A.
The city of Crescent City and other public agencies have reported adverse impacts from cultivation, including, but not limited to: disagreeable odors negative effects on physical, mental, and community health; violation of building codes and other land development codes; increased risk of burglary and other property crimes; and acts of violence in connection with the commission of such crimes or the occupants' attempts to prevent such crimes.
B.
The creation of persistent strong odors as cannabis plants mature and flower is offensive to many people, results in complaints of respiratory problems, and generally creates an attractive nuisance by alerting persons, including children, to the location of valuable cannabis plants and creating an increased risk of crime.
C.
Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of cannabis use, and the presence of cannabis plants is an attractive nuisance for children, creating an unreasonable hazard in areas frequented by children including schools, parks, and other similar locations. Further, the potential for criminal activities associated with cannabis cultivation in such locations poses heightened risks that children will be involved or endangered.
D.
The indoor cultivation of substantial amounts of cannabis within a residence presents potential health and safety risks to those living in the residence, especially children, including, but not limited to, increased risk of fire from grow light systems; potential adverse effects on the structural integrity of a building; exposure to fertilizers, pesticides, and anti-fungus/mold agents; and exposure to potential property crimes targeting the residence.
E.
The production of concentrated cannabis and extraction of compounds from cannabis using alcohol or flammable liquids or gases has caused numerous fires and explosions throughout California causing injury to both people and property.
F.
The right of qualified patients and their primary caregivers under state law to cultivate cannabis plants for medical purposes does not confer upon them the right to create or maintain a public nuisance. By limiting the cultivation area for indoor medical cannabis cultivation to a single space no larger than fifty square feet in a single room and limiting cannabis plants to a single layer, the city anticipates a reduction in the negative secondary effects of unfettered growing such as odor, fire, crime, and pollution.
G.
Limiting the area of indoor cultivation to fifty square feet is necessary because the lights and electricity required by cultivation areas larger than fifty square feet are likely to exceed the wattage supported by a typical household light and receptacle circuit, thereby creating an unreasonable risk to public health, safety, and welfare and a public nuisance through the hazard of fire and overloading of circuits.
H.
Prohibiting the outdoor cultivation of cannabis is necessary because outdoor cannabis cultivation would create an unreasonable risk of causing a public nuisance.
I.
Limiting the number of medicinal cannabis plants or medicinal cannabis cultivation space available to a qualified patient or primary caregiver is not intended to preclude a qualified patient or primary caregiver from obtaining through dispensaries, collectives, or other legal means additional medicinal cannabis that the qualified patient needs for his or her reasonable medical use.
J.
Limiting the number of personal cannabis plants cultivated indoors for personal use and the total wattage of lights used for cultivation is necessary because cultivating cannabis plants in excess of six plants and with unlimited total wattage would create an unreasonable risk of fire danger caused by high-wattage grow lights and excessive use of electricity.
K.
Requiring indoor cultivation to be secured in a locked space increases the possibility that cannabis grown for purposes that are legal under state law remains secure and will not be distributed to minors or in illicit markets.
L.
By limiting the amount of medicinal cannabis that a qualified patient or primary caregiver may possess to up to eight ounces, or the amount that is reasonably related to the qualified patient's current medical needs, the city seeks to reduce the harms that come with possession of larger amounts, including illegal sales, accompanying crimes, and illegal cultivation practices.
M.
It is the purpose and intent of this chapter to implement state law by providing a means for regulating the cultivation of medicinal and personal use cannabis in a manner that is consistent with state law and which balances the needs of medical patients and their caregivers and the interests of personal use cultivators, while promoting the health, safety, and welfare of the residents and businesses within the incorporated city of Crescent City. This chapter is intended to prohibit the cultivation of cannabis by anyone for any purpose other than by a qualified patient, primary caregiver, or personal use cultivator cultivating in strict compliance with this chapter, and applicable state law. This chapter is not intended to prohibit persons from exercising any right otherwise granted by state law, including, but not limited to, Proposition 215, Senate Bill 420, Proposition 64, and Senate Bill 94. Rather, the intent and purpose of this chapter is to establish reasonable regulations upon the manner in which cannabis for medicinal or personal purposes may be cultivated, including restrictions on the amount of cannabis that may be cultivated in any location or premises, in order to protect the public health and safety.
N.
The limited right of qualified patients and their primary caregivers and personal use cultivators under state law to cultivate cannabis plants for medicinal purposes or personal use does not confer the right to create or maintain a public nuisance. By adopting the regulations in this ordinance, the city will achieve a significant reduction in the aforementioned harms caused or threatened by unregulated cultivation of cannabis in the city of Crescent City.
O.
Nothing in this chapter may be construed to allow the cultivation of cannabis for purposes other than medicinal and personal use, or allow any activity relating to the cultivation, distribution, or consumption of cannabis that is illegal under state law.
(Ord. 803 § 3, 2018)