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DESCRIPTION:The Board of Supervisors will be holding a special meeting beginning at 9 
 AM on Monday to consider whether or not to certify the Draft Environmental 
 Impact Report or to follow staff recommendations and proceed with an 
 entirely new "Non-retail Cannabis Business" ordinance.\n\nOn principle we 
 advocate for Board certification of the DEIR however we do not believe the 
 Board will choose that action.  Instead the Board will discuss a new 
 proposed ordinance and likely direct staff to make some changes based upon 
 what they hear from constituents.   \n\nYour voice and presence at this 
 meeting could be critical in determining what direction the Board takes. It 
 is important to understand that we do not have the support of a majority of 
 the Board for all of the changes we would like to see in this latest 
 proposal however there are some issues that we might be able to get the 
 Board to direct staff to consider before a final draft of the ordinance is 
 prepared.\n\nHere is a link to the agenda item and proposed new ordinance: 
 http://santacruzcountyca.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1688\n\nWith 
 regards to the latest staff recommendations we have submitted the following 
 issues to the Board:\n\nWe continue to recommend better alignment with the 
 state terms, license types and key definitions.  Collaboration between 
 state and local agencies will be significantly enhanced if everyone is 
 using the same terms.  Businesses and consumers will also benefit from less 
 uncertainty and confusion.  Direct staff to align language more closely 
 with the state.   Of particular concern is the definition of canopy and how 
 it is calculated.\n\nConsider the addition of the 1C license type for 
 existing small farmers or adopt additional provisions to include a 
 “specialty cottage” license type. (see below)\n\nConsider the 
 elimination of the one mile extension of the Coastal Zone. There is no 
 environmental or other sound reason for creating arbitrary boundaries that 
 prohibit only one activity.\n\nReconsider restrictions created for TP zoned 
 land.  These parcels should be eligible for the same exceptions available 
 in all zones regarding re-use and improvement of existing 
 development.\n\nCannabis license applicants who provide sufficient evidence 
 that cannabis or other agriculture was occuring or that the proposed canopy 
 area is located in an area that already had existing development as of 
 November 2016, should be eligible.\n\nConsider a reduction in the acreage 
 minimums to 2.5 acres.  Adjust or eliminate the percentage of parcel 
 size.\n\nDirect staff to continue working with the local cannabis business 
 community involved in warehousing, processing, transport, distribution and 
 compliance activities to better align with state rules and ensure that a 
 vital part of the supply chain can remain local and operate 
 competitively.\n\nDirect staff to continue working with the traditional 
 agriculture community to ensure that cannabis regulations do not interfere 
 or supersede existing agriculture rules which could affect food crop 
 production.\n\nDirect staff to develop a nursery license type to conform 
 with existing state law.\n\nDirect staff to work with WAMM, SC Vets 
 Alliance, Community Prevention Partners and others to develop a true 
 compassion program model that ensures continued access at no and low 
 cost.\n\nConsider the elimination of the prohibition on advertising as a 
 violation of the first amendment, and to reflect the changes in state law 
 since this was first considered.\n\nDirect staff to clarify provisions 
 banning the use of generators particularly as supplemental power sources 
 and existing permitted uses in association with traditional agricultural 
 activities. (If the intent is to ban certain types of generators as the 
 primary source of power, that ban should not extend to those same 
 generators that are used only as backups when the power fails. Nor should 
 it include large commercial farm generator systems.) \n\nIf you plan to 
 speak to the Board or submit written comments please offer examples of how 
 the current proposed ordinance will adversely affect your ability to 
 operate and why the recommended changes (particularly those above) make 
 sense.\n\nAs always, expect to hear a lot of fear based objections from a 
 segment of the audience.  We should be courteous to all participants in 
 this process and we should not allow unsubstantiated claims to go 
 unanswered but trying to address specific unfounded concerns from those who 
 will not accept the fact that commercial cannabis activities are legal, 
 highly regulated by the state and safe may not be the best use of your 
 time.\n\nBelow are some specific talking points that support our proposal 
 for the inclusion of a “Specialty Cottage” license type which we do not 
 expect the Board to adopt at this time. It does provides the framework for 
 what we hope we will gain support for from a majority in the near 
 future.\n\nOur mantra in this endeavor will be “Preserve our Heritage, 
 Protect Consumers and Improve the Environment.”\n\n“Preserving our 
 Heritage” means a path to licensing for existing cannabis cultivation 
 that does not exceed what has been tolerated for the last several years. 
 Small scale agricultural activities are currently permitted uses on most 
 every parcel in the county.  We want to preserve and encourage cultivation 
 of cannabis, particularly in combination with other crops, that is done in 
 the most environmentally appropriate way. We cannot allow the destruction 
 of our well respected legacy in cannabis production.\n\n“Protecting 
 Consumers” means ensuring the ability to provide a wide range of cannabis 
 products, strains and formulations designed to provide specific remedies 
 and therapeutic benefits. Large scale monocrop operations will not be able 
 to provide the diversity of strains we are used to producing locally.  The 
 legacy gardens in Santa Cruz are among the world’s best source of 
 research and knowledge and we need to protect our ability to provide that  
 tremendous benefit to consumers.\n\n“Protecting Consumers” also means 
 reducing taxes and allowing compassionate use programs.  We support a 
 reasonable tax but we believe taxes should be a part of an overall policy 
 to achieve community goals.  Using tax revenue to support new programs 
 aimed at underfunded priorities like early childhood, opioid addiction, and 
 environmental improvement should take priority over expenditures for a new 
 “war on drugs” in the guise of growing local bureaucracies or 
 eradication programs.\n\n“Improving the Environment” means proactive 
 measures to actually enhance our environment. “Environmental 
 Protection” has too often become a “do nothing” approach, we need to 
 take active steps like requiring best practices, banning the use of 
 rodenticides, reforestation, soil improvement and more.  Anyone receiving a 
 license should submit a plan showing how they will make improvements to 
 their land and remediate any existing environmental damage they may have 
 caused.\n\nHere are a few key talking points that we believe support our 
 approach:\n\nProp 64 and subsequent State regulations have been enacted 
 since proposed local ordinances were first drafted\n\nCannabis is a plant 
 and growing it is an agricultural activity.  \n\nSmall scale agriculture is 
 a permitted use on almost all parcels in the county\n\nSmall scale 
 traditional agricultural activities occur throughout the county on all 
 types of parcels\n\nDiscrete, small scale cannabis cultivation has been 
 happening in the county for generations.\n\nProp 64 provided a 
 constitutional right for adults to grow cannabis for their personal 
 use.\n\nSanta Cruz County allows cultivation for personal use on most 
 parcels\n\nCalifornia has recognized the value of “cottage” industries 
 of all types.\n\nThe state has recognized the value of this type of 
 activity by creating a “Specialty  Cottage” cannabis cultivation 
 license\n\nThe “Specialty Cottage” State License type imposes more 
 stringent canopy size restrictions than those found in any currently 
 proposed local ordinance and is in line with what the county provided 
 “limited immunity” in years past\n\nThe state "Specialty Cottage" 
 cannabis license allows three tiers of operation: 25 plants outdoors, 500 
 sq ft indoors or 2500 sq feet of “mixed light”, (typically 
 greenhouses).  A vast majority of current cultivation in the county would 
 be eligible for one of these state licenses.\n\nLicensing, inspections and 
 regulations represent the best opportunity to preserve legacy small scale 
 cultivation, promote best practices, avoid environmentally inappropriate 
 and other illegal activities, and resolve public nuisances\n\nThe year 
 long, million dollar EIR concludes that the most permissive ordinance 
 option would be the environmentally superior approach\n\nState and local 
 Licensing creates the best mechanism to regulate and enforce 
 environmentally superior policies and practices,\n\nThe County has an 
 opportunity to create even more stringent and substantive environmental 
 restrictions than those expected from the state “organics standards”  
 expected out later this year; like regenerative farming, closed loop 
 systems, practices that support healthy soil and carbon sequestration like 
 use of cover crops and compost, on-site resource acquisition, integrated 
 pest management and more.\n\nBiological remediation, reforestation, and 
 other landscape enhancements should be a condition of licensing\n\nA grower 
 with only 6 plants should be allowed to acquire a license if he wants to 
 sell the product of those plants (flower, trim, or seeds.)\n\nA significant 
 and rapidly growing number of consumers rely upon specific cannabis 
 products developed and provided by small scale producers.\n\nResearch and 
 development of specific hybrids and heritage strains depends upon the 
 continued propagation of plants on a small scale\n\nFostering the existing 
 small scale cannabis gardens and farms will provide increased tax revenue 
 and reduce enforcement costs by focusing resources on environmental 
 improvement and remediation\n\nEasier access to licensing encourages 
 compliance, makes regulating easier and reduces the number of unregulated 
 operations.\n\nSignificant economic disruption can be avoided with an 
 inclusive approach\n\n \nThank you.\n\n-- \nJim Coffis\nDeputy 
 Director\nGreen Trade Santa Cruz\nA Coalition of Cannabis 
 Businesses\n831-345-9643\n 
 https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2018/02/05/18806518.php
SUMMARY:Special meeting of the Board of Supervisors on Cannabis
LOCATION:Santa Cruz County Building
URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2018/02/05/18806518.php
DTSTART:20180205T170000Z
DTEND:20180205T200000Z
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