North Coast Journal

Proponents, Opponents Talk Measure A

By Thadeus Greenson on November 14, 2023 at 5:53PM

Thurmond said the initiative spawned from some problems he and Watson were having in their Kneeland neighborhood with a proposed cultivation site. He said he came to realize the problem wasn’t the grow itself, but the mechanisms the county had in place to address neighborhood concerns.
Proponents Stand by Cannabis Reform Initiative, Warn County to Correct 'Distortions'

By Thadeus Greenson on April 25, 2023 at 10:17AM

Proponents of the Humboldt Cannabis Reform Initiative are standing by their proposal that would overhaul the county’s cultivation regulations if passed by voters next year, saying the county’s analysis of the measure is “packed with factual errors, untruths and distortions.” A county staff report on the 38-page initiative presented to the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors last month warned it would have “dire consequences” for the industry, saying that in addition to capping the number and size of new cannabis farms in the county, it would also immediately render 400 of the county’s permitted farms “non-conforming.” Due to ambiguities in the initiative’s language, staff also posited the initiative could then prevent these already permitted farms from making environmental improvements — like adding solar arrays or increasing water storage — and obtaining non-cultivation permits that would allow for tourism or processing on site.
Bushnell Quiet on Possible Cannabis Conflict

By Thadeus Greenson on April 8, 2023 at 7:00AM

Dubbed the Cannabis Reform Initiative, the ballot measure slated to come before voters would overhaul cultivation regulations locally, most notably by capping the size of new farms at 10,000 square feet, which would immediately render more than 400 permitted farms — seemingly including Bushnell’s — “non-conforming.” Among the litany of other changes the initiative would bring is a provision that permits would expire annually, as well as others limiting generator use and strengthening road quality requirements. For non-conforming farms, the initiative would allow them to stay in operation as long as they don’t expand their uses — there’s widespread confusion about exactly how this would be interpreted — or apply for another permit.
‘Dream Big:’ Cannabis Workers Search for New Futures as Emerald Triangle Economy Withers

By Alexei Koseff/CalMatters on February 27, 2023 at 9:58AM

First: Daniel Rivero (right) listens as Leann Greene talks to him about finding job opportunities outside the cannabis industry through a program with the Humboldt Workforce Coalition at the Humboldt County Library on Feb. 8, 2023. Second: The Humboldt County Library in Garberville.
Supes to Consider Bushnell Censure

By Kimberly Wear on October 31, 2022 at 2:29PM

The summary states the employee played “a large role in provoking Bushnell and created an awkward and hostile tone for the meeting” but “Bushnell’s reaction to the employee was not representative of model conduct for an elected official.” Nosky also states that Bushnell acknowledged her behavior was inappropriate and took responsibility for her actions.
California Cuts Cannabis Taxes to Heal Ailing Industry

By Alexei Koseff/CalMatters on July 5, 2022 at 9:46AM

Amy Jenkins, a lobbyist for the California Cannabis Industry Association who was heavily involved in the negotiations, said zeroing out the cultivation tax was a priority for the legal industry — something it has sought for three years. Growers complained that the tax, a flat $10.08 per ounce for flowers, was making it difficult to keep operating as prices tumbled from a glut of weed and not enough dispensaries to sell it.
Supes Move Forward with Cannabis Tax Relief

By Thadeus Greenson on February 7, 2022 at 2:35PM

The board had previously offered farmers a reprieve by forgiving late payments on bills due in October of last year until May of this year. Today's vote — which will have to come back before the board for final approval at a future meeting — would give farmers until September to make those payments, as well as their second-installment payments, which were slated to come due in March.
Gavin Newsom was the Face of Legal Cannabis in California. Can He Fix Its Problems?

By Alexei Koseff/CalMatters on January 31, 2022 at 3:47PM

When California voters legalized marijuana for recreational use in November 2016, it was also a victory for Gavin Newsom, who spent months traveling the state as the face of the campaign. At an election night party at a San Francisco nightclub, the then-lieutenant governor celebrated this “point of pride,” telling attendees that California had sent a “message powerfully to the rest of the nation.”
Ex-Rohnert Park Cop Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Extortion

By Sukey Lewis KQED News on December 2, 2021 at 1:32PM

Hanlon said Tatum’s career as a "good and honest police officer" will be overshadowed, adding that Tatum would "accept the judgement of the Court." He said his client wants to try and make up for what he has done and focus on his family.
Thieves Are Stealing California's Scarce Water for Illegal Cannabis Farms

By Julie Cart, CalMatters on July 20, 2021 at 8:06AM

," Huerta said. "So people buy these water containers to store more water." Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters" class="wp-image-193079" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/calmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/0722021_Lancaster_PU_Sized_02.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/calmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/0722021_Lancaster_PU_Sized_02.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/calmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/0722021_Lancaster_PU_Sized_02.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/calmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/0722021_Lancaster_PU_Sized_02.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/calmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/0722021_Lancaster_PU_Sized_02.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/calmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/0722021_Lancaster_PU_Sized_02.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/calmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/0722021_Lancaster_PU_Sized_02.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/calmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/0722021_Lancaster_PU_Sized_02.jpg?w=2000&ssl=1 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1">José Huerta, a Lancaster resident, sells large water containers for $100 each.

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