Editor's note: Humboldt County officials are working on new ordinances based on the three recently passed medical cannabis bills in California last week. Read our report on the details of the bills, which still need to be signed by Gov. Jerry Brown.
Under a potentially tight deadline, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors directed staff this morning to begin drafting a large-scale medical marijuana land use ordinance that would comply with state medical cannabis regulations that would take effect early next year if approved by the governor.
“I think we’ve heard loud and clear that now is the moment to move forward,” board Chairwoman and 2nd District Supervisor Estelle Fennell said. “We have asked all along that the state provide clarity and the state has moved forward.”
The board’s unanimous direction also called for the county Counsel Jeffrey Blanck to begin looking through the three medical marijuana ordinances the board had already approved relating to indoor cultivation, cultivation on parcels smaller than 5 acres, and dispensaries to ensure they also comply with the proposed state regulations.
In an 11th hour vote during the last day of this year’s legislative session on Sept. 11, the state Legislature had approved three bills that seek to regulate all aspects of the medical cannabis industry such as cultivation, dispensary sales, distribution, testing and transportation.
