Meeting Time: November 13, 2024 at 9:00am PST

Agenda Item

2c) Discussion and Possible Action Including Options for Cannabis Facilities Licenses Including Changes to Mendocino County Code Chapter 6.36 - Cannabis Facilities Businesses and Chapter 20.243 - Cannabis Facilities Which Could Facilitate Greater Allowances for Cannabis Facilities (Sponsors: Supervisor Haschak and Planning and Building Services)

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    Ryder Wooten at November 13, 2024 at 11:39am PST

    The ability to obtain a microbiz license for our company would be extremely valuable as we have to pay distributors to handle and move our products. This costs lots more and takes the control of my product’s quality out of my hands. Please see this as a step forward to helping licensed cannabis farmers survive this tumultuous industry. Thank you

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    russell perrin at November 13, 2024 at 7:20am PST

    To the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors and the GGC Committee,

    We urge you to consider the immense challenges we’re facing as small cannabis farmers in Mendocino County. The current system is causing us significant financial strain and operational setbacks, making it nearly impossible for us to get our products to market in a timely manner. Many of us have been left isolated by these barriers, and some have already been forced to shut down operations entirely.

    The changes you make could be transformative, supporting the cottage industry that Mendocino County is known for. We produce high-quality, organic, and pesticide-free cannabis. Allowing us to distribute our own products would ensure we maintain quality control, uphold our standards, and offer consumers the trusted, locally-grown products they’re seeking. We work tirelessly each season, and it’s essential that we can deliver our products directly to buyers without unnecessary delays or middlemen.

    All too often, our products end up in distribution warehouses where they sit, lose value, and sometimes even perish—a loss we simply cannot afford. Each misstep—whether due to nature or an unfortunate business deal—takes us one step closer to shutting our doors for good. As small farmers, we’re already facing countless variables in cultivation; we need every bit of support possible to ensure our success.

    Allowing us to distribute our own cannabis is a win-win solution. It will stimulate the local economy, provide consumers with direct access to quality Mendocino-grown cannabis, support sustainable farming practices, and promote fair competition. It’s time to recognize the essential role that small farmers play in this industry and empower us to succeed.

    Let’s work together to create a system that embodies fairness, quality, and the unique spirit of Mendocino County cannabis.

    Thank you for your consideration.

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    Hannah Nelson at November 12, 2024 at 3:55pm PST

    Please see the attached memo

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    Tekla Broz at November 12, 2024 at 3:46pm PST

    To the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors and the GGC Committee:

    I am the owner and manager of a 2,500 sq ft cottage cultivation in Covelo Core, the North Fork Garden Society. I have achieved my annual State license, and have a five year Mendocino County CB. One would think I would be doing well, but I am barely breaking even.

    I oppose expansion of cultivation size in Mendocino County. In this world of restrictive rules and barriers, it is hard enough for small farmers to compete against the flood of cannabis from other counties, without giving big money another leg up within our own County.

    In addition to my opinion, I am old enough to remember 2020. This was the year that Mendocino County approved a referendum to honor the the original ordinance, with a limit of 10,000 sq ft cultivation. Since then, farms have been dropping out of the business right and left, and yet you feel its time to ignore the will of the people and reconsider DOUBLING the size of cultivation? This is not a “reinterpretation” of the ordinance, it is a gross over writing. And it is clearly at the request of monied special interests, too. How shameful.

    The recent editorial in the Laytonville Observer summed it up well:

    “Some of the Supes seem to think that only the marijuana industry has the right to express their views and opinions on pot laws, regulations and “reinterpretations.” They seem to be not aware that cannabis laws and regs are enacted for all citizens, not just the cannabis industry. This whole issue of expansion was resolved without question several years ago when the people of this county massively supported referendums to repeal a Board of Supervisors’ proposed ordinance to expand cultivation grow areas. So, again, the question is, why are some of the Supervisors and their unelected staff, attempting to ignore overwhelming opposition of the people of this county to cultivation expansion? This is another example of County officials creating a problem where none existed before.” -Jim Shields, Editorial, The Observer.

    Instead of trying to tip the competitive playing field against us, please consider making it easier for us to do business by considering allowing more easy access for farms to becoming a Microbusiness, which would free us from the rigid structure of distribution placed on us by the State.

    I support the recommendations by the Mendocino Producers Guild on these matters.

    Thank you for your attention,
    Tekla Broz,
    North Fork Garden Society
    CCL19-0002406
    AG2019-0025

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    Tamara Kislak at November 12, 2024 at 3:15pm PST

    Thank you board members for bringing this agenda item to the GGC.

    As a small, licensed cultivator in Mendocino county, I urge you to consider as many pathways as possible to get all small cultivators eligible for micro business licensure.

    Currently, zoning and land use is an obstacle for many cultivators to be able to take advantage of a license type that that would keep more money in our county and empower small businesses to be profitable. Micro-business licenses should be available wherever cultivation is permitted, in the same way that distribution as an accessory use is today. Eligibility for micro- business licenses should NOT be limited by a requirement for home occupation or commercial buildings. Distribution, manufacturing, and sales are an extension of the agricultural activity of cannabis cultivation.

    My colleagues and I have many creative and seemingly-straightforward-to-implement ideas of how this can be accomplished and would be more than happy to work with board members and staff if input is desired.

    I beg you to help find solutions to get as many small cultivators as possible eligible for micro-business licenses as swiftly as possible. For the economic security of our county.

    Tamara Kislak
    Cultivator and taxpayer

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    Laura Clein at November 12, 2024 at 2:33pm PST

    Dear Supervisors,

    It's time for Mendocino County to incorporate aspects of a micro-business license, but design it for rural small farms. This could measurably level the playing field. Through loopholes, mega farms & multi-state brands, have co-opted and vertically integrated via the micro-business license as an unintended consequence, not its original intent. It's the license type that is often mischaracterized by politicians and regulators as saving small farms. But there are ways to fix it now that would allow small businesses to get ready for Federal legalization and streamline the supply chain that has failed us. As the recent Origins Council research reported in "The Rural Land Use Trap, Micro-business, Direct Sales and the Future of Craft Cannabis" states, "The Department of Cannabis Control can immediately facilitate microbusiness licensure and on-farm vertical integration, without further statutory action, by implementing regulatory reforms that remove barriers to the underlying manufacturing, distribution, and retail activities that most affect small, rural farmers. While these reforms in themselves are not a silver bullet solution to enabling microbusiness licensure for small farmers, they can serve as an incremental step that, combined with additional action at the local level, can increase and sustain the relative viability of on-farm vertical integration over time." The County can do it's part to loosen regulations for licensed cultivators, expanding allowable accessory activities not size, and make changes that could happen right now, for the Phase 1 10k sq ft small farms in every zone, in ways that would not increase the footprint or environmental impacts, and it would increase access to market & profitability.

    Thank you, Laura & Marty Clein
    Martyjuana™

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    Chiah Rodriques at November 12, 2024 at 11:42am PST

    Dear honorable supervisors – as a small farm in Redwood Valley, my husband and I have been working hard pre-prop 64 to hang on and continue business with our 2 cultivations and a nursery and make profit off of our small farm. It has been very difficult to maintain permit in Mendocino County, ironically the state part is so easy, but the county seems to make everything so difficult. It would be to your advantage at this point, to keep people in businesses and bend over backwards to help the remaining farmers, when so many small farms are dropping off the map. They’re getting gouged at every corner with some other fee, fine or tax. The CCBL option makes sense, less overhead on your part and more sensible operations for the farmers. Let’s give everyone regardless of their zoning a CCBL. Previously our farm was said to be in a zone that self Distro would not work for us in. However, that meant countless distro vans coming and going with no 4wd tearing up our nice off-county private roads, paying tons of fees for pick ups and deliveries and so forth. Mostly our distros used were from out of county. All this time we could have been accomplishing those thing on our own and saving money and streamlining operations. Lets give the power back to the farms. Lets keep the money here in Mendocino County. Please make this easy as possible and get people through. Thank you

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    Patricia Vargas at November 12, 2024 at 10:16am PST

    Dear Board of Supervisors,

    We would like to voice our support in allowing greater allowances for 10k and less cultivator sized licenses by obtaining access to a Microbusiness license within our county. We are a multi award winning 5k sungrown regenerative farm who practices beyond organic agriculture. As of right now, we are required to go through multiple parties outside of our business who charge us outrageous prices to transport, test, distribute, and retail our product. Unfortunately, these companies charge so much for their individual services and yet the quality degradation of the hard worked product we produce, falls into the hands of these companies who can not maintain quality control. This is understandable when you look at how many hands and businesses our product has to go through just to reach the consumer. Not only does it cost cultivators a non sensible amount to get products to consumers and lower the quality, it's more environmentally taxing to keep moving around product, it is a waste of time coordinating so much movement at the whims of others who more likely than not, do not understand or care for the needs of the product to maintain it's qaulity. Having a microbusiness license would be a game changer for small farms. We would have the ability to leave the product in the appropriate conditions (temperature and air control) until it reached the consumer and truly share the medicine at its best. We as a county represent some of the world's finest cannabis, it is so important that we have full quality control of the product. Currently, I have to wait months, on average, pay 3 different businesses -distro, manufacturering (just to package), and transport fees. Owning a microbusiness license would eliminate the headache, human error, and lower our costs so we can actually exist in the California marketplace. I began to apply for a microbusiness license with the county and was met with multiple stops regarding zoning and building structures. I live on Ag and UR zoned parcels, I have a permitted dedicated facility building for my business on the land. Why shouldn't I be able to have a microbusiness like any other company would, to distribute, package, transport, and bring our product to retail in the best conditions? Please consider the benefit this would provide to the working citizens of our county who soley invest in their neighbors and local communities bettering Mendocino County as a whole. We are the volunteers who work tirelessly to create events and invest in our youth and community, holding and making spaces where we can all thrive. We have been complaint and working hard to save our local communities from despair. Espiecally our more rural communities who need us to stay in business so we can continue to support and uplift the amazing and beautiful county we all share.

    Thank you for your time and support.

    Patricia Vargas
    of Sun Roots Farm

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    Traci Pellar at November 12, 2024 at 10:10am PST

    By creating easy pathways forward for a microbusiness license, we can help our small farmers thrive. Let's make it simple and easy. It's time!

    Traci Pellar

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    Kevin Bush at November 12, 2024 at 9:39am PST

    We support all opportunities to level the playing field for cultivators