RED BLUFF, Calif - Ashley Aguiar says she is legally dispensing medical marijuana to needy patients, but she is still treated like a criminal.
"I am not a drug dealer, I am not here to make a profit. I am here to help the citizens in the community that need something different than prescription drugs," explained Aguiar, CEO of the Blue Toad Cannibus Collective in Red Bluff.
Despite having a permit from the state, Aguiar's business could soon be shut down by the city.
"We've had complaints about the growing of marijuana and the neighborhood impact of that and the city wants to consider a ban," said Martin Nichols, Red Bluff City Manager.
The Red Bluff city council will vote Tuesday night to change the city's zoning ordinance, banning the growth and distribution of medical marijuana. It is a move some medical marijuana advocates believe violates state law.
"The city is acting like they're higher than the state of California and they're not," said Aguiar.
State proposition 215 and SB 420 allow for the legalized use and cultivation of medical marijuana under certain guidelines, but Red Bluff officials say those laws do not supercede the city's zoning authority.
"It's really no different than the city's authority to ban adult bookstores or other issues like that. They have authority to do that, California state law is very clear," said Nichols.
If Red Bluff actually implements a ban it could serve as a blueprint for other North State areas who want to stop medical marijuana collectives
