Sonoma grower seeks to overturn ban on firearms at pot grows – fears for his safety and property

Sonoma County and growers often claim there are no problems at permitted grows—that illegal activity only happens at black market grows.

Not true.

A grower near Knights Valley, Nicolas Bettencourt, has filed the attached law suit against Sonoma County. He asks the court to strike down Sec. 26-88-254(f)(21) of the cannabis ordinance that includes the provision “Weapons and firearms at the cultivation site are prohibited.” His claim that the Second Amendment prohibits the county regulation is not frivolous—he might win.  If he does, growers may be armed to the teeth with assault weapons.

Bettencourt alleges that his cannabis operation was broken into six times and there was no assistance from law enforcement. He armed himself for protection and objects to the county trying to prohibit him from doing so.

Cannabis growers are keenly aware of the threat they live with daily because of the high dollar value of their grow and the increased chance that they will be robbed.  They don’t mind sharing that threat with neighbors who are minding their own business.

Cannabis grows and neighborhoods are incompatible because of the numerous safety issues that come with a highly valuable product that are easily resold.