News&Comment

Like Traffic? Revisions to cannabis ordinance will result in more than 2 million new daily road trips – on rural county roads

Sonoma County’s estimate for traffic in its 2016 (Mitigated Negative Declaration, p. 44) used these metrics: A one-acre cultivation site or a 0.25-acre indoor operation can each require 12-15 employees during peak periods. Fifteen employees average 30 to 60 trips a day.  Scaling up, and using the County’s lower employee figure, each acre of outdoor…
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Supervisors’ proposed ordinance would change Bennett Valley forever

The following analysis of cannabis impacts on Bennett Valley are indicative of the rest of the County. •        An analysis of Bennett Valley’ indicates that 138 parcels are eligible to cultivate commercial marijuana comprising a total of 4,702 acres •        Up to 10% of a parcel can be cultivated, so 470 acres of outdoor cultivation…
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San Francisco Law Firm Pushes Back on Sonoma County Cannabis Proposal

Sonoma County’s proposed cannabis ordinance and its supplemental mitigated negative declaration are worse than anticipated, and fails to adequately analyze its environmental consequences as required by the California Environmental Quality Act. The proposal allows permits for up to 65,733 acres of outdoor cannabis to be issued in a backroom ministerial process where there is no…
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So you thought cannabis was only an aesthetic blight during the day?

Just when you thought you could at least get some peace at night: GLOWING GREENHOUSES (Glow Worms) LIGHT UP RURAL HILLS Coming Soon to Sonoma County Humbold County [Photo of greenhouses glowing in Southern Humboldt during late April provided by a reader]Once again spring brings light to the hills of the Emerald Counties–large industrial lights…
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Green Pharmers’ legal cannabis farms emit more carbon than coal mines – Colorado study

By Krista Charles Legal cannabis production in Colorado emits more greenhouse gases than the state’s coal mining industry, researchers analysing the sector’s energy use have found. The production and use of cannabis for medical or recreational reasons is now legal in several US states, which has led to a booming industry.about:blank Hailey Summers and her colleagues at Colorado…
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The healthiest county in California?

Sonoma County’s stated vision for public health is: To lead, collaborate and succeed in making Sonoma County the healthiest county in California.  The proposed revisions to the cannabis ordinance and General Plan would remove health, safety, and nuisance protections to neighbors who are exposed to pungent terpene odors from cannabis. Please explain how this furthers the…
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Why does Sonoma County government want to be the supplier of marijuana to the entire state?

The amount of pot allowed by the new cannabis ordinance (written by the cannabis lobby) is more than 60 times local consumption. More than our current grape cultivation. The cannabis lobby is always using the need “for local manufacturers, distributors and dispensaries in sourcing locally-grown cannabis for their customers” as a driver for removing restrictions…
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Upcoming town hall – Please attend and make your voice heard

Announcement March 4, 2021 Contact: info@sosneighborhoods.com   Upcoming town hall – Please attend and make your voice heard   Our county has released a new draft cannabis ordinance which the public needs to weigh in on. We are not concerned about individual cultivation, personal use, access to products or city-based canna-tourism. This new ordinance will…
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Another wine region went all in for cannabis. The mess that ensued will blow your mind

PS: To pot speculators looking to Sonoma County – Go South, they have open arms, better climate… Los Angeles Times, By JOE MOZINGOSTAFF WRITER JUNE 12, 2019 5 AM PT In a sandy draw of the Santa Rita Hills, a cannabis company is planning to erect hoop greenhouses over 147 acres — the size of 130 football fields…
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Napa County doubles down on cannabis – the answer is NO

Tourism and Winery officials speak out on negative impacts on those industries, other issues At a recent Board of Supervisors meeting in Napa County, the majority of Napa supervisors agreed that vineyards coexisting with cannabis doesn’t work. “We have an equation that works for Napa.  We can’t afford to take a risk with cannabis cultivation.…
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