Supes should rethink proposed cannabis expansion
We agree with Sheriff Kendall, 5th District supervisor Haschak, the Farm Bureau, lots of local residents and the environmental community that the proposed new expansion of cannabis growing the supes want needs a closer look and rethinking.
As far as we can tell, the whole proposal appear to be a quick grab at allowing large corporate growers to get started in the county, supposedly bringing lots of cash with them.
It seems to us that the “cannabis is a budget boon” idea crashed a long time ago. No billions showed up.
This expansion idea would, for the first time, open our county rangelands to cannabis growing. That’s a bad idea. We suspect if some mall developer came to the county wanting to build on rangelands, the supes would not hestitate to say no. Also, this new expansion would allow anyone to develop 10 percent of any property of at least 10 acres in cannabis plants even in residential neighborhoods. Where is the water coming from? Where is the energy for these huge gardens on rangeland coming from? Where is the policing coming from? We know local law enforcement and county staff do not have the personnel to make sure all the growing in this county now is permitted and legal. We think the large commercial growers will move here like a shot knowing that they will be able to get away with just about anything.
This county rejected a ballot measure expanding cannabis growing once already. The supes should not take it upon themselves to do it without asking the public’s permission. There are plenty of cannabis growers in this county already and if the county made it cheaper and easier to create and maintain mom and pop gardens, they would have fewer illegal grows.
Supervisors, listen to your sheriff, your farm community, your current growers, the environmental community, and put this idea on the shelf.
(On Friday, March 19 at 9 a.m. there will be a Special Meeting of the Planning Commission which will be discussing and making recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on this proposal. Contact them at pbs.mendocinocounty. org and your county supervisors at bos@mendocinocounty.org.)