Farmers looking to start growing industrial hemp for profit will face a closed door in Contra Costa County until at least the start of 2021, even though the crop became legal almost two years ago in the eyes of the federal government.
The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to temporarily ban new hemp growing operations, giving staff time to draft an ordinance to regulate them.
The ban, effective for at least 45 days but possibly longer as officials determine how and where growers can operate, won’t affect the handful of licensed hemp grows already in operation.
It was spurred by residents who have complained about neighboring hemp farms.
“I’m not against the hemp growing, but find a place that it’s suitable for,” local resident John Cisneros told the supervisors. “This is not the place for it.”
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