Proponents of looser Lake County pot rules outspending opponents

Lake County marijuana advocates have raised and spent significantly more money than their opponents in the latest ballot battle over marijuana regulations.

Proponents of Measure O ­- which would overturn the county’s existing, more restrictive pot regulations that were adopted by voters in June - raised $12,357 and spent $7,531 on their campaign so far, according to the Lake County elections office. Opponents of Measure O raised $8,168 and spent $4,266.

No expenditures were reported on either side of the similar, much maligned Measure P, which generally is opposed both by supporters of the current rules and opponents who favor looser regulations. The measure, which has been criticized as too vague, does not even mention marijuana specifically; instead, it would legalize growing all “natural” plants.

Proponents of maintaining the current, more restrictive regulations say the money advantage of their opponents may not make a difference in the election outcome.

“They always have (spent more) and always lost.” Lake County Supervisor Rob Brown said.

Fighting for voter approval on pot issues has become a tradition of sorts in Lake County. Each time the county attempts to enact restrictions on marijuana cultivation and dispensaries, pot advocates have challenged them with referendums, ballot initiatives or lawsuits.

But marijuana advocates previously have been more successful at obtaining signatures for ballot measures and referendums than in getting them passed. Voters soundly defeated their last ballot initiative, Measure D, in 2012. Measure N was approved by just under 52 percent of the vote in June. It was placed on the ballot after pot advocates challenged the county’s rules through a referendum.

Measure O proponents say they continue to challenge the county’s rules because they are too restrictive and impinge on the rights of medical marijuana patients.

“Measure N is horrible. It’s so poorly worded. It allowed the sheriff to go out there without warrants” and bust growers, said Ron Green, an attorney and longtime pot advocate who also is one of the biggest financial contributors to Measure O. He said he has donated about $4,000 to the campaign.

The courts have put a stop to the warrantless marijuana garden eradications that were conducted after Measure N went into effect. Whether the county ordinance actually allowed for those warrantless searches and seizures is unclear.

Green and other advocates of Measure O, including at least two candidates for county supervisor - Clearlake City Councilwoman Jeri Spittler and Upper Lake contractor John Brosnan - say Measure N prevents legitimate medical marijuana patients from growing their own pot by prohibiting outdoor growing in residential neighborhoods and rural subdivisions. It allows indoor growing, but that’s more difficult and expensive, Measure O proponents say.

“That’s just not reasonable,” said Spittler, who said her husband has cancer and is a medical marijuana patient. She’s challenging incumbent Jeff Smith for the 2nd District supervisor seat. Brosnan is running against retired state Fish and Wildlife biologist Jim Steele in the 3rd District.

Marijuana advocates say Measure O is fair and a good compromise for everyone. It would allow up to four plants outdoors on residential lots smaller than an acre and up to 48 plants on parcels of 5 acres or more.

The current regulations allow up to 48 plants to be grown on agricultural parcels of 20 acres or more.

But opponents say it would draw even more pot growers to Lake County, which has seen a surge in marijuana production in recent years. It already is among the top marijuana-producing counties in the state, according to pot eradication statistics.

“If Measure O was to pass, it would affect the economic development in this county enormously” by discouraging traditional tourism and development, said Monica Rosenthal, of R Vineyards in Middletown and treasurer of the No on O and P campaign.

It also would mean an upsurge in the number of complaints about the strong, skunk-like odor of budding marijuana, opponents say.

They also fear an increase in the number of crimes associated with marijuana production, which have included home-invasion robberies and homicides.

Proponents say opponents need to face the new reality, which they expect to soon include legalization for all uses, not just medicinal.

“The economy (already) is based on marijuana,” Green said. Measure O will set in place rules that will allow the county to better control pot production when that happens, he said.

You can reach Staff Writer Glenda Anderson at 462-6473 or glenda.anderson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter ?@MendoReporter.