attacked Lori twice. When Lori complained to a police officer who lived nearby, she was told that nothing could be done under present policy if the marijuana grower showed medical marijuana cards.
Numerous other Fort Bragg residents spoke in favor of Measure B, expressing concerns about the effect of rampant marijuana production on youth, on the image of the county, and other problems.
Only four people spoke against Measure B, including marijuana grower Paul Deeter and her teenage daughter.
Willits mayor Holly Madrigal and Ukiah councilman John McCowen also urged the Fort Bragg Council to act, and each predicted that their own councils would take up an endorsement soon.
Fort Bragg Council member and current mayor Doug Hammerstrom strongly opposed action. He used the bogus argument that has been advanced by the No On Measure B Coalition, that Measure B would hurt public safety by diverting law enforcement away from serious crimes to arresting small growers.
Hammerstrom repeated this argument even though McCowen read the March 11 statement by Sheriff Allman:
"Measure B will not change our focus. Investigating violent crime will remain our top priority. We do not, and will not, target small grows. We will continue to focus on large grows and complaints about growers who create a public nuisance, endanger public safety or trash the environment."
