Navigating the cannabis landscape with Dylan Mattole

In the hills of Humboldt County, where cannabis farming is both an art and a livelihood, Dylan Mattole, owner and operator of Mattole Valley Sungrown and president of the Board of the Humboldt County Growers Alliance (HCGA), offers insights into the complexities and challenges of the cannabis industry.

Natalynne: Now that Measure A has been defeated, what lies ahead for your business and fellow farmers as spring approaches?

Dylan: With Measure A safely behind us, farmers can breathe again, and we can return to the familiar rhythms of the season. Spring marks the time for farmers to chart their course for the year ahead. For each farmer, this means something different. Many farmers hold genetics “in-house,” whether from seeds or clones they are preparing. Farmers employing the addition of supplemental lighting may already have clones on-site, and if they're doing full-term only, they're planning and may not yet have plants on site. The diversity of practices here is striking, but it all converges on one goal: nurturing plants and setting up nurseries. Farmers are looking at what they grew last year, what worked and didn't, and trying to anticipate market trends. One of the things that is becoming more evident is that buyers are getting more interested in some of the more unique varietals that people grow in Humboldt County, so hopefully, we'll see that trend continue.

Natalynne: What challenges do you foresee in 2024?

Dylan: The challenges we face this year mirror those of the past several years, revolving around California's fractured supply chain. Establishing trustworthy partnerships where payment is assured is more complex than it seems. The public needs to understand that cannabis farmers aren't paid immediately upon transferring their products; instead, they often wait for payment on terms that may extend 90 to 120 days, if they're paid at all.

Unlike many industries, cannabis farmers can't sell directly to customers. Instead, they must sell exclusively to licensed manufacturers or distributors, who then sell the products in their final packaged form through licensed retail outlets. This setup presents ongoing challenges for farmers as they navigate whom to work with and whom to trust in selling their products, all while hoping their partners maintain viable businesses.

While the pricing of cannabis is beyond our control, more farmers are finding sales and demand for their products. However, the recent closures of some of the state's largest distributors and reports of others facing solvency issues are concerning. Even if farmers aren't directly involved with these distributors, their failures have ripple effects throughout the supply chain, affecting everyone from retail outlets back to the farmers.

The most significant challenge facing Humboldt County farmers lies in the systemic issues within California's cannabis supply chain — specifically, how payments are processed and the lack of accountability in ensuring vendors pay farmers or that retailers pay distributors. These structural flaws continue to hinder the industry's stability and growth.

Natalynne: Looking further out, what opportunities do you see?

Dylan: As we embark on the journey of another growing season, Humboldt's cannabis farmers face the uncertainties of California's supply chain.

However, we find positive opportunities to shape our future amidst these challenges.

Here in Humboldt, we're focused on what we can influence. It's about engaging with local governments to manage Humboldt's cannabis land-use ordinance adaptively, ensuring it aligns with the needs of our forests, fish, farmers, and families. By fostering collaboration with local dispensaries, we can amplify the voices of our community and better support Humboldt's cannabis brands, enriching the local customer and visitor experience while strengthening our local economy.

Moreover, we want to build upon the grassroots coalition forged during the No on Measure A campaign. Together, we can highlight, showcase, and support Humboldt's rural economic growth. In our collective efforts, we believe that rising tides lift all boats, and Humboldt's cannabis industry can thrive as a beacon of sustainability, innovation, and community prosperity.

Dylan Mattole is the owner/operator of Mattole Valley Sungrown in Honeydew. In addition to serving as president of the board for HCGA, he is currently working with a group organized as the Lost Coast Farmers Guild, which is focused on appellation development in the Mattole watershed.

Natalynne DeLapp is the executive director of the HCGA, which was established in 2016 to preserve, protect, and enhance Humboldt County's world-renowned cannabis industry.