Mendonico County Sheriff on Radio Station KZYX

"The Truth about Money" returns on Friday, July 9, at 9 AM, with host, John Sakowicz, and guest, Mendocino County Sheriff, Tom Allman. We will be talking about the new medical marijuana cultivation permit and inspection permit.

(MENDOCINO, Calif.) - On March 23, 2010, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors enacted an ordinance that quadrupled the number of medical marijuana plant that can be grown on a parcel of land. The new ordinance allows gardens up to 99 plants, if growers apply for a variance to the county's 25-plant limit.

In other words, the new ordinance requires proper licensing and law enforcement scrutiny. Opinion about the new ordinance is sharply divided. Some medical marijuana advocates applaud the new limit. Others view the new ordinance as illegal and an infringement on a patient's rights. Still others question the appropriateness of using a nuisance law to regulate an agricultural commodity. And yet others question even the very enactment of the county ordinance, given that state law remains in flux and federal law does not recognize the medical use of marijuana.

The intent of Friday's show is not to explore these differences of opinion. Instead, our show will narrowly focus on the permit process itself.

Where can you get a permit application? How do you apply? What is the permit application fee? Is the fee refundable? Is there a waiting period?

How does the Sheriff's Office define applicants, i.e., individuals, collectives, and members of collectives? How does the Sheriff's Office define a not-for-profit applicant? How does an applicant document its relationship between itself and a dispensary? Can dispensaries supplied by the applicant be located out of Mendocino County? Why is five (5) acres the minimum parcel size? Can a 99-plant cultivation be "subdivided"? Can the five acres represent a"community garden" or "green space"? If your permit is approved, do you still need to pay for zip-ties for each plant? What are the requirements for compliance? Where can gardens be located? Does the ordinance distinguish between outdoor and indoor cultivation? What is "proof of notice"? Are there fencing requirements? What are the limitations on ordors, lights, glare, noise, etc.? Is there a posting requirement? Who has the authority to abate? Why inspect? What does an inspection involve? Are there legal liabilities? What is third-party inspection? How often does a cultivation need to be inspected? What is the inspection fee? KZYX&Z airs at 90.7, 91.5, and 88.1 FM. Webcast of the show streams live at kzyx.org Questions for Sheriff Allman can be emailed before the show to: thetruthaboutmoney@kzyx.org

Depending on Sheriff Allman's time constraints -- we have no acting undersheriff, remember? -- we hope to be taking a few listener calls.