FROM THE TOP OF HUMBOLDT HILL, THIS IS "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT."

A MAN WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY EUREKA POLICE THIS WEEK AFTER A PURSUIT AND ALTERCATION NEAR THE EUREKA BRANCH OF THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY LIBRARY.

ALSO, NATALYNNE DELAPP AND ROSS GORDON FROM THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY GROWERS ALLIANCE JOIN US TO DISCUSS THE COUNTY'S DECISION THIS WEEK TO PASS ON CRAFTING AN INITIATIVE TO OPPOSE MEASURE A, DECIDING INSTEAD TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT VOTERS DO.

FROM THE TOP OF HUMBOLDT HILL, THIS IS "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT."

I'M JAMES FAULK.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I REMEMBER AS A COLLEGE STUDENT FLIPPANTLY ARGUING THAT WITH CANNABIS LEGALIZATION, HUMBOLDT COUNTY WOULD ASCEND TO A NEW LEVEL OF WEALTH AND SUCCESS.

AS I SAW IT AT THE TIME, THE EVIDENCE WAS ALL AROUND US, VAST SUMS OF MONEY WERE ALREADY FLOWING INTO HUMBOLDT COUNTY BECAUSE OF BLACK MARKET WEED, AND, AT THE TIME, MEDICINAL CANNABIS HAS PROVEN PROMISING.

# WE HAD THE PRODUCT, WE HAD THE CLIMATE, WE HAD THE BRAND RECOGNITION.

ALL THIS ROCKET NEEDED, I FELT AT THE TIME, WAS A FLAME TO LIGHT THE FUSE.

ALL THESE YEARS LATER I'M SHOCKED AT MY OWN NAIVETE.

IN THE MAD RUSH OF DEVELOPMENTS AFTER CALIFORNIA'S LEGALIZATION, WEED BUSINESSES HAVE INDEED PROLIFERATED, AND SOME FOLKS HAVE MADE GOOD MONEY SATISFYING THE MARKET'S DEMANDS AND FOLLOWING UP ON THE PROMISE OF THOSE EARLY YEARS.

BUT THE SITUATION IS COMPLICATED.

THE MARKET IS FLOODED.

FARMERS ALL OVER THE REGION ARE STRUGGLING, WITH MANY DROPPING OUT ENTIRELY, AND BOTH LOCAL AND STATE REGULATIONS SEEM CONFUSING AND AT TIMES ILL-EQUIPPED TO HANDLE THE JOB.

ENTER MEASURE A, THE HUMBOLDT CANNABIS REFORM INITIATIVE.

SOME VOCAL OPPONENTS OF THE CURRENT REGULATORY REGIME HAVE PROPOSED A FIX IN MEASURE A, A REMEDY THAT MANY VIEW AS OVERLY RESTRICTIVE AND BASED ON MISPERCEPTIONS OF WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING.

THIS NEW INITIALIVE, INDUSTRY INSIDERS SAY, COULD POTENTIALLY BE THE DEATH KNELL TO MANY IN BE THE DEATH KNELL TO MANY IN THE BUSINESS.

THE FEAR OF THIS INITIATE'S IMPACTS PROMPTED THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS LAST MONTH TO DIRECT STAFF TO CRAFT A COME PETTING INITIATIVE THAT WOULD MAKE SOME USEFUL REGULATORY CHANGES WITHOUT MANY OF THE DESTRUCTIVE ATTRIBUTES OF MEASURE A.

BUT THIS WEEK, AFTER HEARING FROM THEIR CONSTITUENTS, SUPERVISORSES OPTED TO FOREGO THAT ALTERNATIVE INITIATIVE AND SEE WHAT THE VOTERS DECIDE ABOUT THE HCRI IN MARCH.

WE'LL BE JOINED IN A FEW SHORT MOMENTS BY NATALYNNE DELAPP AND ROSS GORDON FROM THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY GROWERS ALLIANCE.

WE'LL DISCUSS HOW WE GOT HERE, HOW FARMERS ARE TRULY FARING IN THIS MOMENT, AND WHAT PASSENGER OF MEASURE A WOULD MEAN TO LOCAL FARMERS.

WE'LL ALSO DISCUSS A NEW LAW SPONSORED BY STATE SENATOR MIKE MCGUIRE, THE CANNABIS LICENSING REFORM ACT, WHICH WILL ALLOW CANNABIS FARMERS TO EITHER PAUSE THEIR LICENSE FEE, BUT MAINTAIN AN INACTIVE LICENSE, OR REDUCE THEIR LICENSE SIZE BASED ON CROP SIZE, SAVING THE FARMER MONEY.

BUT FIRST, THE NEWS.

THIS PAST SUNDAY AT AROUND 9:30 A.M., A MAN WAS SHOT AND KILLED BUT EUREKA POLICE AFTER A SHORT CHASE AND ENSUING ALTERCATION.

ACCORDING TO EUREKA POLICE, OFFICERS ATTEMPTED TO STOP A VEHICLE NEAR 2ND AND M STREETS SUNDAY MORNING.

WHILE OFFICERS ATTEMPTED TO SECURE THE AREA, A 31-YEAR-OLD MAN INSIDE THE VEHICLE FLED THE SCENE AND WAS LATER FOUND NEAR THE REAR OF THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY LIBRARY.

WHEN OFFICERS TRIED TO DETAIN THE MAN, A FIGHT ENSUED, THE SUSPECT ALLEGEDLY PRODUCED A GUN.

AS A RESULT, OFFICERS FIRED THEIR WEAPONS.

THE SUSPECT WAS WOUNDED, AND THOUGH LIFE-SAVING EFFORTS WERE UNDERTAKEN, HE DIED AT THE SCENE.

HIS NAME HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED.

THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY CRITICAL INCIDENT RESPONSE TEAM LED BY THE EUREKA POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS BEEN ACTIVATED TO INVESTIGATE.

THE EVENTS WERE CAPTURED ON BODY WORN CAMERAS AND WILL BE RELEASED UPON COMPLETION OF THE INVESTIGATION, AS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW.

ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL 441-4215.

ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, DON'T MISTHE FREE PREMIERE SCREENING OF "FIELD TRIP," KEET'S NEW AS MENTIONED, THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS THIS WEEK OPTED TO FOREGO ITS PLANS TO PLACE A COUNTY-BACKED INITIATIVE ON THE MARCH BALLOT TO SERVE AS ALTERNATIVE TO THE HUMBOLDT CANNABIS REFORM INITIATIVE, OR MEASURE A.

COUNTY OFFICIALS HAD HOPED THE COUNTY'S INITIATIVE WOULD PROVIDE WHAT THEY FELT WAS A MORE REASONABLE ALTERNATIVE TO MEASURE A, WHICH MANY BELIEVE COULD HURT AN ALREADY SUFFERING CANNABIS INDUSTRY.

INSTEAD, SUPERVISORS THIS WEEK DECIDED AFTER HEARING FROM CONSTITUENTS THAT INSTEAD OF PLACING A RUSHED MEASURE ON THE BALLOT, THEY'LL LET THE VOTERS CONSIDER THE HCRI AND MAKE A REASONED DECISION.

THE COUNTY-BACKED PLAN WOULD HAVE MADE AMENDMENTS TO THE COUNTY'S COMMERCIAL CANNABIS LAND USE ORDINANCE, OR CCLUO, TO ADDRESS PUBLIC CONCERNS ABOUT GROW SIZES AND TO LOWER THE CAP ON THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CULTIVATION PERMITS.

BUT SUPERVISORSES AT TUESDAY'S MEETING ULTIMATELY DECIDED TO ABANDON WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A RUSHED PROCESS AND LET THE VOTERS CAST THEIR BALLOTS.

ONCE VOTERS HAVE WEIGHED IN, THE COUNTY CAN DECIDE FROM THERE WHAT CHANGES REMAIN NECESSARY.

>> OBVIOUSLY 8,000 PEOPLE SIGNED AN INITIATIVE SO THERE ARE THOUGHTS AND CONCERNS OUT THERE.

ADDITIONAL CONSTITUENTS HAVE BEEN HITTING ALL OF US WITH THEIR THOUGHTS AND CONCERNS.

THE CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN GOOD.

IT DOES SEEM RUSHED AND SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN MAYBE EASY, WHICH WAS SIZE, WHICH WAS THE ISSUE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITIES AND WHAT THAT INITIATIVE WAS BASED ON SIGNATURE-WISE, HAS GROWN TO SOMETHING A LOT LARGER.

AND SO WITH THAT I'M GOING MAKE A MOTION WE DO NOT CONTINUE FORWARD WITH ACTION AT THIS TIME.

AND THAT WE JUST WAIT AND SEE.

>> WE ARE STILL GOING HAVE TO TAKE A PAUSE BETWEEN NOW AND MARCH ON ANY POLICY WORK ON THIS ISSUE BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING HAPPEN.

THIS MEASURE HAS JUST BASICALLY MADE A YEAR'S DELAY IN ANY SORT OF POSITIVE MOVEMENT TO GET ANYTHING DONE.

>> I THINK IT KIND OF PUTS US IN A PERSPECTIVE WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWERS TO MAKE SURE MEASURE A DOESN'T PASS.

I'M NOT GETTING CORRESPONDENCE FROM ANYBODY SAYING IT IS THE GREATEST THING SINCE BUTTERED POPCORN EXCEPT MARK AND BETSY.

THE SYSTEM WORKED.

WE ARE CHANGING THIS AS IT GOES.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE TRYING TO FIX WHAT WE DID AND I KNOW A BALLOT MEASURE IS NOT THE WAY TO DO IT, BUT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER 10 YEARS AGO AT THIS TIME WE HAD 15,000 GROWS, THEY SAID.

NOW THEY SAY WE HAVE 2,500.

SO I DON'T SEE A LOT OF GROWTH.

I THINK WE SHOULD LEAVE THE OPPORTUNITY THERE FOR PEOPLE TO COME INTO THE BUSINESS IF THEY WANT TO OR HAVE SOME SORT OF VISION OF THEIR BUSINESSES RATHER THAN NOT GIVING THEM ANY VISION AT ALL.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THIS SHORT BREAK.

>> GET READY TO EMBARK ON AN EXCITING JOURNEY WITH YOUR CHILDREN.

KEET TV ME MIRES "FIELD TRIP" A NINE-PART SERIES DESIGNED FOR KIDS OF AGES.

SATURDAY DECEMBER 9 AT 11:00 AT THE EUREKA LIBRARY GUARANTEED TO IGNITE THEIR ENTHUSIASM FOR SCIENCE AND MATH.

GET REGISTERED AT KEET.ORG/EVENTS.

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US.

IN STUDIO WITH US OR NATALYNNE DELAPP AND ROSS GORDON.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME OUT.

I KNOW YOU ARE IN A BUSY TIME.

WE HAS THE SUPERVISOR MEETING WHERE THE COUNTEROF MEASURE A WAS DITCHED TO LET THE VOTERS DECIDE.

I WANT TO DO SOME HISTORIC ELUCIDATING.

I GREW UP WITH THE IDEA LEGALIZATION WOULD BE A HUGE THING FOR HUMBOLDT COUNTY, AND IN A LOT OF WAYS IT HAS, IT HASN'T LIVED UP TO ITS PROMISE, HICCUPS IN TERMS OF DEMOCRATIC AND REGULATIVE.

IF YOU DON'T MIND GIVING US A GLOBAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCESS THAT GOT US HERE AND WHY IT HAS BEEN HIT AND MISS IN TERMS OF THE REGULATORY RULES AND HARD IT WAS TO GET THROUGH ALL OF THAT TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE NOW BEFORE MEASURE A IS VOTED ON.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> I HAVE BEEN THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY GROWERS ALLIANCE SINCE LATE 2016 AFTER THE PASSENGER OF PROP 64.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK LEGALIZATION STARTED WITH PROP 64, WHICH WAS A VOTER INITIATIVE, A LOT OF COMPLEXITY AND MAKES IT HARD TO CHANGE.

THE LEGISLATURE MADE THE MEDICAL MARIANA SAFETY ACT PRECIPITATING OUR FIRST LAND USE ORDINANCE.

I, LIKE YOU, WAS A LITTLE NAIVE.

I THOUGHT THIS WAS GOING BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY NOT JUST FOR HUMBOLDT COUNTY BUT THE EMERALD TRIANGLE AND CALIFORNIA AS A WHOLE TO DEVELOP A REGULATORY STRUCTURE GOOD FOR CANNABIS, THE ENVIRONMENT, WEALTH DISTRIBUTION.

I HAD THOSE HOPES AND DREAMS AS WELL.

MRSA WAS PASSED TO ALLOW HUMBOLDT COUNTY TO DEVELOP OUR FIRST CANNABIS LAND USE ORDINANCE.

WE WERE THE FIRST COUNTY IN CALIFORNIA TO HAVE ENVIRONMENTALLY LEGALLY DEFENSIBLE LAND USE ORDINANCE.

THE CMMLUO.

WHAT WE CALL ORDINANCE 1.0 BECAUSE THAT IS KIND OF HARD.

>> OKAY.

1.0.

YEAH.

>> BACK IN 2015 THERE WAS AN ESTIMATED 15,000 GROW SITES IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY.

MAYBE 6,000 TO 8,000 OPERATORS.

AND THAT FIRST YEAR EVERYBODY STARTED TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE AND THIS IS BEFORE PROP 64 PASSED.

THE SUMMER OF 2016.

>> THIS IS MEDICINAL MARIJUANA.

>> YES.

PREADULT USE.

ALMOST 2,400 OPERATORS SAID I AM WILLING TO BE PART OF THIS LEGAL REGIME.

THAT IS AMAZING.

35% TO 40%.

THEN PROP 64 WAS PASSED.

WE REALIZED OUR COUNTY AND COMMUNITY NEEDED TO GET ORGANIZED SO WE WOULD BE ABLE TO BE AT THE FRONTLINE THROUGH THE REGULATORY STRUCTURE AND CHANGES THAT WERE GOING BE HAPPENING AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL.

AFTER PROP 64 PASSED, IT HAD A BABY WITH MMRSA AND THAT IS THE MEDICAL AND ADULT USE CANNABIS REGULATION SAFETY ACT.

THAT IS WHY OUR COUNTY HAD TO DO A SECOND LAND USE ORDINANCE.

>> OKAY.

>> SO THAT IS LAND USE ORDINANCE 2.0.

THAT HAS A FULL ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT, IMPACT REPORT ASSOCIATED WITH THAT DOCUMENT.

>> BUT THAT IS A HUGE THING.

HAVING OUR OWN DOCUMENT THAT HAS GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS IS EXPENSIVE, TIME CONSUMING.

>> IT WAS A LOT OF PUBLIC PROCESS AND ALL OF THE AGENCIES WERE INVOLVED, DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILD LIFE, WATER BOARD, THE STATE WAS REVIEWING THAT DOCUMENT.

WE HAVE GONE THROUGH TWO CANNABIS LAND USE ORDINANCES.

WE HAVE HAD FOUR DOZEN MEETINGS WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, DRAFTS ARE REVIEWED BY THE PUBLIC, PUBLIC IS ALLOWED TO REVIEW THESE DRAFTS.

I HAD A REPORTER ASK ME RECENTLY DO I LIKE IT.

MY LIKE IS NOT RELEVANT.

DOES IT WORK?

>> YEAH.

>> IT IS A TOOL.

THESE ARE TOOLS USED BY OUR COUNTY TO BRING A MOSTLY UNREGULATED INDUSTRY INTO CONFORMANCE WITH MODERN LAWS AND TO THAT END IT HAS WORKED.

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE HAS BEEN A DRAMATIC FALLOFF.

WE LOST A LOT OF OPERATORS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE EITHER THEIR PROJECT SITES WERE NOT ABLE TO CONFORM WITH THESE LAWS, THEY RAN OUT OF MONEY AND ENERGY AND WE HAVE LOST A LOT OF OPERATORS.

TODAY WE HAVE HAD AN 89% REDUCTION OF OVERALL CULTIVATION IN THIS COUNTY >> WOW.

>> SO WE HAVE REALLY COME A LONG WAY AND, YEAH.

>> SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT DROP, IT IS NOT DUE, THEN TO THE REGULATORY SCHEME THAT WAS PUT FORWARD OR IS IT PARTLY IN RESPONSE TO THAT?

>> IT IS BOTH.

IT IS A LOT.

WE HAVE ONE OF THE MOST COMPLEX REGULATORY SYSTEMS FOR CANNABIS.

CANNABIS IS NOT TREATED LIKE OTHER AGRICULTURE.

IT IS TREATED DIFFERENTLY COMING OUT OF PRO HI BIG.

THERE ARE TAXES, FEES AND OTHER LEVIES FOR THIS CANNABIS PLANT THAT CONTAINS THC.

>> ROSS, WERE YOU INVOLVED?

>> I GOT STARTED IN 2019 WORKING FOR HUMBOLDT COUNTY GROWERS ALLIANCE.

WHEN PROPOSITION 64 PASSED THAT WAS BEFORE MY TIME ON THE POLICY SIDE.

>> YOU HAVE SEEN THE BIGGER PICTURE AND HAVE YOU SEEN WHAT OTHER COUNTIES HAVE DONE.

HOW DO WE COMPARE TO THAT AND THE STATE REGS?

ARE WE IN LINE?

MORE STRINGENT, REQUIRING MORE OF YOUR GROWERS?

>> IT IS A FUNNY QUESTION BECAUSE IN MANY WAYS THE AVERAGE HUMBOLDT COUNTY FARMER THE COUNTY PROCESS HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY COMPLEX TO NAVIGATE THAT IS THE REALITY.

SO MANY DIFFERENT STATE AGENCIES INVOLVED, SO MANY CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL, BUT I RONICALLY IT WAS NECESSARY TO CONFORM WITH STATE LAW.

THAT STATE LAW WAS NO MORE THAN COMPLICATED BY THIS BUT WAS SET BY PROPOSITION 64, AN INITIATIVE THAT DIDN'T JUST LEGALIZE CANNABIS, 62 PAGES LONG, DETAILED AND A WHOLE SET OF DETAILED REGULATIONS OF WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO BECOME LEGAL.

HUMBOLDT COUNTY HAS SUCCEEDED IN CREATING A SYSTEM THAT CAN GET PEOPLE THROUGH THAT STATE PROCESS.

OTHER COUNTY IN CALIFORNIA WHERE THE PROCESS SEEMED SIMPLER AND WHEN FARMERS TRY TO GET STATE PERMIT THE STATE SAYS YOU HAVEN'T DONE ENOUGH AND HIT CERTAIN BENCHMARKS.

THERE IS A PERCEPTION THE COMPLEXITY OF THE COUNTY IS THINGS COULD BE BETTER AND A LOT OF IT IS THE STATE SETS A BAR THAT IS DIFFICULT TO CLEAR.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT KEEP COMING UP, THE HCRI AND THE COUNTY WAS POTENTIALLY THINKING OF AN INITIATIVE THAT WOULD MAKE CHANGES.

WHAT, TO YOUR MIND, ARE THE CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE TO THE 2.0 VERSION THAT IS CURRENTLY IN PLACE?

DO WE NEED TO CRAFT A WHOLE NEW VERSION, VERSION 3.0 TO USE THE VERNACULAR OR MINOR AMENDMENTS?

IT DEPENDS ON THE GOAL.

IF YOUR GOAL IS TO SAVE THE FARMERS AND KEEP THE FARMERS ALIVE THAT IS ONE PACKAGE.

IF IT IS FIX WHAT PEOPLE PERCEIVE TOO MANY FARMS OR FARMS ARE TOO BIG THAT MIGHT BE ANOTHER PACKAGE.

>> I WOULD SAY IT IS HARD TO FIX PUBLIC PERCEPTION.

WHAT ACTUALLY NEEDS TO CHANGE MAY REQUIRE A SCALPEL NOT A SLEDGEHAMMER.

THE FARMERS REMAINING THEY NEED MORE FLEXIBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY.

THERE ARE SOME PLACES THERE MAY BE OVERLY ONEROUS REGULATIONS BUILT ON OLD THINKING.

MAYBE THAT DOESN'T NEED TO HAPPEN.

MAYBE WE CAN ALLOW ON-FARM PROCESSING, AKA TRIMMING.

THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES IN FARM-BASED SALES AND TOURISM OR GREATER FLEXIBILITY HOW THAT FARM IS ABLE TO GROW AND DEVELOP AND EVOLVE.

WE DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT JUST WHAT NEEDS TO BE RESTRICTED.

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE ALLOWED TO OPEN UP.

IF THERE ARE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS THAT NEED TO BE UPDATED, THEN WE CAN DO THAT THROUGH A LEGITIMATE OPEN PUBLIC PROCESS.

IT'S COMPLICATED.

IT'S TIRING.

FRANKLY, IT IS KIND OF BORING BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO SHOW UP, READ, WRITE COMMENTS AND PARTICIPATE AND WE DON'T ALWAYS GET WHAT WE WANT.

IT IS THE DECISION MAKER'S JOB TO THREAD THAT NEEDLE TO TRY TO MEET THE BEST NEEDS FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

AND IT CERTAINLY IS NOT THE FARMERS DICTAING THAT BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND ALL OF US GET OUR NEEDS MET MOSTLY.

>> YEAH.

WHAT ANY ONE PERSON WANTS.

AT THE SUPERVISORS MEETING THEY SAID THEY GOT A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM CONSTITUENTS.

THERE IS A PERCEPTION YOU CAN'T FIX.

IS IT THROUGH THERE ARE MASSIVE GROWS THAT ARE OVERWHELMING FOLKS IN REGULAR NEIGHBORHOODS OR PROBLEMATIC FOR THE KEEPING OF PEACE IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY?

>> I THINK THERE IS A HANDFUL OF PROJECTS PEOPLE ARE LARGELY EXPRESSING CONCERN ABOUT.

THERE IS A 26-ACRE PROJECT PROPOSED HGTA WE HAD A CONCERN WITH.

I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER PROJECTS UNDER LITIGATION, WHICH ARE TYPICALLY THE LARGER PROJECTS.

WHAT GETS LOST IN THAT OFTENTIMES IS THE FACT THAT WE HAVE 750 STATE LICENSED INDEPENDENT FARMS IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY.

WHEN I SAY INDEPENDENT, THESE ARE DIFFERENT PEOPLE OPERATING 750 FARMS.

98% ARE UNDER AN ACRE AND HALF OF THEM ARE UNDER A QUARTER ACRE.

SO I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR ABOUT WHERE THE CONCERNS ARE.

RIGHT?

IF THERE IS A CONCERN ABOUT HOW A PARTICULAR PROJECT WAS IMPLEMENTED, WHETHER A PROJECT IS FOLLOWING CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL, THAT IS AN ISSUE WITH THAT PROJECT.

IT IS EASY TO SAY I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A PARTICULAR FARM AND THE OTHER 750 FARMERS MUST BE GETTING AWAY WITH SOMETHING.

THE REALITY IS THOSE 750 FARMERS ARE OVERWHELMINGLY LOCAL HUMBOLDT COUNTY RESIDENTS OPERATING ON POSTAGE SIZE SCALES.

>> IF MEASURE A WERE TO PASS, THIS GETS INTO A CONVERSATION WE HAVE A LOT ON THIS SHOW.

WHAT ABOUT MEASURE A PRESENTS A THREAT TO THE FARMERS AS THEY NOW STAND?

>> I'M HAPPY TO TAKE THAT ONE.

SO I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF THIS.

ONE IS IT IS A PROCESS QUESTION.

WHICH IS THAT IF YOU WANT TO CREATE AND ORDINANCE VIABLE FOR SMALL FARMERS TO SURVIVE, PROTECTIVE OF THE ENVIRONMENT, OF PUBLIC SAFETY, THAT IS PROTECTIVE OF NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU NEED TO CREATE A PUBLIC PROCESS WHERE EVERYONE INVOLVED HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THEIR INPUT AND THEN YOU HAVE TIME.

THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT ALSO.

YOU HAVE TIME TO SORT THROUGH ALL OF THAT BECAUSE IT IS NOT NECESSARILY EASY.

OUR CURRENT ORDINANCES ARE 143 PAGES IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY, DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILD LIFE, THE WATER BOARD, DEPARTMENT OF CANNABIS CONTROL.

SO MANY COOKS IN THIS KITCHEN.

GETTING EVERYONE TOGETHER WITH THE TIME TO REALLY MAKE A CONSIDERED DECISION IS HOW YOU END UP WITH GOOD POLICY FOR EVERYONE.

THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM FROM A PROCESS PERSPECTIVE IS IT DIDN'T DO ANY OF THAT.

ESSENTIALLY IT IS THE PRODUCT OF A COUPLE OF PEOPLE IN A SAN FRANCISCO LAW FIRM BEHIND CLOSED DOORS REWRITING HUMBOLDT'S CANNABIS ORDINANCES IT TOOK OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT 27 HOURS OF ANALYSIS TO UNPACK WHAT THE IMPACTS ARE GOING BE.

TO THE QUESTION OF WHAT IS IN THAT ANALYSIS THAT IS SO CONCERNING, TO PUT IT BRIEFLY, TO HIT ON A FEW POINTS.

>> YEAH.

PLEASE.

>> THE NUMBER ONE THING IS THE EXPANSION IN THE INITIATIVE.

THE INITIATIVE WANTS TO PREVENT QUOTE-UNQUOTE EXPANSION OF FARMS.

THE DEFINITION IS SO BROAD IT CAN CON DANE ANY ACTIVITY, ANY STRUCTURE USED WITH CULTIVATION IS EXPANSION.

THIS IS DRYING SHEDS.

IF A FARMER WANTS TO PUT INFRASTRUCTURE TO FACILITY TOURISM, PUT UP A GREENHOUSE AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS WATER STORAGE OR RENEWABLE ENERGY.

THESE ARE THE THINGS THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT REPORT TALKS ABOUT WHICH ARE NORMAL AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES THIS INITIATIVE SEEKS TO RESTRICT.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE 38 PAGES OF THIS INITIATIVE IN TOTAL WHAT YOU SEE IS THERE IS THIS DESIRE TO CREATE A SYSTEM, AN OVERARCHING SYSTEM ON ANYTHING A CANNABIS FARMER CAN DO REGARDLESS OF THE DESIABILITY OF WHAT THAT FACT CAN BE.

>> THERE HAS TO BE DIVERSECATION, WAYS TO SURVIVE IF THINGS GO SOUTH AND IF THEY ARE INHIBITED HOW THEY CAN MANEUVER MORE PEOPLE WILL GO UNDER OR MAY NOT WANT TO GO INTO THE BUSINESS TO BEGIN WITH.

I'M CURIOUS, AT THE LAST MEETING THE HCGA SAID IT IS NOT IDEAL, BUT WE MIGHT BE IN FAVOR OF AN INITIATIVE AND DECIDED NOT TO.

WHAT IS YOUR OFFICIAL REACTION TO THAT MOVE AND DO YOU THINK THEY DID THE RIGHT THINGS LETTING VOTERS WRESTLE WITH IT.

THEY HAVE TO ANY WAY, BUT WITHOUT, YOU KNOW -- >> WE SUPPORTED THE COUNTY GIVING VOTERS A CHOICE AND RECOMMENDED THE COUNTY LIMIT THE SIZE OF NEW CULTIVATION TO NO GREATER THAN ONE ACRE.

UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT STARTED TO HAPPEN IS THE SUPERVISORS ADDED LOTS OF LITTLE EXTRA PROJECTS TO IT TO MEET THEIR DIFFERENT CONSTITUENT INTERESTS.

AND BY EACH OF THOSE EXTRA ADDITIONS ADDS COMPLEXITY.

>> SURE.

AND SO UNFORTUNATELY THE VOTERS ARE NOT GOING HAVE A CHOICE.

THEY WILL HAVE ONE CHOICE, MEASURE A YES OR NO.

WHAT I DO BELIEVE IS THAT THE SUPERVISORS AND THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT HAVE REALLY HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF OR ALMOST TWO YEARS AND COLLECTIVELY, THE VOICES ARE BEING HEARD AND SO I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT AFTER MAVR 5th, AFTER WE DEFEAT MEASURE A, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WOULD BE COMMITTED TO DOING A REVISED ORDINANCE 3.0 BECAUSE THAT IS THE SUPERVISORS' JOB.

LISTEN TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND MAKE CHANGES.

THAT IS WHAT WE NEED IN GOVERNMENT.

ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT.

WE ALL AGREE WE NEED ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT.

THE BIGGEST FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM FROM MY PERSPECTIVE WITH MEASURE A, IT AMENDS THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY GENERAL PLAN AND IT CANNOT BE CHANGED EXCEPT FOR BY FUTURE VOTER EFFICIENT INITIATIVE.

EVEN DURING THE NEXT GENERAL PLAN UPDATE -- >> IT TIES THEIR HANDS.

>> IN 20 YEARS THAT SECTION WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE CHANGED.

I CAN DEFINITELY IMAGINE A FUTURE IN 20 YEARS WHERE CANNABIS NEEDS TO BE AMENDED.

>> YEAH.

>> TIES US TO VOTER INITIATIVES TO GET EVEN BASIC CHANGES IS COMPLEX AND IT IS JUST BAD GOVERNMENT.

IT IS GOING COST EVERYBODY MORE MONEY TO GO THROUGH THAT TYPE OF PROCESS.

>> ONE OF THE SUPERVISORS AT THE MEETING ON TUESDAY SAID IT IS AN ITERATIVE PROCESS, YOU WRITE RULES, FIX, ADJUST AND COME UP WITH THE BEST POLICY POSSIBLE OVER TIME.

PROPOSITION 64, WAS THAT THE WRONG VEHICLE FOR LEGALIZATION AND IS THERE ANY WAY TO ADJUST THAT?

I KNOW THIS MIGHT BE A BIGGER FIGHT PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE, BECAUSE IT MIGHT CONFUSE AND DISTRACT.

WOULD THERE BE A WAY TO SAY A MORE APPROPRIATE WAY TO LEGALIZE WOULD BE A, B, OR C, BUT WE ARE TIED TO A VOTER APPROVED INITIATIVE THAT IS COMPLICATED AND SETS OUT A LOT OF WHAT CAN BE DONE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> I THINK THERE'S A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH PROP 64.

THE FACT IT IS SO LONG, IT IS SO DETAILED.

IT IS NOT WHAT PEOPLE MOST THOUGHT, DO YOU WANT CANNABIS TO BE LEGAL.

IT IS A VERY PRESCRIPTIVE SCREAM.

PROPOSITION 64 IS EASIER TO AMEND AND THIS MEASURE A.

IT CAN BE AMENDED BY THE LEGISLATURE WITH A MAJORITY VOTE AND CERTAIN SECTIONS A 2/3 VOTE.

MOST MEANINGFUL POLICY REQUIRES 2/3 VOTE OF THE LEGISLATURE, HARD TO GET, BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE.

THE SUBSTANTIVE PROVISIONS CAN NEVER BE AMENDED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE WITHOUT INITIATIVE.

PROP 64 IS NOT AS SET IN STONE AS MEASURE A WOULD BE IF IT DOES PASS.

INCREASING PEOPLE ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM WOULD AGREE, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE MORE THAN PROPOSITION 64 AFFORDS.

IT WOULD BE GREAT AT A MINIMUM THERE WAS A STATEWIDE AMENDMENT THAT IT CAN BE AMENDED LIKE ANY OTHER NORMAL LAW.

IT SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH A SPECIAL PROCESS.

LET THE LEGISLATURE BY MAJORITY VOTE AMEND IT AND THERE ARE A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT COULD BE MADE IF THAT PATH WERE FOLLOWED.

>> FROM YOUR LIPS TO GOD'S EARS.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IS THIS NEW LAW THAT RECENTLY PASSED, MIKE McGUIRE'S BILL, I GUESS.

IT'S THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY LIMITATIONS ON CANNABIS PERMITTING.

THAT IS NOT IT?

STATE SENATOR, THE CANNABIS LICENSING REFORM ACT, ALLOWING FARMER TO PAUSE THEIR LICENSE FEE AND MAINTAIN AN ACTIVE LICENSE AND REDUCE THEREBY SAVING THE FARMER THE MONEY.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE THE SHOW.

HUMBOLDT COUNTY HAS SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN PLACE AND THIS IS STILL A VAST IMPROVEMENT, AM I RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND SOMETHING FARMERS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR FOR MANY YEARS.

IT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE ALWAYS HEARD.

IT CAME TO A HEAD, 2021 WE HAD THE CRASH IN MARKET CONDITIONS, WHOLESALE PRICES FELL THROUGH THE FLOOR AND WE HAD A STATEWIDE DROUGHT AT THE SAME TIME.

CANNABIS FARMERS WANTED TO TAKE THE YEAR OFF CULTIVATION AND COME BACK NEXT YEAR OR GROW LESS.

HUMBOLDT HAS A PROCESS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW, BUT THE STATE DID NOT.

THE WAY THE STATE REGULATIONS WERE STRUCTURES, YOU ESSENTIALLY HAD TO PAY YOUR FULL PERMIT FEET TO GROW AREA THAT YOU ARE MAYBE NOT EN TRYING TO GROW.

OR IF YOU DON'T WANT TO CULTIVATE THAT SEASON YOU FORFEIT YOUR LICENSE AND THAT IS PERMANENT AND YOU DON'T GET THAT BACK WITHOUT GOING THROUGH A VERY COMPLICATED PROCESS.

THIS IS A COMMONSENSE BILL.

IT IS AMAZING IT IS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

THERE WAS NO OPPOSITION IN THE LEGISLATURE ONCE IT WAS INTRODUCED.

EVERYONE CAN AGREE FARMERS NEED FLEXIBILITY, IT IS GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT FOR FOLKS TO CUT BACK WHEN THEY WANT TO CUT BACK.

IT IS SOMETHING WE ARE HAPPY TO SEE PASSED AND FARMERS ARE HAPPY TO SEE PASSED.

IT IS A GREAT EXAMPLE THAT MORE RESTRICTIVE DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN MORE PROTECTIVE FOR THE PUBLIC OR ANYONE.

THERE ARE BASIC FORMS OF FLEXIBILITY FARMERS NEED TO RESPOND IN GOOD FAITH.

THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF LEGISLATION THAT DOES THAT.

>> WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

THAT WENT BY FAST.

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR A DETAILED CONVERSATION.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> HOPEFULLY WE HAVE YOU ON AGAIN SOON.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.

STAY TUNED.

STAY INFORMED.

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