Sonoma County Supervisors surrender our rural lands to the cannabis industry, apologize for pretending to entertain resident’s concerns

Appeal process, neighbor notification, environmental review eliminated from process

Wanna see 4 supervisors bend over backwards to remove any obstacles to pot production in our pristine rural county? Watch this video containing unannounced agenda item on Cannabis Ad Hoc recommendations which for some reason only the cannabis community knew about and attended:

http://sonoma-county.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=953

It’s official. Sonoma County Board of Supervisors is officially, unapologetically behind Big Canna and launching a full throated promotion to open up our rural lands to cannabis and make it as easy as possible to turn Sonoma County into a cannabis capital.

Supervisor Gore gratified at low turnout for the meeting.

Gore decries anti-cannabis groups for “disingenuous” use of permit, appeal process for opposing pot growing near residential and sensitive areas.

Supervisor Gore disparages neighborhood groups for impeding pot proliferation, indicates there are 20-40 anti cannabis people in Sonoma County.

Supervisor Zane apologizes to pot grower applicants and wishes we could reach out to those applicants who were denied or had difficulties and try to offer them another chance.

Zane also wants to cap the amount of fines pot violators should have to pay.

New process guarantees quick approval of pot permit applications, blocks neighbor notification, environmental review.

11 confirmed dead from recent pot farm murders (plus 3 from unsolved cases) did not get a vote.

Why the change? Follow the money. Lack of competition in upcoming election, desire to secure cannabis money seen as reasons for sudden change.

Most cannabis growers are corporations and from out of area.

Keep Big Canna out of our neighborhoods, donate today:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/Save-our-SonomaNeighborhoods

Press Democrat coverage:

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/10473986-181/sonoma-county-supervisors-ok-changes

A concerned citizen wrote:

“EDITOR: The reason that there were no public comments against the cannabis ordinance at the Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday was because the public wasn’t notified about the proposed drastic turnabout (“County votes to relax process,” Wednesday). Only the industry miraculously was alerted.

We only found out on Saturday when one of our members found the Item No. 43 slipped into the board’s agenda, which seemed to be just a small change.

We were blindsided. We were all waiting for the second phase, which was to address neighborhood compatibility and had been promised by Board of Supervisors. A sweeping change was slipped in quietly trying to avoid the upheaval that such an about face would have caused.

This is an egregious step and a lack of good faith by the Board of Supervisors.

This action only heightens the distrust many of us feel in county government protecting its citizens and keeping its word to its constituents.”

Another citizen wrote:

“Mr. Gore,

Shame on you and the whole board. (Mr. Rabbitt unfortunately was not there since he seems to be the only member with any sense on this subject.)

The reason that there were no public comments against the cannabis ordinance at the BOS meeting Tuesday was because the public was not notified about the proposed DRASTIC turnabout….only the industry miraculously was alerted.  We only found out on Saturday (when most of those from neighborhood coalitions concerned) when one of our members found the item #43 slipped into the agenda. We were blindsided. We were all waiting for phase #2 that was to address neighborhood compatibility that had been promised by Board of Supervisors. Such a sweeping change was slipped in quietly trying to avoid the upheaval that such an about face would have caused.

This is an aggregious step..and a lack of good faith by the BOS. 

I also object to what you said that without this change the pro-neighborhood groups were going to object to each project. Really, You must think we have nothing better to do. Give me a break…we are only expecting that you enforce your own and the state laws….So now you just take away any chance of objecting to anything. 

And then Zane apologizes…for what???? Which one of you will apologize for turning your back on your majority of constituents? Which one of you will apologize when we have water, safety and noxious smell issues in this county?”