Cannabis: The story of doing more with less

Sonoma County cannabis farmers are expected to do more to receive approval for their crop than any other farmer in Sonoma County. Currently burdened with a conditional use permit (CUP) hearing process as the only path to compliance, allowing cannabis cultivation permitting to go through a rigorous ministerial review through the Sonoma County Ag Commissioner’s office makes sense as an interim step for those who qualify.

Most agricultural uses in the County are permitted by right, but the extra review for cannabis works for now. Eventually, cannabis farmers should have fewer burdens put on them as hemp farmers enjoy. Only vineyards and orchards go through a similar review process to cannabis (though not nearly as strict). Perhaps the extra scrutiny over cannabis is the price of admission? Perhaps it is the cost of normalizing a truly remarkable plant?

Allowing cultivators to move through a ministerial process means they must each individually prove they are following all codes and protocols set forth from local and state agencies. Water regulations are especially onerous. A ministerial process must allow applicants with parcels that are located in water zones 1, 2, 3, & 4 to apply for this type of process and prove if they have enough water to serve their farm. If cultivators can prove that they have enough water required for their project, without causing adverse environmental impacts, then they should be provided an avenue to compliance.

If an applicant does not have enough water they can rework their project. They can prepare alternative plans for conservation, rain-water collection, habitat retention ponds, no-till/drought resistant cultivation methods, and other innovative solutions that in combination would demonstrate sufficiency for meeting regulatory requirements which they may not have considered initially. These plans take time to develop, and could either satisfy the Ag Commissioner or he would direct a CUP hearing for more scrutiny.

There is a CUP process already in place for cannabis farmers. It is slow, taking years to complete. What we need is a ministerial process to allow for those farmers that have all the boxes checked to stop with the long delays of a hearing and do what they do best, grow high quality cannabis.

Eventually, a full blown Environmental Impact Report (EIR) may be pursued to study expanding other parts of the supply chain. This will take years to complete. Our economy sure needs it so we best get going. There is ample room to develop more local dispensaries, tasting rooms, farm stands, cannabis events, and more. The county also needs an EIR to eliminate the unfair burdens put on cannabis cultivators. The county can do many of the studies comprehensively that have thus far have been saddled to each individual applicant.

Cannabis farming creates high value in relatively smaller spaces, which means less water is required per the value it brings. It is sustainable, prohibited from using toxic materials, and tested for purity before being sold. Cannabis supports a strong local economy, significant tax generation, and opportunities for innovation. Farmers can diversify their crops with a small cannabis farm, good for all as diverse crops are healthy for the economy and nutrition.

Some people are concerned that the cultivation area can be too big – Well, limit the cultivation area size. Others are concerned about how many acres “could” be cultivated countywide – Well, set a cap on the total allowed acres under the Mitigated Negative Declaration and add the rest of the potential to the EIR study. Others have expressed concern over temporary hoop houses, a standard allowance for all farmers – the above limits would also address this.

Let’s get this industry going through a ministerial process. We must allow locally permitted and state licensed cannabis farmers the same rights as other farmers in Sonoma County. We need them growing, and we need them growing now.

Craig Litwin was a top signature gatherer for Prop 215, served as mayor of Sebastopol where he co-author one of the nation’s first dispensary ordinances. He is the CEO of 421 Group, a California cannabis consultancy with a HQ in Sebastopol, and a co-creator of Resourcery; a Sebastopol permitted and state licensed cannabis oil extractor, tincture and salve maker, and distributor.