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MEDFORD Medford City Council agrees to allow marijuana gardens With July 1 deadline approaching, councilors reach a compromise By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 25, 2015 @ 5:48 pm By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 25, 2015 @ 5:48 pm » 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" --> A divided Medford City Council reached a compromise Thursday to allow city residents to grow up to four marijuana plants, while also providing an option for neighbors to seek removal of foul-smelling pot gardens. “The train has left the station,” Councilor Eli Matthews said. “We need to find a middle ground.” The council voted 4-3 for the ordinance, which will require a second reading. Some councilors wanted an outright ban on all pot gardens, which will be legal to grow for recreational use starting July 1. “I don’t think residential areas are a good place to grow,” Councilor Tim Jackle said. The ordinance will set a limit of four plants that can be grown indoors and outdoors on a property, applying to both medical and recreational marijuana. Under current state marijuana laws, dozens of plants could be grown in a residential neighborhood. The city will respond only to neighbor complaints and will not actively look for larger marijuana grows or gardens that produce offensive odors. If the city finds someone has violated the limit on plants or the odor ordinance, the fine could be up to $250 a day. Councilor Clay Bearnson said he was concerned about the impact on medical marijuana patients, who are entitled to six plants each under state law. “Essentially what you’re doing is putting a Band-Aid on this,” he said. City Attorney Lori Cooper said, “It’s a Band-Aid for now, but four plants will take care of a lot of complaints.” Councilors Tim Jackle, Eli Matthews, Dick Gordon and Michael Zarosinski voted for the four-plant limit and the odor ordinance.  Councilors Clay Bearnson, Kevin Stine and Chris Corcoran voted against the ordinances. However, Corcoran did vote in favor of an amendment to the ordinance designating the four-plant limit. Councilors said they’ve received complaints from neighbors about larger grow sites, and expect the four-plant limit would resolve most of the concerns. Bearnson said the city had received only 17 complaints about marijuana grows since March. “That’s one-fifth of 1 percent of the city,” he said. “Why are we concerned about such a minority?” Medford police said they expect the complaints to increase once the plants start flowering in August through October. Corcoran also pushed for a middle ground after pointing out that his west Medford ward voted for Ballot Measure 91, approved by Oregonians in November 2014 to allow those 21 and older to have up to 8 ounces of marijuana at home and 1 ounce in public and to allow them to grow up to four plants per household.  Corcoran said councilors in east Medford live in an area that voted against Measure 91, but those in west Medford voted for it. Councilor Kevin Stine said the council would be taking away rights from residents if it imposed an outright ban on pot gardens. “Passing a bad ordinance so we could pump our fists in the air is not the way to go,” he said. Medford resident Ron Norris, however, encouraged the council to enact a ban on pot gardens. He said he has had to deal with the problem in his Alderwood neighborhood between East Barnett Road and Juanipero Way. He said the Alderwood Townhome Homeowners Association doesn’t allow marijuana plants. Norris said a neighbor complained about a skunk problem near his house. On further examination, Norris said, they discovered the odor came not from skunks but a marijuana garden. “It’s frustrating for the people who live there,” he said. “The skunk smell can be horrendous when they start budding in late August.” Medford resident Carrol Oliver, who has a medical marijuana card for pain issues, said she’s allergic to the smell of her neighbor’s laundry detergent and finds other odors troublesome. “Marijuana is not the only thing that has a smell,” she said. “I urge you not to pass the ban.” Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected]. Follow on Twitter at@reporterdm.   By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 25, 2015 @ 5:48 pm » Comment or view comments /* $( 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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