Humboldt Supervisors Seek Cannabis Cap, Acreage Restriction
- The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors is considering a ballot measure that would place new limits on the size of cannabis farms and cap the number of cultivation permits issued. The proposed measure would cap the total number of permits at 1,400, down from the current 3,500, and limit cultivation to one acre maximum. The measure is not intended to be retroactive and would not apply to existing permit holders.
- There were mixed feelings among the board members regarding the proposed measure, with some arguing that the caps could potentially concentrate a significant portion of cannabis cultivation within a single area. Despite some board members being unhappy with the proposed cap number, there was agreement on a provision that, if 10% of the permits and applications do not go forward, could eventually reduce the cap by 60%.
- If approved for the ballot, the measure would appear alongside Measure A, an initiative proposing new restrictions on cannabis cultivation. The Humboldt County Growers Alliance, a cannabis industry trade group, supports the measure pursued by the supervisors and is currently suing the county to get Measure A off the ballot, alleging false advertising of the measure’s consequences during signature collection.
Humboldt County Considers Revisions to Cannabis Farm Regulations
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors have proposed a ballot measure that could alter the future of cannabis farming in the region. The measure seeks to limit the size of cannabis farms and cap the number of cultivation permits issued.
A unanimous vote, with the 1st District Supervisor absent, led to the proposal of the measure. However, the supervisors require adjustments such as a four-fifths vote for alteration and a clear definition of parcels. There is no consensus among board members, and the approval was ambivalent.
4th District Supervisor, Natalie Arroyo expressed her unease about the clarity of the measure’s language, making it difficult to feel confident of its impact.
If passed, the measure would cap the total number of permits at 1,400, a significant decrease from the current 3,500. With 1,113 active permits and 465 open applications, the cultivation would be capped at one acre. Existing permit holders would not be affected by this proposal, according to John Ford, Humboldt County Planning and Building Department Director.
Second District Supervisor, Michelle Bushnell, expressed her dislike for the cap number but agreed with a clause that could decrease the cap by 60% if 10% of the permits do not progress.
Fifth District Supervisor, Steve Madrone, also expressed his concerns about the caps, arguing that they could lead to over-concentration of cannabis cultivation in one area.
The board faces a tight deadline to include the measure on the March 2024 ballot. A decision must be reached by Dec. 5 to meet the Dec. 8 deadline of the county election office.
If approved, the measure will be listed with Measure A, an initiative that proposes additional restrictions on cannabis cultivation. Advocates of Measure A argue that it ensures environmental protection and prevents unmanageably large grows. The cannabis industry, however, believes it could severely impact local growers.
Mark Thurmond, a Measure A advocate, suggested that the new measure is an attempt to undermine Measure A.
Natalynne DeLapp, executive director of Humboldt County Growers Alliance, a cannabis trade group, supports the new measure, suggesting that voters should have a choice between Measure A and the new proposal.
The alliance is currently suing the county, alleging that Measure A’s advocates misrepresented its consequences during the signature collection process.
Arroyo concluded that the discussion has incited strong reactions from the public, which could fuel further deliberation.
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