HALF-BAKED POT PLAN UNRAVELS

Our view: Four city councilors wanted to provide something for
medical marijuana users, but now the users may end up with nothing.

The City Council's plan to endorse two huge marijuana-growing
operations in Chico is quickly unraveling. Wow, who saw that one coming?

Well the truth is, everyone, except the four city councilors who
voted for it knew this would happen.

Ignoring the warnings of the Department of Justice, the Butte County
district attorney, the police chief and the local police force, the
council voted 4-3 on July 5 to allow two dispensaries where marijuana
could be grown and distributed, each up to 10,000 square feet.

Before the council vote, the U.S. attorney for northeastern
California sent a letter warning the councilors they were considering
something that was unlawful in the federal government's eyes. It told
them the consequences of breaking the law. Ann Schwab, Mark Sorensen
and Bob Evans got the message and wisely voted against the dispensary
ordinance.

Andy Holcombe, Mary Flynn, Scott Gruendl and Jim Walker shrugged off
the threat and approved the ordinance.

Since then, the U.S. attorney invited City Manager Dave Burkland,
Police Chief Mike Maloney and City Attorney Lori Barker down for a little talk.

Those three probably already knew the council's idea was a bad one,
but the federal prosecutor drove home the message.

They needed to find a delicate way to tell four councilors that they
need to rethink their idea.

Police officers were not so delicate.

The officers union came out Friday and said flat-out they wouldn't
help enable people who are breaking federal law.

It's the first time we can remember a local police force telling
elected officials they wouldn't enforce one of their ideas.

The council is expected to discuss the matter again at its Aug. 2
meeting. Councilors would be wise to quickly backtrack.

They know that only two cities in the U.S. attorney's entire district
got warning letters, though others have allowed dispensaries.

Those two cities were Isleton and Chico.

Both approved enormous, city-sanctioned marijuana growing facilities.

Even if the council decides to allow small-scale dispensaries, just
to get off the U.S. attorney's radar, there's another problem: The
police force still probably wouldn't ignore federal law and look the other way.

The council's missteps may mean that, instead of doing a favor for
medical marijuana supporters who want "access to medicine," those
people may end up with nothing.