Dear Editor,
The members of the Mendocino County Fire Chiefs Association represent the 22 separate fire agencies within our county, and meet on a regular basis in an effort to network, share resources and stay current on local affairs.
Our county fire agencies, many of which are fully staffed by volunteers, have been directly affected by the cultivation and processing of marijuana, much of it identified as medicinal.
Our association appreciates the well-meaning attempt to self-regulate the ballooning marijuana industry in our County, but finds that Measure AF is plagued with inconsistencies to current law, and does not directly address the effect of widespread cultivation and processing to our environment or the impact to local fire agencies. Additionally the actions of the writers of this initiative seemed to have purposely circumvented and bypassed environmental and/or public review showing no regard or empathy to those that choose not to participate in the cultivation or processing of marijuana, but may be subjected or exposed to the unwanted effects caused by a neighbor’s actions.
Our county fire agencies, many of which are fully staffed by volunteers, have been directly affected by the cultivation and processing of marijuana, much of it identified as medicinal. These fire agencies have responded to assist county and state agencies with environmental cleanups at numerous grow sites, and have had to respond to various calls for service including medical assistance, structure and vegetative fires related to the cultivation and processing of marijuana.
Our Association questions Measure AF’s recognition and allowance of the use of volatile solvents such as liquefied petroleum gas, alcohol, and other flammable agents and asphyxiates. These products used in the process for concentrating THC to manufacture hash oil have the potential to produce many unwanted results. Our county fire agencies have well documented accounts of the accidental explosions with fire, burn injuries, fatalities and fires into our wildland urban interface caused by these processes.
Our county fire agencies recognize that almost any human interface with our environment has the potential to trigger uncontrolled and unwanted results including accidental fires, impacting public and private lands, and put our firefighters at risk.
Please allow our elected officials and legislature to create and enforce the law so that all of our county residents are represented fairly and equally.
Please join with our local Fire Agencies and support “No on Measure AF”.
Carl Magann
Carl Magann, President for the Mendocino County Fire Chiefs Association.
And to the extent pot really is “medicine” shouldn’t it be subjected to the same FDA and other regulations medicines are subjected to? What if people grew their own opium poppies or coca leaves in their back yards? No, cannabis needs to be fully decriminalized this November for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to deflate the sense of entitlement and victimhood that this milieu seeks to wrap itself up in. Hog farming and strip mining are also legal, but cannot be carried out anywhere at will in flagrant disregard of the greater public good. In fact, one cannot even grow tobacco or hops without a federal permit. Then of course, there ‘s GMOs. So, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
And to the extent pot really is “medicine” shouldn’t it be subjected to the same FDA and other regulations medicines are subjected to? What if people grew their own opium poppies or coca leaves in their back yards? No, cannabis needs to be fully decriminalized this November for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to deflate the sense of entitlement and victimhood that this milieu seeks to wrap itself up in. Hog farming and strip mining are also legal, but cannot be carried out anywhere at will in flagrant disregard of the greater public good. In fact, one cannot even grow tobacco or hops without a federal permit. Then of course, there ‘s GMOs. So, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.