Can I purchase recreational marijuana in Placer County?

 

Even though California has been following the lead of a number of other states all over the US as far as legalizing recreational use of marijuana is concerned (or, at the very least, decriminalizing it in almost all counties throughout the state of California), there remain a number of staunch holdouts that aren’t quite as welcoming to the “Californian Green Rush” the way that the rest of California is.

 

Placer County is one of those holdouts.

 

On December 6 of 2016, the Board of Supervisors in Placer County passed the legally binding Ordinance 5851-B. This legislation modified the cannabis regulations that had been in place previous to this ordinance, explicitly (and in zero uncertain terms) eliminating and preventing all commercial cannabis activities within the unincorporated territory of Placer County itself.

 

Article 8.10 of the county’s Municipal Code, the part of the municipal code that regulates cannabis, also states that any individual in the county is breaking the law when engaging in any commercial or retail cannabis activity throughout the entire unincorporated region of this county.

 

This outlaws retail sales, the delivery of cannabis, and even the commercial growing or production of cannabis to be sold in the future as well.

 

Placer County and the Board of Supervisors also handed down a ban on the commercial harvesting of cannabis, as discussed by Roseville Auto Accident Lawyers. This makes it completely illegal and unlawful for any individual or organization to grow or harvest cannabis for the express purpose of selling it later down the line.

 

There is an exception to this last provision in the new Cannabis Regulations, however. The board will allow qualified medical patients that want to personally grow their own medicine (medicinal cannabis) the opportunity to do exactly that.

 

Individuals must first go through the qualifying process as passed down by their medical professional, report to Placer County that they intend to grow medicinal marijuana, and then subject themselves to regular inspections to confirm that they aren’t ever growing or cultivating any more than six cannabis plants on no more than 50 ft.² of land.

 

On top of that, authorized growing operations must be conducted in a screened in and portioned off area of the land if that is to be grown out of doors. There are no extra regulations placed on those that choose to grow these medicinal plants indoors.

 

Unsurprisingly, these decisions made by the Board of Supervisors in Placer County have already come under fire.

 

With the overwhelming majority of the rest of California taking full advantage of everything that new relaxed cannabis regulations bring to the table, flooding their towns and their counties with new money and investment that didn’t exist previously, incorporated cities within Placer County are pushing back against these new regulations in an effort to overturn them in the future.

 

At the same time, many of cities in Placer County are going along with the decisions made by the Board of Supervisors. A number of them have extended bands on commercial activities inside of their city limits, and some of these cities have even gone as far as prohibiting the creation of new dispensaries or allowing any new business licenses to be handed out to dispensaries that want to establish themselves in Placer County.

 

 

Crime in Placer County

 Crime in Placer County, California

Placer County is a beautiful California area that covers partial territory in both Sacramento Valley and the Sierra Nevada. As of data gathered via the 2010 census, it boasted a population of nearly 350,000 people. Placer County is also notable for being located at the heart of what was once “gold country” during the gold rush of the late 1800’s. Currently, the county is home to a variety of major companies in industries like agriculture, modern tech, railroad transportation, and mining.
However, Placer County is no different from any other area in the United States, no matter how beautiful and appealing. That said, it has its share of issues related to crime. Let’s take a closer look at crime as it relates to Placer County and examine what it means going forward.

A Closer Look at Placer County Crime Rates

Between the years 1999 and 2008, there were roughly 71,500 reported crimes of various natures that took place somewhere within the borders of Placer County. About 5,500 of those crimes were considered to have been violent crimes. (Examples include rape, murder, and assault.) This would put the average number of daily crimes in Placer County at around 20.
So where does that put us as far as where Placer County crime rates are going? Over the course of 10 years between 1998 and 2008, crime rates within county limits were found to have risen by 58%. Violent crimes in particular – most people’s largest worry – increased by 57%. The rest of the data reflects crimes classified as “property crime” (theft and the like). The county has since been looking to reduce these rates by focusing heavily on crime reduction to a much greater degree.

Placer County and Current DUI Statistics

There are also Placer County DUI rates to consider. Because of growing concern about crime rates and public safety in Placer County on the whole, law enforcement officials have been cracking down on “driving under the influence” crime in a big way, according to Placer County DUI Lawyer Michael Rehm.

Recent reports from Placer County DMV field offices indicate that the district attorney’s office in Placer County boasts one of the nation’s highest conviction rates when it comes to DUI-related offenses. We’re talking a 99.2% conviction rate in comparison to California’s statewide average of 79.4%. This makes Placer County one of only three California counties with conviction rates that reach or exceed 90%. (The other two are Shasta County and Santa Barbara County.)

Measures taken to make sure drunken drivers are caught and held accountable include but are not limited to numerous sobriety checkpoints and saturation of major roadways with Placer County law enforcement on nights that are deemed to be high risk. Holiday weekends are especially vigilant time periods for seeking out and catching drunk drivers within county limits.  If you have been injured in auto accident involving a drunk driver, contact Manteca Personal Injury Lawyer. Recent Placer County DMV reports revealed that nearly 2,300 motorists were convicted of misdemeanor charges while an additional 76 were convicted of felony charges. Yet another nearly 200 were arrested on the mere suspicion of drunk driving.

Life in Placer County

Living in Placer County, California

While every place on earth comes attached to its own special brand of charm, Placer County really is one in a million. As they enjoy unparalleled natural beauty that stops you dead in its tracks combined with rich local history that’s a true joy to see and explore, Placer County residents – all 360,000 of them — would agree. “There’s no place like home.”   However, knowing that Placer County has a lot to offer those lucky enough to live there or visit there is one thing. Fully understanding the best of what the area has to offer is another, if you are injured contact Eureka Auto Accident Attorney. Let’s take a closer look at what you can really expect when it comes to living in Placer Country, California.

The History of Placer County

Placer County saw its first major influx of residents looking to call it home in 1848 when gold was discovered there. Tens of thousands of folks looking to strike it rich – either by grabbing their share of the gold or by offering goods and services to those already there – flocked to the area in droves. In fact, the very name “Placer” itself is derived from the Spanish word for sand deposits that contain gold.
Eventually, the gold mining rush gave way to other industries including timber, agriculture, and the railroad business. This only added to the appeal of an already noteworthy area, of course. Many of Placer County’s towns – including Newcastle and Loomis to name just two – originally started as mining towns and eventually became epicenters for other fantastic ways to work the land and leverage its considerable bounty.

Working in Placer County

Placer County is currently home to quite a few of California’s most stable and sought after employers. They include but are not limited to Hewlett-Packard, Union Pacific Railroad, Kaiser Permanente, and Sutter Health. Placer County’s own city of Lincoln is also home to one of the nation’s longest standing businesses, Gladding McBean, a top manufacturer of terra cotta clay.  Placer County on the whole continues to offer a variety of career opportunities in granite, farming, ranching, and fruit cultivation to boot.

Getting Around Placer County

In Placer County, there are three major airports available for general aviation purposes. They are Auburn Airport, Lincoln Regional Airport, and Truckee-Tahoe Airport. The nearest airport available for commercial purposes is Sacramento’s own Sacramento International Airport.  For localized transportation beyond standard automobile use, Placer County has a stellar public transportation system in place via Placer County Transit. The Sacramento Regional Transit also provides light rail transport for commuters to Downtown Sacramento. Some cities within the county – such as Lincoln, Roseville, and Auburn — also have their own localized transit systems. Intercity services are additionally provided via Greyhound and Amtrak.
Other Information About Placer County
Placer County is partial home to two of America’s most noteworthy protected natural areas – El Dorado National Forest in the Sierra Mountain Range and the massive Tahoe National Forest. Placer County is also notable for having hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, home to the world famous Squaw Valley Ski Resort.