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MARIJUANA Central Point hopes to keep pot grows indoors Comment By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted May. 25, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted May. 25, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Marijuana growers in Central Point would have to keep their plants indoors under an ordinance expected to be approved by the City Council Thursday. The ordinance would require both medical marijuana and recreational pot — once it becomes legal statewide on July 1 — to be grown indoors or in enclosed spaces within city limits. Central Point is among the many cities grappling with regulating the growth and sale of recreational cannabis while awaiting state lawmakers to establish specific guidelines in the wake of Ballot Measure 91, passed last November. The measure makes it legal for adults 21 and older to grow up to four marijuana plants for recreational use and to possess up to eight ounces of dried cannabis flowers. City officials anticipate that with legalization will come more backyard grows — and more complaints from neighbors opposed to the strong smell. The City Council unanimously approved a first reading of the proposed ordinance after a hearing that drew minimal public comment May 14. The ordinance would involve changes to the city's nuisance code to address odors and would work in conjunction with existing ordinances regulating dispensaries. Community Development Director Tom Humphrey said that while the council would prefer not to have dispensaries or marijuana crops inside city limits at all, the ordinance would allow the city to address specific livability issues for residents. A city survey sent to residents in recent months found most respondents weren't entirely against marijuana as long as they couldn't see or smell it. Councilwoman Kay Harrison was pleased with the council's approach to regulating marijuana grows. "It's the smell. People don't want to see it and they don't want to smell it. It's a very distinct odor," she said. "With medical marijuana already allowed, people are already dealing with the smell, so I think having it be indoors is a way of looking to have people be more considerate of their neighbors. A lot of people before it was legal were growing it under lights and enclosed spaces anyway." Resident Ralph Nelson, who attended the public hearing, applauded the council's approach to balancing the rights of those growing marijuana with the rights of neighbors who don't want harsh smells limiting their ability to use their own properties. "The neighbors that have had marijuana, even the medical marijuana, have made it really bad for their neighbors. They stink the neighborhood up. You can smell it for a block or more," Nelson said. "I had friends who had medical marijuana being grown right next door and, in summertime, once (the plants) start getting smelly, (the neighbors) couldn't use their backyard, couldn't use their pool, couldn't have windows open to their house. Having marijuana in a building hopefully will slow down that amount of odor that's coming across." Nelson said instances of theft of plants and juveniles gaining access to plants also would be reduced if crops were grown in enclosed spaces. "I just think you have to have a good-neighbor policy because whatever you do in a neighborhood affects those around you," Nelson said. Mayor Hank Williams, who has voiced his opposition to having dispensaries in town, said the city was mitigating a difficult issue in the most effective way possible. "We've had problems with people breaking into where it's being grown and stealing it, so that's not very secure, and then it stinks like a skunk when it gets to budding," Williams said. "We think people trying to ban it are going to lose, so we figured the way to stop all the problems without getting into some of the legal issues these other cities are facing was to have them grow it inside." If approved, the ordinance would take effect prior to the July 1 legalization of recreational use. Thursday's meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 140 S. Third St., Central Point. Buffy Pollock is a freelance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at [email protected] . By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted May. 25, 2015 at 12:01 AM » 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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