November 18, 2019 — The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on November 12 to take steps intended to simplify the cannabis cultivation permitting process — and encourage more legacy growers to come into the fold.
The four-part strategy has regional and local aspects to it. The cannabis cultivation ad hoc committee, consisting of Supervisors John McCowen and John Haschak, is instructed to work with staff and stakeholders on ideas for streamlining the cultivatione ordinance and re-opening the process for legacy growers who did not come forward during phase one.
County staff is supposed to work on an equity program application, also aimed at long-time growers, with a focus on capital assistance for coming into compliance with environmental and building code requirements. And the executive office received direction to work on a regional level with other California counties to identify and address state barriers to successful permits, with a view toward developing economic opportunities through cooperative models.