How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
Opinion
- Details
- Written by: Michael Horner
It seems almost daily we are treated to a new “public information release” from our sheriff's department.
We are told of countless profits seized, dangerous weapons found and the horrible criminals involved in this illicit cannabis trade. It seems the Lake County Sheriff's Office wants us to believe that all cannabis is criminal. This is not the case.
In a recent public information release we learned of a medical cannabis dispensary operator who was arrested in a “routine traffic stop.”
The sheriff's office obtained a search warrant, and raided his medical cannabis dispensary, seizing cash and medicine.
The sheriff's office maintains “he was selling marijuana for profit” in an effort, I believe, to make even the legal dispensing of cannabis to qualified patients seem “criminal.”
It seems there is a confusion between revenue and profits.
Current state law does not prohibit cash changing hands in the trade of medical cannabis. The current language (in Prop 215 and SB420) allows for “reasonable recovery fees” to be collected by cooperative or collective growers, caregivers and dispensaries.
“Reasonable recovery fees” would cover the cost of cultivating the medicine (time and material), as well as administrative costs for dispensing the medicine to qualified patients. This is defined further in the California attorney general's guidelines, and case law too numerous to mention here.
While I do not know the status of this particular dispensary mentioned in this press release, I know that dispensaries and collectives generally have “nonprofit” status.
This does not mean that the organization cannot handle money, it simply means that, as an organization, it is not their intention to make a profit. This is not to say that its directors and employees can not be paid a salary, all though I know of a few dispensaries with all volunteer staff.
It seems the sheriff's office wants us to believe that if there is cash involved, that automatically means there is criminal activity. This is not the case.
There is a group of legitimate medical cannabis patients who want responsible regulation. These cannabis patients want the same rights as everyone else to public safety and equal protection from criminals.
These patients want to cultivate medicine for the patients they care for in a way that is responsible to the community, and to the environment, without fear of having their investment seized by the sheriff or their freedom threatened.
These patients also are entitled by state law to “reasonable recover fees,” fees that find their way back out into our community, not only through sales tax and property tax revenue to the county, but into the local economy, supporting all types of small business.
On Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 5:30 p.m. the Board of Supervisors will meet at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Fritch Hall to discuss a new ordinance effectively banning outdoor cultivation. This ordinance is dangerous to our community, and harmful to patients.
There are several laws in place we can use to chase out illegal growers without passing a new, economy-killing, job-crushing ordinance.
Please come out and let our Board of Supervisors know how you feel about this new ordinance.
If for some reason you can't come out, please email the supervisor in your district at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Boards/Board_of_Supervisors.htm and let them know how you feel.
Michael Horner lives in Cobb, Calif.
- Details
- Written by: Eva Johnson
Lake County was fortunate to have had Jack DeVine.
He was the outreach worker for the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center for many years. In addition to that job he worked with the Triple “S” Institute, aka the Senior Support Services of Upper Lake office as a volunteer.
He was alternately the chief executive officer or president of the board for more than 25 years as well as peer counselor, friendly visitor and anything to help people.
I met him in 1993 when working to start an adult day care for people with Alzheimer’s disease or other cognitive impairments in Lakeport at the senior center.
If there was any agency, activity, program or any service that was needed by seniors in our county, you can bet Jack DeVine was involved.
He helped me form a task force to investigate the feasibility to start a day care program in Clearlake. We started a program in 1997 under the umbrella of the Triple S Institute. A second program was started in 2002 in Lucerne. These day programs are still operating today.
I had the pleasure of working with Jack on the board of Triple S these past 16 years. This agency, in addition to being the umbrella of the day care programs, is still working with the seniors on the Northshore, providing advocacy and outreach as well as information/referrals, friendly visitors, exercise, art, computer and other programs.
Please check us out at 9470 Mendenhall in Upper lake, telephone 707-275-3513. We are here to help you.
Those of us who worked with Jack were inspired at his dedication and perseverance in continually serving the seniors, especially on the Northshore, even though his health was not always good. He was still helping others to the end.
Thank you Jack – it was a pleasure to have known you, a true star.
Eva Johnson lives in Kelseyville, Calif.
- Details
- Written by: Sue Williams
Since this is the season of Thanksgiving I thought I would share with your readers what I am thankful for: On Nov. 1, I married my partner of 27 years.
Now what really makes this special is we are a same sex couple and were treated with the utmost respect when we got married at the Lake County Courthouse.
What this marriage means to me is I got to celebrate meeting and falling in love with an incredible woman, a woman who has lighted up my pathways, comforted me when I have been struggling, a woman who has brought such joy to my life I am thankful each and every day I am in her light.
Now, I know not everyone may agree with our lifestyle but I think straight or gay, we can appreciate when we find love and can be happy.
I hope everyone can be happy for us. We are a family where love and compassion come first. It is then easy to spread that love to all we interact with in our lives.
We should all come together with a focus on what good love does in a world full of hurt and pain. We can all be role models to our young people who desperately need love in their lives.
So, I am thankful, grateful and looking forward to many wonderful years ahead.
Let's spread the season of love so it can stretch year round.
Sue Williams lives in Kelseyville, Calif.
- Details
- Written by: Lary Dumont
Congratulations are in order!
Last month my wife, Ilene, and I traveled to Rohnert park to experience the joy of watching our son, Paige Dumont, be inducted into the Hall of Fame at Sonoma State University.
Paige was a rarity in his era as he excelled in two sports as a student athlete at Sonoma State University.
As team captain and a starter on the Seawolves 2006 CCAA Champion Men's basketball team, Paige was also an All-American closer for the 2007 CCAA Champion baseball team.
As an All-Conference performer on the hardwoods in 2005-06, Paige owns the school's single-game block record with six.
On the diamond, Paige established a school record with 16 saves in 2007, garnering All-Region, and All-American honors. He also was an ESPN Academic All-American.
As parents, we are exceptionally proud of our son and want to thank all of our friends and relatives who traveled with us, as we joined Paige in this great honor.
Another rarity is that just last year, Tony Bussard, was inducted in the Sonoma State Hall of Fame for his soccer accomplishments, which makes them the only two athletes from Lake County ever achieving this high honor. Both were co-MVP of the NCL 1 from Clear lake High School Varsity Basketball team back in 1998.
Lary Dumont lives in Lakeport, Calif.
