Poll: Should Sonoma allow backyard cannabis plants?

On Wednesday, May 30, the Sonoma City Council is expected to consider a second reading of an ordinance that would prohibit the outdoor growing of cannabis for personal use (except for in a greenhouse). So in our latest online poll, we asked readers if the city should allow backyard cannabis plants. Out of more than 300 respondents, our poll – which we stress is wholly unscientific – a whopping 80 percent were in favor of allowing outdoor grows for personal use. In the I-T’s three years of online polling, we can’t recall a more lopsided result.

While the vast majority were in favor of outdoor grows, many commenters suggested setting limits of just a few plants to mitigate the aroma. Here are a few of the more passionate comments:

If a skunk runs through your backyard and sprays, should we outlaw skunks inside the City of Sonoma too?

People have been growing pot in Sonoma for decades....worried about the “odor”? Try living near Leveroni dairy (I do) or next to a winery. Pot is just another of the many aromas around here. A disgusting smell for me is the “residual” that fast food restaurants put out on a daily basis... get a grip here city council... it’s not a big deal, really.

Yes. Pretty much getting fed up with this City stepping all over our privacy and property rights.

The ginkgo tree on the Plaza is worse. But we are being told to “get over it.” Cannabis is a legal intoxicant, just like wine. Some people don’t like the smell of fermented grapes, or the fertilizer put on many of the vineyards.

Yes, as long as you’re not growing a vineyard and it’s just a couple for personal use there should not be a problem.

Yes, but let’s get real. It stinks. Oh lordy, does it smell at harvest time. It should be grown in a secure environment with carbon filters, security cameras, and locks because, unlike wine, it is much easier to swipe for “farm to joint” than wine. No teenager or crappy person ever pilfered a ton of grapes, then processed them for 12 to 18 months, for a quick high. Growing can be done outside with the right security and odor mitigation. The city should allow for a recreational dispensary at the very least. Just one. Not 17.

A few plants sure, no problem... but I wouldn’t want to live next door to someone growing 20 to 100 plants as they do stink.

This whole cannabis issue has gotten out of hand. I agree for medical issues that it “can” help a patient, but far too many people are smoking it for all the wrong reasons and now you want to allow anyone and everybody grow it? Think society is crazy now, just wait if this keeps going down this path.

Cant believe these people on the City Council are in control, I guess I should know better with the Trump regime in control. It’s now a legitimate healing plant, treat it like it is, not like it was.

Anyone against this is out of their minds. I say less grapes more weed.