It would allow for ministerial permits for cultivation through the agricultural commissioner, if one qualifies, instead of a 3-5-year public hearing process.
The supervisors must adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration and authorize the ministerial process review for correctly zoned and sized properties in all water zones.
You may not know this, but indoor cannabis usually sells for more because the finished flowers are tighter, more in-line with consumer demands.
Hoop houses protect the flowers from sun damage, bird droppings, molds, mildew, dust, contaminants from wildfire smoke and pesticide drift from neighboring parcels, ensuring that our finished product can pass the rigorous testing that it is subject to per state law.
It also means significant tax revenues for our county coffers and even more career and ancillary business opportunities for local residents.
I have spoken to many local ranchers who are considering diversifying their crops with a little cannabis.
Where wells are situated on the land, the depth of its well, the availability of recycled water, dry well testing, hydrogeological assessments and drawdown all inform the non-discretionary decision.
Ministerial permitting should be based on the water availability per property, not off zones that are inaccurate and were made up years ago.
If there is not enough water the Ag Commissioner is empowered to deny the application and order a public CUP hearing.
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