Lake County to study medical pot initiative

Lake County supervisors on Tuesday delayed action on a proposed medical marijuana cultivation initiative that would allow up to 12 mature marijuana plants in residential backyards and 84 on parcels of seven acres or more.

Eventually the board must either adopt the proposed initiative as an ordinance or place it on an upcoming ballot because it has garnered sufficient voter signatures. On Tuesday the board voted to first study the potential impacts on the county.

County officials fear the number of pot plants and locations allowed by the initiative would negatively impact property values and public safety and lure additional marijuana growers to the county.

The issue returns to the board for a decision in February.