Politics & Government

Concord Moves Forward With Outdoor Marijuana Growth Ban

City Council by unanimous vote approves proposed ordinance in first reading; final approval is scheduled for April 9.

The city of Concord is moving forward with a ban on growing marijuana outdoors.

The Concord City Council voted Tuesday night 5-0 to approve an ordinance to ban outdoor growth. That was the first reading of the law, with the final vote scheduled for April 9.

A number of residents testified Tuesday night against such an ordinance. Shalene Smith, a 14-year Concord resident, said she had used medical marijuana for seven years to treat her arthritis.

Find out what's happening in Concordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"If I didn't have marijuana, I would not be standing in front of you today," she said.

Being forced to grow marijuana indoors will be a big expense in electricity costs plus reserving a room for growth, she said. If the law is finalized, she said, "the next home I buy will be not be in the city of Concord, if this is the type of government we have."

Find out what's happening in Concordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Resident Jeremy Daw said marijuana grown indoors has lower levels of chemicals that enhance health, and higher levels of chemicals for those who smoke to get intoxicated.

Several council members stressed they were supporting the ordinance for reasons of public safety.

"I don't want to see a total ban on medical marijuana in the city of Concord," said Council member Ron Leone, who said the vote was a balancing act. "Cultivating marijuana invites the criminal element when you have a large grow." It invites break-ins and robberies and affects property values in the neighborhood, Leone said.

Council member Laura Hoffmeister said it's important that the law be simple and that city leaders follow up and check on implementation and enforcement some months in the future.

Concord is basing its law on a recent one passed in the town of Moraga, City Attorney Mark Coon said.


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