Letter to the Editor - Cannabis EIR fatally flawed

The Press Democrat - Letters to the Editor, Monday Sept. 29 2025

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County’s cannabis EIR is fatally flawed

‍Editor: Sonoma County published its proposed final environmental impact report, including 2,000 pages of public comments. Highly regarded experts in public health and pharmaceutical toxicology submitted detailed critiques underscoring serious concerns about toxicity and carcinogenicity of cannabis emissions and highlighting the county consultants’ non-scientific methods. The EIR inexplicably dismissed these experts’ concerns, although the consultants had no demonstrable similar expertise.The EIR says county health reviewed literature on health effects of b-myrcene (a Proposition 65 carcinogen) on humans, finding no evidence of health-risk. Technically that statement is correct as no studies exist in humans on myrcene safety/toxicity, yet government studies showed toxicity/carcinogenicity of myrcene in animals, which is how human risk is assessed. Testing on animals identified serious long-term health risks including cancer. I met with county health who shared these concerns. Exposing humans to even a fraction of these levels is unethical. Engaging experts in pharmaceutical development and public health is critical in educating local regulators and vital to safe public health. Political pressure from the cannabis industry is no excuse for Sonoma County to ignore well-conducted animal toxicity studies and independent expert scientific and medical opinions. The EIR fails to protect the public. It is fatally flawed and must be rejected.

‍— Deborah Eppstein, Santa Rosa