Mendocino County's licensed cannabis growers voiced their frustrations at the county's Economic Development meeting in Willits on March 27, highlighting the challenges of operating within a heavily regulated industry.
Representatives from the Mendocino County Producers Guild, the Mendocino Cannabis Alliance, and other stakeholders discussed the obstacles they face, including overregulation, zoning restrictions, and the inability to sell directly to consumers. As small farmers struggle to compete against larger operations and the unlicensed market, they urged the county to take action to support the local cannabis industry.
Cannabis license holders are regulated by numerous state and county agencies: the Department of Cannabis Control, Department of Fish and Wildlife, State Water Resources Control Board, California Department of Public Health, Cannabis Track and Trace System, County Departments of Cannabis and Building and Planning, and others. The growers must track and report their use of water, pesticides, and air quality to various agencies. Meeting participants say these agencies do not communicate with each other. One person remarked, "It's not the farmers' responsibility to educate the agencies."
The County's ordinance should mirror the State's regulations, but in some instances, such as for a cannabis micro business license, they do not. Cannabis is taxed by the state and county at higher rates than for other businesses.
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