5g) Discussion and Possible Action Including Introduction and Waive First Reading of an Ordinance Adding Chapter 10A.18 - Industrial Hemp Cultivation Pilot Program to the Mendocino County Code
(Sponsors: Agriculture and County Counsel)
I am a licensed cannabis farmer in Covelo. Now is not the time to take up this item. With the current fire emergency and pandemic emergency, the public does not have time to fully evaluate this matter. For several reasons outlined in the memos sent by MCA and CCAG this item stands to hurt small farmers. I oppose this item.
Will keep this short since you already have a letter from us carried over from this item in March & not much has changed. We still oppose this hemp pilot program in Mendocino County. Here is an article that furthers the idea that its not the right time or place for hemp. https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/25/hemp-farmers-275046?fbclid=IwAR3vVD3j4ZcnD4RoRpIX1C5d7IdjCUIj2cqgA6LUqP8gzRFZvQnNdpdB1do We support both the MCA & the CCAG memos on this item & on supporting the sheriff's office re: violent crime. We again ask that this Board & the Staff focus on getting the many Phase 1 family farmers through the state licensing system as promised to all who signed on to the yet to be fully clarified county cannabis program. Thank you.
I am a licensed regenerative cannabis growing on the valley floor of Covelo. I am a member of Covelo Cannabis Advocacy Group and MCA (I agree with both memos and would like to add the following). I am in opposition of Hemp being grown in Mendocino county. It is too much of a risk to our legacy growers. We are known in Mendocino County for our Cannabis, please do not put us in jeopardy. There is a farm that is over 500 acres to our north on ag land (currently growing hay and Cattle). He has been wanting to sell it to a hemp farmer. If that is allowed it would very easily put us out of business. The risk of contamination not only from pollen but the use of potential pesticides and chemicals could be catastrophic for our environment and water source (which is also our drinking water). I am grateful that hay and cattle are the main larger ag products being grown and we do not have to deal with any other ag industries that use lots of chemicals. How would we ensure that would be the case if a hemp farmer de used to grow? There is not a lack of hemp being grown in our country right now, I hear story after story that there is an over production. There are many many other counties and states were hemp is much better suited to grow. And one more reason not to allow hemp, we simply do not have the time and staff to deal with this issue right now until all the applicants in the current cannabis program are brought through the final legalization process and the CEQA & SSHR are dealt with. To allow hemp to be grown in this county would be yet another slap in the face to legacy growers.
I am a licensed craft cultivator of cannabis in Mendocino County and a member of the Covelo Cannabis Advocacy Group. In regards to Agenda Item 5g, I second and support what Mo Ramirez has written on our behalf and would like to add that I hope the Board of Supervisors considers in particular the timing of creating a Hemp Pilot Program -- this is not the time! Please, please consider how much work and time and money folks like me, whose farm has been in the program since the time of zipties and 9.31, have put into becoming a licensed cannabis cultivator and how we still have roadblocks toward obtaining annual state licenses because of issues specific to our county. We need to you to prioritize getting this program, which so many folks have invested in, to work and to work well BEFORE creating yet another program, particularly one that will adversely affect the current (still fraught and not yet fully realized) cannabis program. Thank you for your time and consideration.
I am a licensed cannabis farmer in Covelo. Now is not the time to take up this item. With the current fire emergency and pandemic emergency, the public does not have time to fully evaluate this matter. For several reasons outlined in the memos sent by MCA and CCAG this item stands to hurt small farmers. I oppose this item.
I support the CCAG memo and am against a Hemp Pilot program in Mendocino at this time.
Will keep this short since you already have a letter from us carried over from this item in March & not much has changed. We still oppose this hemp pilot program in Mendocino County. Here is an article that furthers the idea that its not the right time or place for hemp. https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/25/hemp-farmers-275046?fbclid=IwAR3vVD3j4ZcnD4RoRpIX1C5d7IdjCUIj2cqgA6LUqP8gzRFZvQnNdpdB1do We support both the MCA & the CCAG memos on this item & on supporting the sheriff's office re: violent crime. We again ask that this Board & the Staff focus on getting the many Phase 1 family farmers through the state licensing system as promised to all who signed on to the yet to be fully clarified county cannabis program. Thank you.
I am a licensed regenerative cannabis growing on the valley floor of Covelo. I am a member of Covelo Cannabis Advocacy Group and MCA (I agree with both memos and would like to add the following). I am in opposition of Hemp being grown in Mendocino county. It is too much of a risk to our legacy growers. We are known in Mendocino County for our Cannabis, please do not put us in jeopardy. There is a farm that is over 500 acres to our north on ag land (currently growing hay and Cattle). He has been wanting to sell it to a hemp farmer. If that is allowed it would very easily put us out of business. The risk of contamination not only from pollen but the use of potential pesticides and chemicals could be catastrophic for our environment and water source (which is also our drinking water). I am grateful that hay and cattle are the main larger ag products being grown and we do not have to deal with any other ag industries that use lots of chemicals. How would we ensure that would be the case if a hemp farmer de used to grow? There is not a lack of hemp being grown in our country right now, I hear story after story that there is an over production. There are many many other counties and states were hemp is much better suited to grow. And one more reason not to allow hemp, we simply do not have the time and staff to deal with this issue right now until all the applicants in the current cannabis program are brought through the final legalization process and the CEQA & SSHR are dealt with. To allow hemp to be grown in this county would be yet another slap in the face to legacy growers.
I am a licensed craft cultivator of cannabis in Mendocino County and a member of the Covelo Cannabis Advocacy Group. In regards to Agenda Item 5g, I second and support what Mo Ramirez has written on our behalf and would like to add that I hope the Board of Supervisors considers in particular the timing of creating a Hemp Pilot Program -- this is not the time! Please, please consider how much work and time and money folks like me, whose farm has been in the program since the time of zipties and 9.31, have put into becoming a licensed cannabis cultivator and how we still have roadblocks toward obtaining annual state licenses because of issues specific to our county. We need to you to prioritize getting this program, which so many folks have invested in, to work and to work well BEFORE creating yet another program, particularly one that will adversely affect the current (still fraught and not yet fully realized) cannabis program. Thank you for your time and consideration.