It’s that time of year when a potent, skunk-like aroma permeates the Yuba County foothills, causing annoyed neighbors to call Code Enforcement.

Though complaints keep Code Enforcement busy year-round, September and October are prime harvest months for marijuana plants grown outdoors. Just Monday, with four inspection warrants, more than 730 plants were found to be out of compliance with the county’s ordinance, Code Enforcement manager Jeremy Strang said.

Yuba County adopted a marijuana ordinance in 2012 and it has been modified a few times, Strang said. The ordinance allows for six plants to be cultivated indoors. No outdoor growing is permitted. Strang said of all the inspections his department makes, maybe 1 percent of those are in compliance. Of the roughly 99 percent of marijuana growers out of compliance, Strang said about half the time there is voluntary compliance when it comes to removing plants when caught in violation.

“I guess it’s amazing that people just choose not to follow the rules,” Strang said.

He said there is a dividing line between what Code Enforcement and law enforcement does as it relates to marijuana regulations: Code Enforcement does not seize marijuana and does not raid gardens–it seeks civil inspection warrants, inspects properties for possible violations, and issues an abatement order if there is a violation. If there’s criminal action to be taken, law enforcement – like Yuba County Sheriff’s Office – issues the criminal search warrant and seizes any criminal property. Code Enforcement does not make arrests.

The recurring trend, Strang said, is the distinct growing style found in the foothills. Code Enforcement consistently finds hoop-style greenhouses with running generators, gas cans near generators, and long runs of extension cords – all built without permits or inspections.

“Most often times, it’s done in such a way that it creates fire hazards to the public,” Strang said.

This time of year, outdoor or greenhouse-grown plants mature and becomes easier to see and smell. But plants inside homes and other undercover grows cultivate well into winter, he said.

“The bigger push does exist through September and October and depending on the weather, could go into November,” Strang said.

Marijuana is the second most common case Code Enforcement handles, behind vehicle and ahead of visual blight cases. In fiscal year 2017-18, the department closed 221 marijuana cases with another 248 still active.

“Our job here is to educate the public on what the Board adopts,” Strang said. “With marijuana, the ordinance has not changed. The public should be aware of what is allowed and not allowed. It would be helpful if they followed the ordinance. That’s the goal – to gain compliance.”

© 2018 the Appeal-Democrat (Marysville, Calif.). Visit the Appeal-Democrat at www.appeal-democrat.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The deadline closed to apply for Marysville’s one available medical marijuana dispensary license – and just one company, based in Sacramento, threw its hat in the ring.

Jim Bermudez, director of the Community Development and Services Department for Marysville, said the application period closed Monday at 4 p.m.

Representatives from Northstar Holistic Collective, which operates a marijuana dispensary on C Street in Sacramento, filed the application.

“At this moment, given that we only received one application, the city still needs to review it. We will evaluate the application to make sure that it’s complete based on our requirements as they are listed. We will then conduct a background investigation and look at various elements of their plan to make sure they meet up with our requirements,” Bermudez said.

Applicants were required to have a conditional use permit application number and a zoning verification letter from the city before submitting. The application also required an interested party provide identifying information for the principal owners of the company, detailed timelines and performance measures, a neighborhood responsibility plan, detailed business operation plans, security plans and a number of other requirements, on top of a nonrefundable application fee of $10,000.

If the application is determined to be complete, then a panel comprised of Bermudez, the police chief, the city manager and the fire chief will convene to determine what the best route for the city is moving forward.

“If during our review we have some concerns, we will be dialoguing with the company. If we decide it is not the best fit for the city, we would send it back out to solicit applications,” Bermudez said.

The medical marijuana dispensary permit became available in April after the city decided against renewing a permit for the Marysville Cannabis Company due to the company providing “false or misleading information” in its renewal application.

At the time, the lead representative for MCC said a tenant/landlord dispute resulted in the company being locked out of the property at 1109 Chestnut St., thereby leading to them not being able to meet their obligations with the city.

Those same property owners – Marysville Farming Company LLC – appear to have worked out a deal with representatives from Northstar. In its application, Northstar proposed locating its dispensary at the same location MCC was expected to open.

“Northstar would like to provide the residents of Marysville with the best, compliant cannabis products on the market. Northstar is known for having cannabis strains, edibles, tinctures, cartridges and CBD products that are hard to find. We hope to satisfy everyone, be a positive contribution to the community and look forward to the opportunity to operate in Marysville,” said Taylor Jordan, a compliance manager for Northstar.

To learn more about the company, visit www.northstar916.com.

The city’s only other medical marijuana dispensary license is held by River City Phoenix. The company is building a new dispensary at the corner of F and Third streets, which is expected to open within the next few months.

© 2018 the Appeal-Democrat (Marysville, Calif.). Visit the Appeal-Democrat at www.appeal-democrat.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.