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CITY COUNCIL Medford pot grow bans will go to voters One measure would ban both indoor and outdoor grows Comment By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted May. 19, 2016 at 5:11 PM Updated May 19, 2016 at 5:33 PM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted May. 19, 2016 at 5:11 PM Updated May 19, 2016 at 5:33 PM » Social News The Medford City Council has agreed to send a proposed ban on pot grows to voters this November despite strong objections from marijuana supporters. Tere Knight said she lives just inside the city limits and wouldn’t be able to grow marijuana while her neighbor who lives in the county would be able to grow. “I was given a right by the state and now you’re taking it away,” Knight said. She said she grows medical marijuana for her mother-in-law, who has colorectal cancer. “I’m going to be on the bandwagon to sue because my mother-in-law deserves better,” Knight said. The council passed two proposed bans on marijuana grow sites in the city that will be sent to the voters. One version would ban outdoor grows only but also have an odor ordinance to deal with complaints from residents about indoor grows. The council approved sending the proposed ban to voters with six approving and one abstaining. The second version, which will come back to the council for a second reading, would ban both indoor and outdoor grow sites in the city. The council approved this version with a 4-to-2 vote, with one abstention. Councilor Clay Bearnson, who owns a medical marijuana dispensary, abstained on both votes. Councilors Chris Corcoran and Tim Jackle voted against the complete ban on grows, saying it would be difficult for police to enforce a ban on indoor operations. “I draw the line at telling people what they can do inside their homes,” Corcoran said. Medford councilors say they have received numerous complaints from residents about the odor of marijuana, particularly toward the end of summer. They said there are also many unreported problems because people are reluctant to turn in their neighbors to police. According to Medford police Lt. Kevin Walruff, the city received 30 marijuana complaints from September 2015 to March 2016. Of these, 23 complaints were resolved by code enforcement and seven by patrol officers. Walruff cited several cases over the past five years in which thieves have stolen marijuana at gunpoint. He did say that law enforcement spends more time dealing with other drugs, particularly methamphetamine and opiates. Councilor Kevin Stine said he opposed putting any kind of ban on the ballot, but he said it was a compromise on the part of the council, which has been sharply divided over this issue. Medford resident Ruth Moncus encouraged the council to support the ban. “I’m for the ban primarily for the kids,” she said. She said curious children would take some from their parents’ backyard grows to their local school. But Medford resident Mandy Valencia said, “A ban on grows in Medford would hurt a lot more people than it would help.” Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/reporterdm . By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted May. 19, 2016 at 5:11 PM Updated May 19, 2016 at 5:33 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. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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