Elk Grove Planning Commission Votes To Restrict Medical Marijuana Growing

During their regular meeting last night, the Elk Grove Planning Commission voted to ban any outside cultivation of medical marijuana.

After over two hours of deliberations the commissioners decided by a 3-2 vote to limit cultivation of medical marijuana to indoors facilities only and decided not to allow it to be grown in out-structures such as sheds. The proposed ordinance will now go to the city council who will make the final decision on the matter.

Commissioners George Maita and Brian Villanueva voted against the item but for different reasons. Maita supported growing in out-structures and Villanueva said the city should prohibit all outdoor cultivation.

Maita argued that the ordinance will need to be adjusted from time-to-time and that the proposed ordinance was a good starting point. "It is a good baseline," he said.

Villanueva noted that the ordinance was modeled after one in Corning, Calif. that requires permitting and since its inception in 2005 only one permit has been issued. He went on to comment that it was unlikely there would be compliance and that the city should just ban all outdoor growing.

"It is intended to make it as punitive as possible," Villanueva said.

In addition to limiting where medical marijuana can be grown, the commission also limited growing areas to 50 square feet and at least 1,000 feet away from schools.