County adopts 2020 legislative platform
At the first Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, the Supervisors officially adopted the Mendocino County 2020 legislative platform, which summarizes and reflects the priorities of Mendocino County on issues for state and federal funding and advocacy throughout the year. The General Government Standing Committee of Supervisor John Haschak and Supervisor Dan Gjerde worked with the county and Executive Office to develop the legislative platform.
Mendocino County’s priorities and focus areas for Federal and State legislative advocacy include more local control for Mendocino County to run local government revenue, less restrictions on local government from state and federal agencies, and issues important to Mendocino County like transportation, water, cannabis, disaster recovery, economic and community development, agriculture, public safety, environment, and livability.
When it comes to cannabis legislative reform, Mendocino County says they support efforts to repeal or modify federal prohibition of cannabis and recognition of California state laws on cannabis. Other cannabis advocacy policies they support with help from California include having a portion of California cannabis tax revenue to be used for youth prevention efforts, having California change the definition of “premise” for more economic flexibility for cannabis farms and businesses, streamlining of state permits and licenses, more funding to address illegal water uses for cannabis, more workforce training, and a state-recognized banking system.
The county also wants to advocate for a self-distribution license for small cultivators in rural areas, more effective ordinances and requirements that will help rural growers, and stronger enforcement of illegal cannabis.
Mendocino County is also part of the North Coast Counties, which has called for significant cannabis policy changes that allow the counties to have more local autonomy on decisions while still protecting the environment and county economies.
The full Mendocino County 2020 legislative platform can be found online at https:// mendocino.legistar.com/ Calendar.aspx.