July 21 2025 Newsletter Shute DEIR Comments

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July 21, 2025

July 21st, 2025

County Cannabis Draft EIR Doesn’t Measure Up

Attached is the filing by Shute Mihaly & Weinberger on behalf of Sonoma County’s 150,000 rural residents.

This version does not contain the exhibits, which are massive.This lengthy and well-documented letter identifies innumerable legal failings of the DEIR, including failures to include crucial information, disinformation about health impacts of cannabis emissions, inaccurate calculations, and policies that violate the law.

No one is eager to litigate. But if the County doesn’t vastly improve its environmental analyses and rescind policies such as ministerial crop swaps and exposing innocent neighbors to unhealthy emissions, it will be necessary.

After the failures of the Sonoma Developmental Center and the well ordinance, we would think the County might refrain from playing Russian roulette with an ordinance that has vast consequences for the County. But no. Sonoma County may have the most inept Office of County Counsel in the State. Either that, or our “leaders” cannot understand or refuse to accept the fact their policy preferences violate the law.

The County publishes all correspondence regarding the Cannabis EIR on a monthly basis. This  link Review public comment to the county site shows all the submittals. There's been a large number of substantial comments filed by community groups and individuals showing the breadth and depth of our concerns… and it is damn impressive. Thanks to all who submitted comments. It makes a difference!

SUPPORTING THE PUBLIC GOOD

Your family’s health, home and neighborhood are more important than catering to a failing and harmful commercial industry. Please consider the following:

  1. Become fully aware of the cannabis ordinance changes at the County’s website that impact your property.
  2. Visit Neighborhood Coalition Sonoma County to learn more ways you can get involved and help protect your neighborhood.

The Neighborhood Coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, volunteer-based, dedicated to advocating for proper cannabis and land-use policies that benefit the community. All donations support these efforts.Thank you for your support and donations.The Neighborhood Coalition team Sonoma Neighborhood Coalition PO Box 1229 Sebastopol, CA 95473

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