April 2024 Newsletter Proposed Cannabis Ordinance out for comment

Dear Neighbors,

Permit Sonoma released its proposed revision of the Cannabis Ordinance on April 2nd. It is the “project” that the County’s consultant will analyze in its draft Environmental Impact Report. The County states the "Ordinance's overarching goal is to expand opportunities for growth within the cannabis industry while balancing the need to increase neighborhood combability between cannabis uses and the surrounding neighborhoods.”

‍Stated Goals are not being met

There is little to no balance. Overall, the proposal makes things worse for neighborhoods while trying to prop up a failing cannabis industry that cannot pay its taxes and the County is subsidizing.  Among the major problems with the proposal, all of which raise serious concerns are:

• Current permits, even ongoing applications, are grandfathered forever.
• Acreage cap is expanded from 1 acre to 10% of parcel size.
• Water issues are ignored.
• Setbacks from outdoor cultivations to residences are woefully inadequate:
  • 600 feet for residential-zoned parcels.
  • 100 feet for agricultural and other rural-zoned parcels even if they have residences.
• No mention of controlling or even measuring noxious odors with scientifically-proven methods.
• Neighbors are condemned to being exposed in their homes to noxious odors, including the carcinogen Beta-Myrcene.
• Rescinds the health and safety provision in the current ordinance, which forbids public nuisances or adversely affecting the health or safety of nearby residents, including from odor.
• Authorizes over 100 cannabis events yearly per site, including consumption, at agricultural and other rural-zoned parcels (both grow and non-grow parcels).
• Encourages smelly outdoor cultivation over environmentally-benign indoor cultivation, yet removes the renewable energy requirement.
• Retail sales are allowed at all agricultural and other rural-zoned grow sites, inviting crime to rural neighborhoods.
• Minimum parcel size for cultivation reduced from 10 to 5 acres.
• Industrial manufacturing allowed at grow sites.
• Proposes no exclusion zones or residential enclaves.

The County is neglecting its responsibility to protect our safety, health, and the environment. The County committed to solve the neighborhood compatibility issue but the current proposal just makes it worse.

Your engagement is critical

We need to make the County staff and Supervisors recognize the incompatibility of commercial cannabis cultivations in our neighborhoods and address our concerns about health, security, and the environment.Commercial Cannabis operations and neighborhoods don’t mix. Please urge the Supervisors to get the updated cannabis ordinance right.This link is to the 39-page package of the Proposed Update to Cannabis Ordinance that Permit Sonoma released April 2nd. To assist your reading, note that Exhibit A is the proposed language to the General Plan and the Exhibit E table is a high level recap of what is changing.   Please send written comments via email to Cannabis@sonoma-county.org by Friday, May 3.  And, also be sure to send your comments to your supervisor. BOS@sonoma-county.org

Supporting the Public Good

The County listens to the cannabis industry more than to ordinary citizens. It is important that a legal team, including technical experts, represent our interests throughout the entire revision process by focusing on compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act. Protecting our neighborhoods from poorly planned cannabis operations comes at a huge cost to all of us.

Please donate today to support this effort. The Neighborhood Coalition is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which means your donations may be tax-deductible.

You can also mail a check to:
Sonoma Neighborhood Coalition
PO Box 1229
Sebastopol, CA 95472

Celebrate this incredible engagement from the citizens and fund the legal support to protect Sonoma County.

Thank you, the Neighborhood Coalition team

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