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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Since You Asked: Sheriff's department in the market for new patrol dog Auditor: Jackson County finances strong The Sovereign Among Us Public meetings: Feb. 9-13 Emergency services, Feb. 7 Crime, Courts and Emergency Services The Sovereign Among Us Emergency services, Feb. 7 Myrtle Creek man was murdered, police say Deputies, volunteers rescue Talent family trapped by flooding Defendant: Near-death experience a wake-up call Politics and Elections Kent Bush: Fraud kept alive by the left and right Walden sets town halls on Friday Amid rising scrutiny, governor says fiancee won't have role in administration Ashland aims for diversity, but numbers show shortfall Kent Bush: The keys to decoding the State of the Union address Education Sharing black culture SOU board names officers, committees SOU students targeted in Drive Less campaign Parent files discrimination complaint against Ashland schools Some gains, some losses Environment Solar pavilion going up at Coyote Trails GMO opponents can join Jackson County in defending ban Jackson County won't set up wolf kill compensation program Commercial users can get rid of pesticide waste for free Jackson County looks at compensation for wolf kills State News Letter says Kitzhaber official fired after Hayes criticism Attorney general says Kitzhaber's ethics allegations 'troubling' Willamette football player pleads not guilty to manslaughter 'In God We Trust' leads to Klamath County debate Bill calls for relocation of Washington state wolves Nation - World Obituaries Helmut "Harry" Podlech Alson "Al" Velma "Ruth" Thornton Trudy Butler Jean Yvonne Baumer Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Knights turn back Cascade Christian Tornado swimmers dominate Invitational Beavers defeat Cal Poly, 26-10 Weber’s fourth triple-double powers SOU men Mavericks rally, down Blazers in OT Varsity 541 College Sports Beavers defeat Cal Poly, 26-10 Weber’s fourth triple-double powers SOU men Sun Devils upset No. 6 Arizona Stepping up her game Final four minutes are Beavers' time Pro Sports Mavericks rally, down Blazers in OT With Davis hurt, Bulls rout Pels Two lose in arbitration; teams are now 3-1 Giants’ rotation has lots of questions English, Holmes share Farmers lead Community Sports Local Events Business Latest Stories Erickson layoffs land hard in Jackson County People in Business Blog: Stay Calm Erickson announces 150 layoffs, mostly in Oregon 1-800-Flowers dumps Harry & David execs Real Estate News Housing prices climb 9 percent in Jackson County Big plans on the Butte Homes for the long haul New owners of Medford Center promise a hands-on approach: Home loan rates continue to fall, applications soar People In Business People in Business Transportation The heart of Brammo will remain Want to be an investor? 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Live Music in Local Clubs Community Events Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jacksonville celebrates Chinese New Year Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Paula Poundstone performs at the Craterian Len Dickson's 'Fall Harvest' to grace Belle Fiore wine label Dining Stylish shareables are the feature at Brickroom Sandwiches and burgers are hits at The Rogue Chef The Vine offers a taste of Italy Cheeseburgers on the cheap Valley View — It's all in the family Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Our View: Call for resignation is premature ... Auditor: Jackson County finances strong ... Get Up & Go: Sunday, Feb. 8 ... Our View: Call for resignation is premature ... Auditor: Jackson County finances strong ... Get Up & Go: Sunday, Feb. 8 ... MEDICAL MARIJUANA Pot garden odors raise a stink with neighbors Sams Valley woman says she gets allergic reaction from aroma Comment By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 29, 2014 @ 6:50 pm By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 29, 2014 @ 6:50 pm » Social News Kora Kari scratches her arms until they are bright red whenever the sharp odor of flowering marijuana wafts into her yard from her next-door neighbor’s garden. “I can’t get much closer to it,” the 59-year-old Sams Valley resident said. “I’ll break out in hives.” Kari said she desperately wants to get rid of the medical pot patch because of her allergic reaction to it, which includes headaches and watery eyes. She has appealed to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, local legislators and state officials for help. “I understand what her problem is, because that stuff stinks,” said Rep. Sal Esquivel, R-Medford. “But there is nothing I can do. You’d need to change the law.” Esquivel said he has forwarded Kari’s concerns to Sen. Doug Whitsett, R-Klamath Falls, who may introduce legislation that could make it clearer where marijuana gardens could be located, particularly in relation to schools.  “Certainly we’ve heard a lot of concern from neighbors about this throughout the state, and that is only going to get worse,” Whitsett said. “If it becomes legal, you’ll have a lot of people smoking in front of their kids.” If Ballot Measure 91 passes in November, even more gardens could sprout in neighborhoods. The measure would make it legal for people 21 or older to have marijuana for recreational use, and local, OLCC-licensed growers will supply some of that demand. Thomas Burns, director of Pharmacy Programs for the Oregon Health Authority, wrote in a Sept. 22 email to Kari, “Your concerns about where marijuana is grown is well understood. I wish there was something that we could do as your message is not unique.” Burns said nothing in Oregon law gives his agency the ability to license, regulate or control marijuana grow sites. “We can only regulate facilities that dispense medical marijuana to patients,” he wrote. Kari sent another email to the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program. Aaron Cossel, program analyst for OMMP, wrote back in a Sept. 22 email that there wasn’t sufficient probable cause to search the property. “Under current law, even if law enforcement is aware that an address is a registered marijuana grow site, they do not have the legal authority to inspect said grow site without permission from the landowner or a court order,” Cossell wrote. Kari said the medical marijuana operation was set up in June, and she thinks it’s not appropriate to grow medical marijuana in a residential neighborhood where houses are near each other. She said most of the lots near her property on Old Sams Valley Highway are about two acres. “It’s popping up in our area haphazardly,” Kari said. “Right or wrong, it’s going to be here, but it’s a drug and it should be treated like a drug.” Some neighbors don’t care about the pot being grown, while others are against the idea, Kari said. She showed an aerial map that indicated three different pot growing sites within a one-mile area, including a garden that is less than 1,000 feet from the Sams Valley Elementary School. Her biggest concern is her next-door neighbor, who has about 60 plants that will soon be harvested, and the dark green leaves and dense buds give off a strong smell that some have likened to a skunk. The plants range in size from 3 to 8 feet and are growing a few hundred feet from Kari’s house. “I do respect her concerns,” said Rafael Martinez, the 43-year-old neighbor who oversees the growing operation for what he says are 15 medical marijuana cardholders. “I abide by the laws,” he said. “This stuff is all medicine. It goes to patients with AIDS, cancer or brain tumors.” He said he’s contacted the sheriff’s department to let deputies know what’s going on at the property he rents. Martinez said he tries to be considerate of his neighbors. Because wells don’t produce a lot of water in the area, he hauls in up to 1,500 gallons a day during the height of summer for his thirsty plants. By fall, he uses about 500 gallons. Martinez said he would be willing to meet with Kari to see whether there are some ways to address her concerns, but Kari said she doesn’t want to get near the property because the smell is overpowering. “I know that everybody in the world is allergic to something,” Martinez said. “Everybody who smokes pot gets red eyes or dry mouth.” Martinez has erected a 6-foot fence around the pot patch and has installed black cloth on the fence so the plants aren’t readily visible from the street. Even so, many of the buds glistening with resin have grown taller than the fence. The smell is particularly potent at this time of the year, Martinez said. “In the morning time, it’s worse,” he said. Sheriff’s Lt. Matt Thomson said his department receives numerous complaints about pot grow sites. Thomson said there are no restrictions on where most of the gardens can be located. A complaint has been received about this particular site near Kari’s house, but Thomson said he hasn’t gone out yet to count plants and verify the number of cardholders. Each cardholder can have six mature plants. “A lot of people don’t like the smell of it,” he said. “Unfortunately, our hands are pretty much tied.” Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @reporterdm . By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 29, 2014 @ 6:50 pm » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. 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