Concord Law Would Ban Growth of Pot Outdoors

Bay City News Service

Concord city leaders are set to vote tonight (Tuesday) on whether to ban growing marijuana outdoors, even for medicinal purposes.

Tonight's vote follows months of debate on the issue and a vote last month by Concord's planning commission to send the ordinance to the City Council.

A public hearing and vote on the issue are scheduled during tonight's meeting at Concord City Hall at 6:30 p.m.

A Concord resident prompted the proposed ordinance last year after complaining that her next-door neighbor's backyard marijuana plot emitted a foul odor and that she feared it could draw criminal activity.

City Attorney Mark Coon drafted the ordinance, which was modeled after the town of Moraga's policy prohibiting all outdoor marijuana growth.

The Concord City Council favored that type of ordinance over other California city ordinances allowing limited outdoor pot growth.

At least 50 cities and counties statewide have implemented ordinances either curbing or banning outdoor marijuana growth, Coon said.

Some residents who use marijuana for medical reasons have expressed concern that the proposed ban would limit their access to the drug, but Coon maintains that the ordinance wouldn't infringe on medical marijuana users' rights because they can still grow the drug indoors.

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