How should Sonoma County address cannabis cultivation?

September 2, 2021

Is it more important to avoid over-concentration of cannabis operations or to limit the number of geographical areas where cannabis can be grown in the county? Should the County encourage fewer, larger operations or more, smaller operations?

These are a few of the questions posed to Sonoma County residents in a new Cannabis Visioning survey from Permit Sonoma.

The County’s land use and resource management department is encouraging local residents to take part in a new survey concerning the county’s new cannabis ordinance. The survey addresses key topics under consideration for the ordinance update and will close on Sept. 6.

The Cannabis Visioning Survey may be accessed here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/cannabisvisioningsurvey

“Robust public feedback is essential for the success of this project,” said Permit Sonoma Supervising Planner Crystal Acker, who is managing the ordinance update. “The survey will be instrumental in understanding the public’s goals and addressing potential tradeoffs.”

Permit Sonoma recently relaunched public outreach and engagement concerning the new cannabis ordinance by holding eight visioning sessions in early August. Many of the questions contained in the survey are intended to obtain additional detail and clarity to comments from the visioning sessions and community group meetings. Results of the survey will be presented during the Sept. 28 Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Workshop.

The board workshop will set goals for the ordinance update effort. After the board workshop, staff will work with the community in late 2021 and early 2022 to develop a draft ordinance framework. Subsequently, in early 2022, a consultant will be chosen to conduct an Environmental Impact Report that is expected to be completed in 2023. After the EIR is complete, the draft ordinance will return to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors for action.

For more information and to stay informed, please visit the Cannabis Program Update and Environmental Impact Report.