In its latest bid to untangle Sonoma County’s troubled cannabis regulations, the Board of Supervisors will consider temporarily banning a type of permit intended for small-scale farmers.
The move, which would close a loophole that critics say is being abused, is being hotly contested by growers in the industry.
Tensions have been mounting for years between farmers and neighbors over safety, water use, smell, and other impacts on neighborhoods. Neighbors say the county’s regulations are too loose, but farmers say the county’s lengthy permitting process and high fees are a burden for farmers struggling to get a foothold in the local industry.
In May, the county agreed to study the industry impact in a lengthy environmental report that is likely to take at least a year to complete.
On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors will take another step in its effort to curb complaints when it considers a 45-day moratorium that, if passed, would stop the county’s agriculture department from issuing multi-tenant permits, which allow farmers to share land.
Read more at pressdemocrat.com
