"We did not assume that CCVH ordinance is where we used to start from"

This quote from Steve Lazar of the Planning Department staff to the Humboldt CountyvBoard of Supervisors regarding the draft ordinance of medical marijuana land use currently being discussed at the morning session today.

California Cannabis Voice Humboldt was well represented by Luke Bruner, Andy Powell, Terra Carver and a couple other board members. Out of 11 audience members, 7 were from CCVH.

Jason Sheets from County Counsel, Mr. Kevin Robinson from Public Defender's office, Natalynne DeLapp from EPIC.

Supervisor Estelle Fennell commented that this draft looked very different and Supervisors Fennell and Ryan Sundberg are questioning the Planning staff vigorously.

"If the neighbors don't care, I don't care because my phone is not ringing ," quipped Supervisor Sundberg on the nuisance ordinance.

Andy Powell during public comment , "The County's draft as currently written creates a point of entry so overly burdensome and so unrealistic, that cannabis farmers in Humboldt County will see no option but to continue to operate in an unsustainable and unsafe black market. "


Powell especially thanked Supervisors Fennell and Sundberg "for taking the lead on this", thanked the Planning Department and thanked Governor Brown for signing the medical canabis legislation. He thanked the Board of Supervisors and members of the ad hoc committee "for not shying away from challenge" saying such topics "are not always fun."

He hinted at a more superior draft that was submitted to the Chamber.

Luke Bruner advocated for a tax. After the meeting, Luke told me, ""Our Supervisors really understand the importance of ensuring existing farms are able to transition, in an environmentally sustainable way.  We are on the cutting edge of this issue."


Code enforcement was mentioned by another speaker during public comment. Another speaker mentioned that conditional use permit "was scary for people" and discouraging to come into compliance.

De Lapp said EPIC does not want see fragmentation of the forests, impact on salmon and wants a maximum size cap set.

Once the draft comes back from the Planning Commission, there will still be flexibility and BOS can still make changes.

Adressing staff of the Planning Department, Supervisor Sundberg said, "how do we get the most amount of people into this system the easiest? "

He added that people in the system would allow regulation and that it would take a year or two to implement the regulations.

Supervisor Fennell asked staff for a timeline for existing grows to come into compliance and better definition of what is considered pre-existing grows.


Giving staff direction, Supervisor Fennell said, "May the force be with you."