Global Ganja Report

A crowd of over 150 assembled May 14 at the Little Lake Grange in Willits, Calif., for the Mendocino Medical Marijuana Advisory Board's community forum. The event, entitled, "Medical Cannabis: State of Our Laws, Now and in the Future" featured County Supervisor John Pinches and Sheriff Tom Allman, as well as physicians, attorneys and activists. MMMAB advisory panel member Pebbles Trippet responded to audience questions fielded by supervisorial candidate and moderator Dan Hamburg. Following the forum, the three candidates for District Attorney answered questions.

Panelist discussed whether the county's newly approved nuisance ordinance has primacy over state law. Trippet, who asserts that state guidelines trump local ordinances, requested Sheriff Allman affirm the rights of cannabis patients and collective members. Sheriff Allman discussed the difficulties interpreting the complex layering of local, state and federal marijuana laws. Mendocino County faces an eminent challenge to its nuisance ordinance, currently employed by law enforcement to help identify legal versus illegal growing operations. (Ukiah Daily Journal, May 16)