2008 Woodie Awards
Budding Controversy
Local medicinal pot growers fight to stay
Jacqueline Torres
Issue date: 4/18/07 Section: Community
- Page 1 of 1
Pot isn't the only thing growing in the heart of Arcata.
Tensions over "grow houses" within the city limits mounted since Humboldt State President Rollin Richmond wrote a letter to the Arcata City Council in late February demanding restrictions on marijuana growth.
In the name of increasing enrollment and solving the housing crisis, President Richmond called growing marijuana in homes a "threat to our community and to the future of our children."
He asked the Council to enact and enforce ordinances that will stop growing within Arcata, including legal and medical operations.
Response from the community took some time, but was abundant at an April 4 City Council meeting. A rally of about 80 people assembled to oppose changing laws that currently allow growing marijuana in accordance with the Compassionate Use Act of 1996. Stephen Gasparas, owner of the Arcata iCenter, a local dispensary, was one of about a dozen people to speak on behalf of medical marijuana patient's rights.
Gasparas organized the rally at the Arcata Community Forest where he gave out free medical marijuana to Proposition 215 patients. The group then marched to City Hall.
Jason Robo, a Humboldt State student in Associated Students and National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, NORML, spoke out against such restrictions at the meeting.
"We would have criminals created in our town who are generally law-abiding citizens and who are peaceful," Robo said. "I don't think it would be correct to have these people put behind bars."
The surging response from the community ignited when an Arcata resident voiced complaints about his neighbor who grows marijuana at a March 21 City Council meeting. The business owner and Humboldt County native asked the Council to create zoning laws to control the cultivation of cannabis.
"I like Arcata," he said. "I don't want it to be a big grow scene."
In light of his complaint and Richmond's letter, the City Council was in the process of organizing a response, Mayor Harmony Groves said.
"When all these advocates came forward with all their complaints about infringing their rights, the work we had started ceased," Groves said. "All four board members didn't have interest in pursuing the issue. There was no direction to work from."
By the end of the City Council meeting Council Members Michael Machi and Paul Patino promoted legalizing marijuana for the purpose of taxation and Mayor Groves spoke in defense of medical marijuana users' rights.
Currently personal marijuana use is permitted in Arcata under the provisions of the Compassionate Use Act. The act was adopted in Arcata 1998.
Humboldt State does not recognize the Compassionate Use Act in its residence halls or any other on-campus living. Possession of, use of or just being in the same room as marijuana can get you into trouble on campus with or without a doctor's recommendation.
Video of City Council Meetings can be viewed at www.arcatacityhall.org
Tensions over "grow houses" within the city limits mounted since Humboldt State President Rollin Richmond wrote a letter to the Arcata City Council in late February demanding restrictions on marijuana growth.
In the name of increasing enrollment and solving the housing crisis, President Richmond called growing marijuana in homes a "threat to our community and to the future of our children."
He asked the Council to enact and enforce ordinances that will stop growing within Arcata, including legal and medical operations.
Response from the community took some time, but was abundant at an April 4 City Council meeting. A rally of about 80 people assembled to oppose changing laws that currently allow growing marijuana in accordance with the Compassionate Use Act of 1996. Stephen Gasparas, owner of the Arcata iCenter, a local dispensary, was one of about a dozen people to speak on behalf of medical marijuana patient's rights.
Gasparas organized the rally at the Arcata Community Forest where he gave out free medical marijuana to Proposition 215 patients. The group then marched to City Hall.
Jason Robo, a Humboldt State student in Associated Students and National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, NORML, spoke out against such restrictions at the meeting.
"We would have criminals created in our town who are generally law-abiding citizens and who are peaceful," Robo said. "I don't think it would be correct to have these people put behind bars."
The surging response from the community ignited when an Arcata resident voiced complaints about his neighbor who grows marijuana at a March 21 City Council meeting. The business owner and Humboldt County native asked the Council to create zoning laws to control the cultivation of cannabis.
"I like Arcata," he said. "I don't want it to be a big grow scene."
In light of his complaint and Richmond's letter, the City Council was in the process of organizing a response, Mayor Harmony Groves said.
"When all these advocates came forward with all their complaints about infringing their rights, the work we had started ceased," Groves said. "All four board members didn't have interest in pursuing the issue. There was no direction to work from."
By the end of the City Council meeting Council Members Michael Machi and Paul Patino promoted legalizing marijuana for the purpose of taxation and Mayor Groves spoke in defense of medical marijuana users' rights.
Currently personal marijuana use is permitted in Arcata under the provisions of the Compassionate Use Act. The act was adopted in Arcata 1998.
Humboldt State does not recognize the Compassionate Use Act in its residence halls or any other on-campus living. Possession of, use of or just being in the same room as marijuana can get you into trouble on campus with or without a doctor's recommendation.
Video of City Council Meetings can be viewed at www.arcatacityhall.org
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