5i) Discussion and Possible Direction to Staff Regarding the Cannabis Cultivation Permitting Program Priorities from September 22, 2020 and Direction to Staff to Review Additional Options for the Program Including Potential Consideration of Cannabis Cultivation as an Agricultural Activity
(Sponsor: Planning & Building Services)
To supervisor McCowens comment about 1100 participants paying taxes but not really paying attention or participating. We are paying attention. We are participating. We just don’t see a path forward. The hurdles keep growing. Every time we take a step forward, we continuously see a bigger wall grow in front of us that needs to be climbed over. We don’t have a direct line of communication to state reps. But that’s why we vote you guys in. To be the voice and to work on solutions between those state agencies and our laws and rules. The citizenry partaking in the legal tax paying parts of our society expect at least that much.
Appreciation for your continued efforts... Cannabis has had the unique status amidst this strange year of being deemed essential. This year also showed the county & the state that cannabis is valuable. Even with what some of you yourselves have called a failed program, and we are not disputing that claim, it's profitable. Collecting fees, fines and taxes from the cannabis industry in the range of the millions of dollars in this county, and at a time when there is so much economic uncertainty in our world. Can you imagine how beneficial it would be if is was a successful program? We can!
We read the agenda items, 5h & 5i. We write in support of both the CCAG & MCA memos. We respect the research & knowledge of the experts in both of these industry associations. We are very concerned by the potential for many of the unintended consequences they outlined on both agenda items.
Hopefully, getting clarity on cannabis being recognized locally as an "Agricultural Activity" gives the county the foundation we need to move forward in the process of obtaining our State Annual Cultivation Licenses. Anything & everything should be done to find a way for the county to follow through on their obligations to the Phase 1 applicants & permittees. Those of us local farmers who signed on in good faith that, as we heard in these very BOS meetings, if we satisfied all of the requirements of the county permit program we would be CEQA compliant & eligible at the state level. Yet here we all are, still awaiting the very documents the county promised to provide. Our elected state representatives seem to understand & want to help Mendocino's situation. Our county hiring an outside attorney at this juncture re the CEQA issues we are having with the state agencies sounds like a great idea. Make this work for small farms & it will pay off in big ways in long run.
Thank you for you time & consideration,
Laura & Marty Clein
Cannabis Cultivation is undeniably an agricultural activity and all cultivation permits should be handled by the Department of Agriculture. Maybe it makes sense for Planning and Building Services to handle volatile extraction licences, as the biomass/extraction industry is virtually incomparable to traditional cannabis farming for flower. Mendocino county must prioritize farmers who have cultivated traditionally here, bolstering our economy for decades, by considering cannabis cultivation as an Agricultural Activity.
To supervisor McCowens comment about 1100 participants paying taxes but not really paying attention or participating. We are paying attention. We are participating. We just don’t see a path forward. The hurdles keep growing. Every time we take a step forward, we continuously see a bigger wall grow in front of us that needs to be climbed over. We don’t have a direct line of communication to state reps. But that’s why we vote you guys in. To be the voice and to work on solutions between those state agencies and our laws and rules. The citizenry partaking in the legal tax paying parts of our society expect at least that much.
Dear Honorable Supervisors,
Appreciation for your continued efforts... Cannabis has had the unique status amidst this strange year of being deemed essential. This year also showed the county & the state that cannabis is valuable. Even with what some of you yourselves have called a failed program, and we are not disputing that claim, it's profitable. Collecting fees, fines and taxes from the cannabis industry in the range of the millions of dollars in this county, and at a time when there is so much economic uncertainty in our world. Can you imagine how beneficial it would be if is was a successful program? We can!
We read the agenda items, 5h & 5i. We write in support of both the CCAG & MCA memos. We respect the research & knowledge of the experts in both of these industry associations. We are very concerned by the potential for many of the unintended consequences they outlined on both agenda items.
Hopefully, getting clarity on cannabis being recognized locally as an "Agricultural Activity" gives the county the foundation we need to move forward in the process of obtaining our State Annual Cultivation Licenses. Anything & everything should be done to find a way for the county to follow through on their obligations to the Phase 1 applicants & permittees. Those of us local farmers who signed on in good faith that, as we heard in these very BOS meetings, if we satisfied all of the requirements of the county permit program we would be CEQA compliant & eligible at the state level. Yet here we all are, still awaiting the very documents the county promised to provide. Our elected state representatives seem to understand & want to help Mendocino's situation. Our county hiring an outside attorney at this juncture re the CEQA issues we are having with the state agencies sounds like a great idea. Make this work for small farms & it will pay off in big ways in long run.
Thank you for you time & consideration,
Laura & Marty Clein
Cannabis Cultivation is undeniably an agricultural activity and all cultivation permits should be handled by the Department of Agriculture. Maybe it makes sense for Planning and Building Services to handle volatile extraction licences, as the biomass/extraction industry is virtually incomparable to traditional cannabis farming for flower. Mendocino county must prioritize farmers who have cultivated traditionally here, bolstering our economy for decades, by considering cannabis cultivation as an Agricultural Activity.