(InEDC) Sup. Lori Parlin, EL DORADO COUNTY – The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors (BOS) held a study session at the 9/12/23 meeting.
The results are that the Board directed staff to bring back a Resolution of Intention to change the operational concerns that were brought up during the study session, such as the tax structure, tax rate, aligning the annual permit with the start of operations, only requiring changed application materials for renewal, and allowing multi-year permits.
Additionally, the BOS did not have enough data to make decisions regarding changes to setbacks, canopy size, propagation and lighting, and allowing nonvolatile manufacturing. Those items were sent to the Planning Commission to provide data and recommendations on those issues.
During the study session I raised concerns about reducing the setbacks that were approved by the voters in 2018. There is not conclusive evidence showing that reduced setbacks will not create a nuisance for the neighbors. I do remember the testimony in 2017 from families stating that they could not enjoy their yard or open their windows because the odor was overwhelming from the grows.
During the study session it was mentioned many times that other counties have less restrictive regulations regarding cannabis grows and dispensaries. However, there is not clarity on what the impacts are to residents in those counties. The State of California has an interactive map to show which counties and cities have legalized cultivation and dispensing of cannabis: https://cannabis.ca.gov/cannabis-laws/where-cannabis-businesses-are-allowed/ After the study session an article was sent to my office regarding the conflicts in Santa Barbara County between cannabis and grape growers: https://www.sfgate.com/cannabis/article/santa-barbara-wine-industry-vs-cannabis-18365066.php. More articles will likely be gathered as the process for the Cannabis Ordinance update unfolds.
Please participate in upcoming meetings and make your voice heard. My office will share meeting and workshop information in our newsletter when it becomes available.
RELATED
Montclair has accepted a $195,000 grant from the state to create a commercial cannabis licensing program.
The majority of the funding awarded by the California Department of Cannabis Control is aimed at creating an ordinance allowing the sale of cannabis in the city. Montclair voters legalized the sale of cannabis and approved a 7% tax on commercial cannabis businesses in the November 2022 election.
Measure R, the tax measure, passed with 70% of the vote and Measure II, legalizing commercial cannabis in the city, passed with about 52% of the vote.
Measure R is expected to bring in $3.5 million per year in local sales tax revenue once cannabis sales start. The funds would support the city’s General Fund — which pays for operations, everything from pencils to payroll — and would be used for law enforcement and education, said City Manager Edward Starr.
“Our intent would be to use it for code enforcement and additional police enforcement, particularly as it relates in both of those areas, to regulation of commercial cannabis activity in the community,” said Starr. “We would also plan on using it for educational purposes, specifically to try and target high school students to try and educate them about not using drugs.”
Starr said he recognized the irony of promoting an anti-drug campaign while legalizing cannabis sales but, he noted, legal cannabis use is limited to adults over age 21.
Montclair gets $195,000 boost from California cannabis agency to develop pot policies
