Mountain Ranch, CA… Here we go again. A new election with commercial cultivation is once again on the table. The growers are going to keep on with their argument that they are all about their community and that they are doing mankind a service by providing the miracle drug, marijuana. Their sacrifice is going to provide millions to the county and we will all live in a Garden of Eden.

Well actions speak louder than words. While citizens who were concerned about the direction Calaveras is headed, worked on the petition to get Measure B on the ballot, the humanitarian growers berated and cussed at them. Their ban petition and “No on D” signs were destroyed. You didn’t see any “Yes on D” signs destroyed, but we all know how that story ended. Well now they have hit a new low. While a pro Measure B supporter was attending church, let me repeat, “attending church”, had the tires slashed on their car for having a ” Yes on B” sign on it. Enough is enough. This behavior is exactly like the anti-Trump snowflake protesters. Allowing commercial cultivation in our county, these are the people you are going to have neighbors. You need to ask yourself a question, how much is it worth to you? How much quality of life are you willing to sacrifice? The only reason I submitted this letter to “The Pine Tree” is so they can respond anonymously and post their nasty comments below it and let their true colors come out. They will do it, it is who they are.

We now have the opportunity to be the first in the country for the people to decide whether we want commercial cultivation in our house. The previous Board of Supervisors sold us out with their “Urgency Order” and did it at the worst time after the Butte Fire. They created a monster that they have proven they have no control of. The growers argue that Measure C will provide funds to the county to weed out the “bad actors”. Well who are the ” bad actors”? The “commercial” grows that registered with county are failing to be in compliance with the Urgency Ordinance by two-thirds. If you are not in compliance, Measure C is not in effect. So much for that $11,000,000.00 to the county. Better check your math. My question to these ” Oscar Performers” is, since you run in the same circle, how many of the “hacks” have you reported to the hotline to assist the county in getting control? Regulation will deterrent a “bad actor” as much as a “gun-free zone” sign does with a felon. The cultivators need these bad actors because there is strength in numbers. If the county adopts a permanent ordinance, they will have the political pull and money to alter the ordinance to benefit themselves in the future. They have already proven that they don’t want the Board of Supervisors to have control over them with Measure “D” in November of last year.

The bottom line is, any money that Measure C generates will be tied up policing the growers and dealing with the mess it creates. The commercial growers will be the ones making the millions while the citizens of Calaveras are left holding the little plastic baggy. Now is the time finish the job and save our county. Vote yes on Measure B.

Mark Clark – Mountain Ranch.