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Mendocino County, CA Supervisors Call on Congress to Study Marijuana Issue, Support Proposition 215

MARIJUANA

February 1998

On January 27, the Mendocino County, California Board of Supervisors called on Congress to conduct hearings regarding the legalization of marijuana (Mike Geniella, "Congress Review of Legalizing Pot Sought," Santa Rosa Press Democrat, January 28, 1998; Jennifer Poole, "Cannabis Club gets county's support," Ukiah Daily Journal, January 28, 1998, p. A1).

Citing 30 years of failed state and federal anti-marijuana efforts, the board unanimously voted to address a letter to U.S. Rep. Frank Riggs (R-CA), U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), U.S. Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA), California Senator John Vasconcellos (D), and other state officials. The letter read, "Due to millions of dollars spent on the eradication efforts of marijuana, this Board is urging your support to move forward and seek a Congressional hearing on all issues surrounding the legalization of Marijuana and corresponding regulations." Mendocino County consistently had been one of California's top marijuana growing counties. Some experts estimate the value of the county's annual marijuana production to be almost $1 billion. Congressman Riggs has pledge in the past to seek congressional hearings on marijuana if county supervisors sought him to do so (Letter to Congressman Riggs, et al., County of Mendocino, Board of Supervisors, January 27, 1998; Jennifer Poole, "Board agrees to call on Riggs for pot hearings," Ukiah Daily Journal, January 28, 1998, p. A1).

A second resolution was adopted in response to federal civil suits aimed at shutting down medical marijuana clubs, including one in the county seat, Ukiah. Resolution 98-025 requests that "the Sheriff and the District Attorney in this County to follow the letter, spirit and intent of Proposition 215," California's medical marijuana law passed in November 1996 (Resolution No. 98-025, County of Mendocino, Board of Supervisors, January 27, 1998).

County of Mendocino, Board of Supervisors - 501 Low Gap Road, Room 1090, Ukiah, CA 95482, Tel: (707) 463-4221, Fax: (707) 463-4245.

Congressman Frank Riggs - 1714 LHOB, Washington, DC 20515, Tel: (202) 225-3311, Fax: (202) 225-3403, E-mail: <repriggs.@hr.house.gov>.