Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 7, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors is inviting public comment after a staff presentation regarding the Board requested analysis and recommendation for the Humboldt Cannabis Reform Initiative (HCRI).
HCRI supporters obtained over 7,000 signatures, more than required to make the March 2024 ballot. The HCRI purports to “Protect the County’s residents and natural resources from harm caused by large-scale cannabis cultivation.”
However, a twenty-seven-page review by Humboldt County staff, released in the Supervisor’s agenda, concluded that while the intentions behind the initiative may be sincere, “The HCRI will have dire consequences to the cannabis industry in Humboldt County.”
Some Areas of Concern in the HCRI Cited by the County
- Number of permits being issued
- Concentration of permits
- Larger grows are being approved
- Road evaluations
- Use of groundwater for irrigation
- Use of generators and switching to renewable sources
- Cultivation transition space
The HCRI says, “The transition from small-scale to large-scale cannabis cultivation is adversely affecting the community and the natural environment. Concerns voiced by residents include dust, noise, odor, glare, unsightly structures damaging scenic views, reductions in stream flows and well water production, adverse effects on wildlife, dangerous road conditions, and road deterioration.”
Read more at kymkemp.com
