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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Pot activists make impassioned plea to council ... VIDEO: Cannabis advocates speak against Medford's proposed growing ban ... Ashland man admits to laundering pot money ... Pot activists make impassioned plea to council ... VIDEO: Cannabis advocates speak against Medford's proposed growing ban ... Ashland man admits to laundering pot money ... Pot activists make impassioned plea to council By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Nov. 19, 2015 @ 4:53 pm Updated at 4:55 PM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Nov. 19, 2015 @ 4:53 pm Updated at 4:55 PM » RELATED CONTENT • Marijuana Rally » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> An impassioned group of cannabis supporters today protested Medford’s proposed ban on outdoor and indoor grows for both recreational and medical marijuana. “You are demonizing this issue by creating fear in this community,” said Medford resident and lawyer Robert Graham. More than 100 people crowded into the council chambers to voice their concerns about the ban. When Mayor Gary Wheeler said he was going to end any further comment because the council had other pressing issues, the crowd booed. Wheeler frequently pounded his gavel and attempted to bring order within the council chambers. The council opted to postpone making a decision on the pot ban until the 7 p.m. evening session to allow more people to speak about the issue. Last week, the council voted 6-2 to ban residential grows, with councilors Kevin Stine and Clay Bearnson opposing the idea. Many councilors said they were receiving complaints from local residents, particularly about the odor of pot gardens. The council was set to vote on the second reading of the ordinance today. According to the Oregon Public Health Division, there are 1,942 registered medical marijuana growers who have a Medford ZIP code, or roughly one-third of the growers in Jackson County. Those numbers don’t count the number of residents who can grow four plants after the passage of Measure 91 last November. The council previously passed an ordinance that would allow dispensaries in the city as well as permit commercial grow sites in mainly commercial and industrial zoned areas. Cannabis activist Andrew Johnson told a group of supporters outside City Hall this afternoon that if the council passed the growing ban, he would push for a court challenge to stop it. Mandy Valencia, who organized the rally, said in the meeting she objected to councilors saying that some local residents are fearful of pot growers in the city. “I’d like to ask if all four-feet, 11-inches of me is scary to you?” she asked the council. Valencia, who grows in Medford, said medical marijuana patients often seek cannabis for pain relief rather than taking more potent pharmaceutical drugs that can lead to opiate addiction. “You’ve done such a half-ass effort on how this ban would affect medical marijuana patients,” she said. Terry Knight said she grows for just one elderly woman with glaucoma. “I don’t ask for recompense,” she said. Knight said councilors are asking local marijuana patients to suffer by depriving them of affordable access to their medications. “People are passionate,” she said. “They feel like their rights are being violated.” Some cannabis supporters recommended the council at least allow indoor grows, or grows where the odor could be lessened by air filtration systems. Brent Kenyon, owner of The Wharf Seafood Market and Eatery on West Jackson Street in Medford, said the ban would affect sick and dying patients. He urged the council to avoid passing an ordinance that will prove costly to defend. “People are going to suffer if you decide to do this,” Kenyon said. He also said the smell of marijuana isn’t as objectionable as other odors, citing farm animals in particular. “Pigs have a lot more smells than marijuana,” he said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at @reporterdm . By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Nov. 19, 2015 @ 4:53 pm Updated at 4:55 PM » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » 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 Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site 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. 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