Policy

Mendocino County Cannabis Policy Updates

Here are some local policy updates and links to important surveys:

1. Planning Commission Meeting to Discuss Redwood Valley Cannabis Prohibition District – May 18 @ 9AM
2. Agendas for 5/22 GGC & BoS meetings + 5/23 BoS Meeting coming on Thursday
3. MCA Local Policy Update with Patrick Sellers to discuss the 5/22 + 5/23 meetings – May 24 from 11am – 12:30pm
4. North Coast Economic Impact Study
5. UC Berkeley Wildfire Impact Survey Follow Up re: Production Volume by Canopy Size
6. MCD Update on Emailing Files + Upcoming Accela Implementation

1. Planning Commission Meeting to Discuss Redwood Valley Cannabis Prohibition District – May 18 @ 9AM

On May 18 the Planning Commission will hear an item to create a Cannabis Prohibition District in part of Redwood Valley.

0.1± miles north of the Redwood Valley town center, bound generally on the west by East Road (CR 230), on the north by Madrone Drive (private) and Road I (CR 234), on the east by Colony Drive (CR 232-A), and on the south by Road D (CR 232).

CLICK HERE for the agenda and CLICK HERE to review the submitted comments for the item. CLICK HERE for MCA’s memo in opposition.

There are only two licensed operators in the proposed district. If it passes they will have to shut down their operations within 3 years.  We invite you to share comments in opposition to the Prohibition District.  You can email your comments to

pbscommissions@mendocinocounty.org

You can also attend the meeting in person or via zoom to make comments. Meeting information is on the Agenda.

2. Agendas for 5/22 GGC & BoS meetings + 5/23 BoS Meeting coming on Thursday

The agendas for next weeks County meetings regarding cannabis will be posted on Thursday afternoon.  These will be important meetings with potentially significant impacts including continuing the ordinance revision process to shift from a County Permit to a Cannabis Business License, the contracting of an EIR as part of the process to have the State take over the CEQA part of state licensure and what is hopefully a substantial update from MCD. We will be evaluating the materials as soon as they are available and sharing memos that we will be asking you to support.

3. MCA Local Policy Update with Patrick Sellers to discuss the 5/22 + 5/23 meetings – May 24 from 11am – 12:30pm

We know that there is a lot of uncertainty at the moment as it relates to permitting, state renewals, grant funding and a lot of other topics. A lot of information will come to light during the GGC meeting on May 22 and the Board of Supervisors meetings on May 22 and May 23.

Along these lines, we will host a Policy Update meeting that will be open to the public on Wednesday May 24 to share everything we can based on the information gathered between now and then. We will be joined by Patrick Sellers of Headquarters Consulting and possibly some other special guests!

MCA Members must register through the wild apricot email or membership portal to receive the zoom information in advance of the meeting.

Additional email reminders will be sent before the event.

Non-Members can CLICK HERE to register on Zoom.

4. North Coast Economic Impact Study 

MCA is working with HCGA and Origins Council to provide important economic impact data from our region that will inform local and state policy. We are counting on our community to share their stories through the survey linked below. It will be a significant benefit to all of us to have the data of our experiences considered through this academic lens and presented to lawmakers and regulators.

CLICK HERE for last week’s episode of The Cannabis Hour with Jenn Procacci on KZYX to learn more about the survey from Genine Coleman from Origins Council, Natalynne DeLapp from HCGA and Dr. Robert Eyler from Sonoma State University.

We are hoping that you can take the time (about 30 minutes) and provide the information being requested (your contact information will be kept completely confidential) to help answer these important questions for those regulating us but not living our experience:

1. How can those that chose to enter the regulated market inform us about the successes or failures of legalization in California?

2. How has Cannabis Legalization impacted the communities of Northern California in its current form?

3. Has legalization in California under Proposition 64 created access to the market for legacy growers?

4. Has it successfully legitimized the market that existed before adult-use legalization?

5. Has it included the communities most impacted by the decades-long war on drugs? 

HCGA and OC are collaborating with Sonoma State University and Cal Poly Humboldt on the first-ever Cannabis Economic Impact Study. This study will examine the economic impact of cannabis farming, manufacturing, distribution, and retail sales on the county economies in Humboldt, Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino, Trinity, and Del Norte counties).

We need your input. This study will only paint the complete picture of the economic impacts of legalization with your participation and the participation of our CA operators in these counties. Filling out the survey will only take approximately 30 minutes. You’ll want access to your end-of-year financial statements from 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. Please answer all questions to the best of your ability, as this will give the most accurate insight into conditions on the ground.

All financial data is 100% confidential. The study does not require your name, APN, or license information.

We are seeking help from cannabis businesses.  

CLICK HERE to take the survey!

5. UC Berkeley Wildfire Impact Survey Follow Up re: Production Volume by Canopy Size

From the University of Berkeley:

We would like to thank everyone who participated in our survey of the impacts of wildfire and smoke exposure on outdoor cannabis crops. The results have affirmed that the impacts have the potential to be substantial and merit immediate and widespread attention.

In order to add even more weight to the discussion, we would like to generate estimates of economic loss for the production impacts we will be reporting. To do this properly, we are seeking information to allow us to convert canopy area of production to dry flower weight.

We have created a short survey (approximately two minutes), which is available at this link: https://berkeley.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bynjmtoxNcttJqu

Any information you provide in the survey will be anonymous; IP addresses and emails are not recorded. For more information on anonymity, visit: https://www.qualtrics.com/support/survey-platform/distributions-module/web-distribution/anonymous-link/

6. MCD Update on Emailing Files + Upcoming Accela Implementation

The two messages were shared by MCD over the last two days:

1. Emailing Documents to Mendocino Cannabis Department

The Mendocino Cannabis Department (“MCD”) has been working with our Information Technology Division to address concerns from the public related to difficulties in submitting documents via the file submittal application SharePoint.  Moving forward, MCD will be accepting file submittals via SharePoint and/or direct email to address deficiency notices.  If you choose to submit via direct email, please be sure to submit your files directly to your assigned planner and always CC MCDPOD@mendocinocounty.org. 

Disclosure notice: Please keep in mind that communications via email over the internet are not secure.  Although it is unlikely, there is a possibility that information you include in an email can be intercepted and read by other parties besides the person to whom it is addressed.  Please keep this in mind when considering sending personal identifying material in any unencrypted emails you send.

2. MCD Switching to Accela – NO SHAREPOINT

In order to improve visibility and transparency, and create a more efficient regulatory process, MCD is excited to announce the roll-out of Accela Cannabis Regulation.  Starting Thursday, June 1, 2023, Applicants and Permittees will be able to sign on to the Citizen Access Portal through Accela and create their account.  Please look for a future Canna Note for the provided link to the Citizen Access Portal.

The Accela Citizen Access Portal houses all existing permits with the county and is where one will apply for any new permits.  The portal is also where applicants and permittees will upload all required documents.  As such, MCD will no longer be utilizing SharePoint for document and file uploads.  Please note that between Friday, May 26 through Wednesday, May 31, our IT department will be writing over all data from SharePoint to Accela.  It is absolutely pertinent that you DO NOT use or try to access SharePoint during this time.  Starting Thursday, June 1, MCD will be live with Accela.

MCD has established a new webpage for Accela that will publish and become available Wednesday May 24, 2023: http://www.mendocinocounty.org/departments/cannabis-department/accela

Best regards,

Mendocino Cannabis Department

MCA Local Policy Update Wednesday May 24 from 11am – 12:30pm

MCA LOCAL POLICY UPDATE Wednesday May 24 from 11am – 12:30pm!

We know that there is a lot of uncertainty at the moment as it relates to permitting, local and state renewals, grant funding and a lot of other important topics. A lot of information will come to light leading up to and during the GGC meeting on May 22 and the Board of Supervisors meetings on May 22 and May 23 that will significantly impact the local licensed cannabis community.

Along these lines, we will host a Policy Update meeting that will be open to the public on Wednesday May 24 at 11am to share everything we can based on the information gathered between now and then. We will be joined by Patrick Sellers of Headquarters Consulting and possibly some other special guests!

This meeting is open to all members of the Mendocino cannabis community with pre-registration.

The link to register is here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0oc-qtqjIqH9P4ivVpm0HUPzRXs_GJFtIm

All recorded meetings are made available to MCA Members for future reference – just one of the benefits of joining!

Not a member yet?

You can join here: https://mendocannabis.com/join-2/

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday May 24!

#strongertogether #WeAreMCA #mendocinocounty 

Local Cannabis Tax Webinar re: Payment Plans & Tax Reductions

As you may already know, there has been significant local cannabis tax reform passed in Mendocino County to help support our struggling licensed operators.  MCA’s advocacy has been a key component to moving these essential reforms forward to benefit all those in the local cannabis program.

Join MCA and Patrick Sellers of Headquarters Consulting in a public meeting for the entire Mendocino cannabis community from 11 am – 12pm on Wednesday May 10 for a webinar to go over the details of the following tax items:

1. County’s Delinquent Cannabis Tax Amnesty & Payment Plan Program
2. Reduction in Cannabis Business Tax for Cultivation and Nursery Operations for Tax Years 2023 and 2024 effective April 28, 2023

The deadline for entering the Payment Plan Program for any taxes in arrears from 2018 – 2021 is May 31, 2023.

We’ll also briefly discuss the recently announced State Drought Relief Grant for Small Farmers that is accessible to licensed cannabis businesses.

Topic: Local Cannabis Tax Webinar re: Payment Plans & Tax Reductions

Time: May 10, 2023 11:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

CLICK HERE to Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 857 8241 1524

Passcode: 707101

One tap mobile

+16694449171,,85782411524#,,,,*707101# US

+16699006833,,85782411524#,,,,*707101# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location

+1 669 444 9171 US

Meeting ID: 857 8241 1524

Passcode: 707101

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcqa1u7iBU

Equity Waiver Processing Update

Final Day For Current Round of Equity Waiver Submissions April 25

The following message was just shared by MCD.  It indicates that between existing grant and waiver submissions in the queue the Department believes it is running up against the end of the remaining available funding – which as of the April MCD report was about $1.8M.

As such MCD will stop accepting Equity Waivers at the end of the day TODAY – 4PM.

If you are able to submit your waiver today, you may still be able to get in under the wire, but after today submissions will not be accepted until additional funding is either secured from the State or identified as unused from applications that have been submitted through today.

We are pasting below the announcement the various steps and links to submit Equity Waivers.

We will provide any additional updates from the County as soon as they become available.

LEEP Waivers Update

After review of the LEEP funds, the Mendocino Cannabis Department will no longer be accepting any LEEP waivers, after 4PM April 25, 2023.  The remaining funds are currently encumbered in the waivers still awaiting processing.  Please stay tuned for our next update, including upcoming news on the next round of funding.

Thank you,

Mendocino Cannabis Department

LEEP Waivers:

Treasurer Tax Collector Tax Waiver Form
Treasurer Tax Collector Tax Waiver Form Process

1. Receive notice of taxes owed from Treasurer Tax Collector (TTC).
2. Fill out Treasurer Tax Collector Tax Waiver Form.
   1. DO NOT FORGET TO SIGN.

** Please note that penalties and interest are NOT covered by grant funds.  All penalties and interest must be paid first, and proof of payment must be provided to MCD, before the waiver can be accepted.

1. Visit TTC office with notice of taxes, your LEEP eligibility letter, and completed tax waiver form.
   1. TTC will stamp with the date paperwork was turned in.
2. Turn in completed waiver form along with a copy of stamped tax notice to MCD. This can be done in person, or via email at cannabisprogram@mendocinocounty.org
   1. If via email, we only accept scanned copies, please NO photographs.
   2. MCD will stamp with the date paperwork was turned in.
3. MCD will process paperwork and post a journal entry.
4. MCD sends completed paperwork to TTC.
5. TTC processes payment and sends receipt.

Department of Agriculture Scale Fees Waiver Form
Department of AG Scale Fees Waiver Form Process

1. Receive invoice for scale fees from AG department.
2. Fill out Department of AG Scale Fees Waiver Form.
   1. DO NOT FORGET TO SIGN.

** Please note that late fees are NOT covered by grant funds.  All late fees must be paid first, and proof of payment must be provided to MCD, before the waiver can be accepted.

1. Turn in completed waiver form along with a copy of scale fees invoice to MCD.This can be done in person, or via email at cannabisprogram@mendocinocounty.org
   1. If via email, we only accept scanned copies, please NO photographs.
   2. MCD will stamp with the date paperwork was turned in.
2. MCD will process paperwork and post a journal entry.
3. MCD sends completed paperwork to AG department.
4. AG department processes payment and sends receipt.

Environmental Health Land Use Review Fees Waiver Form
Enviro Health Land Use Review Fees Waiver Form Process
(Currently working with EH to finalize procedures.  Yes, waivers ARE being accepted at this time.)

Mendocino Cannabis Department Fee Waiver Form 
Mendocino Cannabis Department Fee Waiver Form Process

1. Receive notice of fees.
2. Fill out Mendocino Cannabis Department (MCD) Fee Waiver Form.
   1. DO NOT FORGET TO SIGN.
3. Turn in completed waiver form along with a copy of your notice to MCD. This can be done in person, or via email at cannabisprogram@mendocinocounty.org
   1. If via email, we only accept scanned copies, please NO photographs.
   2. MCD will stamp with the date paperwork was turned in.
4. MCD will process paperwork, post a journal entry, process payment, and send receipt.

Planning & Building Services Estimate of Fees Form
Planning & Building Services Estimate of Fees Form Process

1. Complete numbers 1 – 11 on the Building Permit Fee Estimate for Cannabis Equity Grant Applicants Form from Planning & Building (PBS).
2. Turn in the form with numbers 1 – 11 completed and a site plan to PBS.
   ** Please note that violation fees are NOT covered by grant funds.
3. PBS will send the completed form, site plan, and acknowledged fees to waive to MCD.
4. MCD will process paperwork and post a journal entry.
5. MCD sends completed paperwork to PBS.
6. PBS processes payment and sends receipt.

MCA Memo for 04-17 GGC Meeting

In advance of the GGC Meeting tomorrow April 17, MCA has prepared the attached memo on the following item:

• Item 2a – April MCD Report (CLICK HERE for Agenda Materials)

CLICK HERE to read the memo, which covers the following topics:

• April MCD Report Questions and Recommendations
• MCD General Procedural Recommendations
• Acceptable Tax Appeal Conditions
• Reduction in Cannabis Business Tax Clarification re: Minimum Tax

To leave any written public comment, first you must CLICK HERE to register with Granicus. Once you have registered, you will be able to sign in and make comments and upload files for all agenda items.  You can CLICK HERE to find upcoming meeting agendas.

YOU MUST MAKE AN INDIVIDUAL COMMENT FOR EACH AGENDA ITEM YOU WANT TO ADDRESS. CLICK THE ITEM BELOW FOR THE APPROPRIATE PLACE TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT.

• Agenda Item 2a – April MCD Report

To make a verbal comment there are two options:

Option #1 – ZOOM during the BoS Meeting

Use the “raise hand” feature when Public Comment is called

CLICK HERE to Join Zoom Webinar

Zoom Webinar ID: 850 5593 1373

Zoom Phone Number (if joining via telephone): 1 669 900 9128

Option #2 – Voicemail

1. Call (707) 234-6333 to leave a voice message, up to 2 minutes, to be played during public expression/public comment, as it relates to the published agenda.
   
   

2. Leave your full name and the agenda item upon which you are making a comment.

3. The deadline for voicemail comment is 8AM the day of the meeting. (Voicemails received after 8AM will not be played back during the meeting)

4. Anonymous phone messages will not be played back during the meeting (nor will phone messages received prior to publication of the agenda)

ONLY 1 MESSAGE PER AGENDA ITEM. WE RECOMMEND LEAVING MESSAGES BY 7:30AM ON THE DAY OF THE MEETING TO BE SAFE.

Voicemail comments will no longer be played back during Open Session, but are immediately available to the full Board of Supervisors upon submittal.

Every voice raised makes a difference.  

MCA Memos for 04-14 GGC Meeting re Ordinance Streamlining

In advance of the Special GGC Meeting on Friday April 14th at 10:30 am, MCA has prepared a Memo and an addendum on the following item:

• Item 2a –  10A.17 Ordinance Amendments

As we have shared in various forums, we’ve been extremely blessed to have the expert technical team of Hannah Nelson, Patrick Sellers, Chantal Simonpietri and Scott Ward working in coordination with MCA leadership to provide clear and actionable recommendations to the County and the State for how we can effectively and efficiently streamline our entire permitting and licensing process.

While we would all certainly like to see everything that’s been challenging change at once, we are going to have to manage triage with a step by step approach. The meeting on Friday is intended to focus on one very specific part of the overall streamlining process. To achieve the larger goal of preventing state licensure loss, we are willing to support the proposed limited ordinance changes at this juncture.

However, as you will see in our memo, we ask for a firm commitment that a new round of changes will be brought forward to the Board as soon as possible, perhaps in July. We also believe certain items in the staff proposed version of the ordinance changes must be reconsidered in THIS round and we detail modest changes in the addendum to our memo. Additionally, we plan to address more operational items that do not fall under specific ordinance revisions at the GGC Meeting being held on Monday. 

Finally, due to the very technical nature of these revisions and the tremendous amount of work and effort put in by our ‘Tech Team’ – we ask that during the meeting tomorrow we provide them with the most space possible to engage directly and meaningfully with County Counsel and Staff on addressing this round of changes as efficiently as possible. We recommend saving any comments that are not directly related to the item at hand and this specific round of ordinance revisions until future meetings. If you have any questions about this please let me know.

Now, without further delay,

PLEASE CLICK HERE to read the Memo and Ordinance Modifications we submitted to the GGC and County Counsel!

(Click HERE for the agenda materials from the County)

If you support the MCA recommendations, you can use the following instructions to make either written or verbal comments (including leaving a voice mail at your convenience before 7:30AM on April 14th).

To leave any written public comment, first you must CLICK HERE to register with Granicus. Once you have registered, you will be able to sign in and make comments and upload files for all agenda items.  You can CLICK HERE to find upcoming meeting agendas.

YOU MUST MAKE AN INDIVIDUAL COMMENT FOR EACH AGENDA ITEM YOU WANT TO ADDRESS. CLICK THE ITEM BELOW FOR THE APPROPRIATE PLACE TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT.

• Agenda Item 2a – 10A.17 Ordinance Amendments

To make a verbal comment there are three options:

Option #1 – Voicemail

1. Call (707) 234-6333 to leave a voice message, up to 2 minutes, to be played during public expression/public comment, as it relates to the published agenda.
2. Leave your full name and the agenda item upon which you are making a comment.
3. The deadline for voicemail comment is 8AM the day of the meeting. (Voicemails received after 8AM will not be played back during the meeting)
4. Anonymous phone messages will not be played back during the meeting (nor will phone messages received prior to publication of the agenda)

ONLY 1 MESSAGE PER AGENDA ITEM. WE RECOMMEND LEAVING MESSAGES BY 7:30AM ON THE DAY OF THE MEETING TO BE SAFE.

Option #2 – ZOOM during the GGC Meeting

Use the “raise hand” feature when Public Comment is called

CLICK HERE to Join Zoom Webinar

Zoom Webinar ID: 820 5107 6885

Zoom Phone Number (if joining via telephone): 1 669 900 9128

Option #3 – Attend in Person

The meeting will be held in Conference Room C at the County office at

501 Low Gap Road, Ukiah, CA 95482

Local Cannabis Tax Reform Passes in Mendocino!

MCA Memos for 03-28 BoS Meeting

In advance of the BoS Meeting tomorrow, 03-28, MCA has prepared the attached memos on the following items:

• Item 3c – Cannabis Tax Reform  (CLICK HERE for Agenda Materials)
  • This is the Second Reading / Final vote for adoption.  
• Item 4c – Vegetation Modification  (CLICK HERE for Agenda Materials)

CLICK HERE to read the memos!

If you support our recommendations, you can use the following instructions to make either written or verbal comments (including leaving a voice mail at your convenience before 7:30AM on 3-28).

To leave any written public comment, first you must CLICK HERE to register with Granicus. Once you have registered, you will be able to sign in and make comments and upload files for all agenda items.  You can CLICK HERE to find upcoming meeting agendas.

YOU MUST MAKE AN INDIVIDUAL COMMENT FOR EACH AGENDA ITEM YOU WANT TO ADDRESS. CLICK THE ITEM BELOW FOR THE APPROPRIATE PLACE TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT

• Item 3c – Cannabis Tax Reform 
• Item 4c – Vegetation Modification 

To make a verbal comment there are two options:

Option #1-Voicemail

1. Call (707) 234-6333 to leave a voice message, up to 2 minutes, to be played during public expression/public comment, as it relates to the published agenda.
2. Leave your full name and the agenda item upon which you are making a comment.
3. The deadline for voicemail comment is 8AM the day of the meeting. (Voicemails received after 8AM will not be played back during the meeting)
4. Anonymous phone messages will not be played back during the meeting (nor will phone messages received prior to publication of the agenda)
   

ONLY 1 MESSAGE PER AGENDA ITEM. WE RECOMMEND LEAVING MESSAGES BY 7:30AM ON THE DAY OF THE MEETING TO BE SAFE.

Option #2 – ZOOM

Use the “raise hand” feature when Public Comment is called

CLICK HERE to Join Zoom Webinar

Zoom Webinar ID: 859 2655 1260

Zoom Phone Number (if joining via telephone): 1 669 900 9128

Please also feel free to email your District Supervisor, or all Supervisors, with your comments!

(Be sure to include the items that you’re writing about in your Email Subject)

District 1 – Glenn McGourty mcgourtyg@mendocinocounty.org

District 2 – Mo Mulheren mulherenm@mendocinocounty.org

District 3 – John Haschak haschakj@mendocinocounty.org

District 4 – Dan Gjerde gjerde@mendocinocounty.org

District 5 – Ted Williams williamst@mendocinocounty.org

All Supervisors: bos@mendocinocounty.orgRaise your voice and make a difference!

MCA Memos for 03-27 GGC Meeting

In advance of the General Government Committee Meeting on 3-27-23, MCA has prepared the attached memos on the following items :

• Public Expression – In Support of AB 1111 Cannabis Small Producer event sales
• Item 2a – MCD Update (CLICK HERE for Agenda Materials)
• Item 2b Deprioritization Ordinance Amendment (CLICK HERE for Agenda Materials)

CLICK HERE to read our memos.

If you support our recommendations, you can use the following instructions to make either written or verbal comments (including leaving a voice mail at your convenience before 7:30AM on 3-27-23).

To leave any written public comment, first you must CLICK HERE to register with Granicus. Once you have registered, you will be able to sign in and make comments and upload files for all agenda items.  You can CLICK HERE to find upcoming meeting agendas.

YOU MUST MAKE AN INDIVIDUAL COMMENT FOR EACH AGENDA ITEM YOU WANT TO ADDRESS. CLICK THE ITEM BELOW FOR THE APPROPRIATE PLACE TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT.

• Public Expression
• Agenda Item 2a – MCD Update
• Agenda Item 2b – Processing deprioritized tax applications

To make a verbal comment there are two options:

Option #1-Voicemail

1. Call (707) 234-6333 to leave a voice message, up to 2 minutes, to be played during public expression/public comment, as it relates to the published agenda.
2. Leave your full name and the agenda item upon which you are making a comment.
3. The deadline for voicemail comment is 8AM the day of the meeting. (Voicemails received after 8AM will not be played back during the meeting)
4. Anonymous phone messages will not be played back during the meeting (nor will phone messages received prior to publication of the agenda)

ONLY 1 MESSAGE PER AGENDA ITEM. WE RECOMMEND LEAVING MESSAGES BY 7:30AM ON THE DAY OF THE MEETING TO BE SAFE.

Option #2-ZOOM

Use the “raise hand” feature when Public Comment is called

CLICK HERE to Join Zoom Webinar

Zoom Webinar ID: 847 1652 0553

Zoom Phone Number (if joining via telephone): 1 669 900 9128

You can also email the Supervisors on the committee:

District 2 – Mo Mulheren mulherenm@mendocinocounty.org

District 3 – John Haschak haschakj@mendocinocounty.org

Every voice raised makes a difference!