OROVILLE — The Oroville Planning Commission has approved a new
medical marijuana growing ordinance that will go before the City
Council for final approval.  Earlier this year the council
approved an ordinance regarding marijuana dispensaries inside
city boundaries. At the July 10 meeting, the council directed
the medical marijuana committee and city staff to research and
develop an ordinance on cultivating medical marijuana in the
city.  The intent is to require medical marijuana be grown in
appropriately secured, enclosed and ventilated structures, so it
is not visible to the general public, and to protect the health,
safety and welfare of the public.  Planning and Development
Services Director Donald Rust said the idea is to prevent
marijuana from being a nuisance to neighbors or an attraction
for home invasion robberies.  "The idea is to secure it inside a
house or building, so no one would know they are growing it,"
Rust said.  The ordinance also prevents the odor from marijuana
plants from impacting resi