Dear Supervisiors,

We want to bring to you attention that on Wednesday The Mendocino Voice reported that the cannabis tax structure has not yet been amended, even though THIS Board of Supervisors approved the changes in May.

https://mendovoice.com/2026/11/mendocino-county-supervisors-vote-to-end-minimum-cannabis-tax-is-on-mendo-time/

We initiated this process to remove the Minimum Tax / True Up back in January with our Supervisor, then went through multiple General Government Committee meetings, to get the item to the BOS, where it was approved.

Yet, similar to the recent news report, when we had a County cannabis inspection in August, our inspector informed us that he followed those proceedings, and that the Cannabis Dept staff did not think the ordinance had changed yet.

We then wrote to our Supervisor to inquire. In response to Marty's email we received the following:

From: John Haschak <haschakj@mendocinocounty.org>
Date: Thu, Sep 10, 2026, 12:09 PM
Subject: Re: True Up follow up

Hi Marty,
I talked with the Treasurer/Tax Collector today about the true up. She thought it was in County Counsel's hands. After doing some checking, she found a memo that says that the True Up for 2026 and beyond is eliminated per Board direction. County Counsel will bring back some clean up language for the penalties and interest and ordinance but even without further action, the True Up can be eliminated. Chamisse agreed with me, so I think that we are good to go. Of course, the 2025 true up is still due this year.
Best to you,
John

John Haschak
3rd District Supervisor
Mendocino County
707-972-4214

Then, on Thursday in response to our 2nd inquiry after the above article was published we received this reply,

From: John Haschak <haschakj@mendocinocounty.gov>
Date: Thu, Nov 12, 2026, 9:12 AM
Subject: Re: TRUE UP follow up 2026 AND BEYOND

Hi Marty,
I have had several conversations in the last couple of weeks about this issue. After talking with CEO, Treasurer/Tax Collector, County Counsel, and Deputy CEO, my understanding is that we are all in agreement. The 10A.17 has to be amended but it doesn't affect getting rid of the True-Up. It has to do with non-payment tied to permitting. The Tax Collector has to bring something forward to codify the change in true up to percent of sales. It should be on consent calendar when it comes back to Board but I don't have a timeline for when that will happen.
I hope this explains at least my understanding of the process at this point.
Best to you,
John

In both emails,our Supervisor is saying the County still needs to take action on the delinquent tax issue, but the removal of the Minimum Tax / Tue Up (a separate issue) will happen regardless of ordinance changes. Unfortunately, this is different than what is being reported to the public in the news article.

This issue needs clarification, and more importantly, codification. It seems like it needs to happen THIS YEAR to benefit the small farms who are left. Can the Board please make sure to have someone (CEO, Treasurer/Tax Collector, County Counsel, Deputy CEO,...) explain it at the next BOS meeting, and maybe reach out to the Mendocino Voice to correct their story online since the reporter seems to have incorrect info.

Thanks for your immediate attention to this matter,

Laura & Marty Clein, Martyjuana