Dec 5 2024 Letter to Sonoma County: County Failure to Consider Health Issues in Cannabis Ordinance
December 5, 2024
December 5, 2024
Dear Board of Supervisors:
Recently we met with the Sonoma County Health Department, including Dr. Karen Smith, to discuss cannabis health issues. We sent you our summary of issues on August 20,replete with references to peer-reviewed scientific literature. We also have previously communicated with you regarding public health concerns due to the carcinogen Beta-Myrcene, which is present in all cannabis emissions.
Today we provide additional materials in this regard:
· Statement by Dr. George Rutherford, former State Epidemiologist and the State Health Officer for California, with regard to human exposure to Beta-Myrcene
· The analysis “Cumulative Levels of Beta-Myrcene Inhaled by Humans Living NearOutdoor Cannabis Cultivation Sites May Be Toxic and Carcinogenic”
· The study “Cannabis Odor Threshold Tests”
We understand that the fundamental responsibility of the Sonoma County Health Department is “protecting the health and well-being of individuals and the community,” and we are very concerned that neither the Health Department nor the Board of Supervisors is achieving this goal with respect to cannabis issues.There is virtually no acknowledgement or concern for public health expressed in any of the Sonoma County cannabis ordinances.
Our concern is underscored by the fact that amending the Cannabis Health Ordinance has been scheduled three times in 2024 before the Board of Supervisors (March15, August 20, November 12), and in each instance the staff recommendations have been delayed. Currently such a hearing may not occur for another four or more months, if then.
Furthermore, the current Cannabis Health Ordinance does not even mention health issues to the public, especially to cannabis workers and those living near an outdoor cannabis cultivation operation, from their high exposure to cannabis emissions including the Proposition 65 carcinogen Beta-Myrcene.
We hope that the Sonoma County Health Department will make this issue a top priority, and that the Board of Supervisors will ensure that it does so.
We also hope that the Board of Supervisors will ensure that these issues are properly addressed in the cannabis EIR and revised cannabis ordinance to fully prevent exposure to the public from these toxins and carcinogens.
Neighborhood Coalition
Brantly Richardson, Communications Director
SonomaNeighborhoodCoalition@gmail.com