Woods aka Robert Sutherland calls Humboldt County Cannabis Ordinance as "forests being trashed by newcomers"

The County of Humboldt has begun preparations for a new lawsuit against its citizens. In a case filed February 26, County officials are preparing to advance their plan to promote large environmentally destructive marijuana grows through a recently passed ordinance. A broad coalition of Humboldt citizens, along with the Humboldt-Mendocino Marijuana Advocacy Project (HUMMAP), will defend environmentally respectful practices.

 “Make no mistake,” said Fred Bauer of Shelter Cove. “Our Supervisors have modeled their new ordinance on the one drafted by California Cannabis Voice Humboldt, a group of huge growers. Our forests are being trashed by newcomers in a frenzy to cash in. Humboldt County has sat on its hands.”

Charley Custer noted that Hummap seeks to reduce the per-parcel environmental footprint of the County’s highly rushed plan. “For example, Hummap sees that commercial generators should not be allowed back in the woods, where they cause wildfires and fuel spills, not to mention horrendous noise.” The Supervisors have claimed such generator use is not a significant problem. Custer works with the Humboldt Coalition for Property Rights.

Hummap proposes that large grows should not receive rubber-stamp approval without serious environmental review. The County proposes that grows up to 10,000 square feet in size receive no discretionary review. Hummap insists this figure be bumped down to 3,000 square feet. “Without this change most grows in Humboldt County can be approved without even the next-door neighbors being able to say they don’t like the generator noise,” commented Ben Schill, a Phillipsville resident.

The Supervisors also have set up an incentive program to get growers to move to sites having fewer negative impacts, but such sites require prime agricultural soils that are in short supply. Nonetheless, they are giving growers who want to move four times their previous grow size as incentive. This unnecessarily large incentive increases adverse impacts, and encourages large grows.

 “The Supervisors are promoting destructive greed grows,” charged Robert Sutherland of Hummap. “So, shouldn’t the Supervisors disclose who gave them money, and whether their own family members are deeply involved with marijuana profits? It’s disturbing the Supervisors are unwilling to meet reasonable environmental standards to settle this. It’s another waste of taxpayer money, and an egregious insult to the majority of citizens who want a better future for our county,” he said.

Formal settlement talks are scheduled for April 4, but the County Counsel has refused to present any counter-proposal to the public, strongly suggesting they choose to go to trial. Hummap is represented by the firm Greenfire Law of Berkeley.