Why you don't want commercial cannabis in your neighborhood / Public Meeting - December 13, 2023

Dear Neighbors,

The County just published its proposed concept of exclusion zones – areas where commercial cannabis cannot be grown. Sadly, the County’s “Residential Enclaves” proposal provides even less protection than the current ordinance by reducing the minimum parcel size for commercial cannabis from ten to as small as five acres. This is just one example of the many deficiencies in the proposal.

The County is neglecting its responsibility to protect our safety, health, and the environment. The County committed to solve the neighborhood compatibility issue but the current proposal just makes it worse. It does nothing to protect us from growers like the man whose uncontrolled rage and threats caused deputy sheriffs to close a recent Board of Supervisor’s meeting. This man also opened an active shooting range next to his cannabis grow in the Barlow Lane neighborhood. (See Press Democrat, “More vitriol aimed at Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, this time in person,” October 6, 2023.).  State and County regs don't allow guns at cannabis grows and our enforcement agencies are unwilling to intervene.

The photo is an example of environmental wreckage left by one failed grow. These are just two examples of what can and has happened when the County fails to exercise its duty to keep neighborhoods safe and healthy in the face of well-organized and well-funded cannabis advocates and entrepreneurs.

Some supervisors and staff may view those who challenge commercial cannabis operations near our homes as NIMBYs and ignore our concerns. What the supervisors experienced in October epitomizes what many neighbors are subjected to regularly and the tangible fear they experience daily in their homes. The photo exemplifies the total disregard many commercial growers have for our beautiful County, neighborhoods, and the quality of our lives. Without appropriate regulations that are vigorously enforced, commercial growers will lay waste to all we hold precious.

Your engagement at this point is critical. We need to make the County staff and Supervisors recognize the incompatibility of commercial cannabis cultivations in our neighborhoods and address our concerns for our health, security, and our environment.

Commercial Cannabis and neighborhoods don’t mix. The Supervisors experienced it firsthand. Please urge them to get the updated cannabis ordinance right.

Take action: attend the County’s presentation on December 13:

Permit Sonoma will host two public informational meetings on Wednesday, December 13, to update us on their plan for “residential enclaves” and the revised ordinance. This is our chance to show the County that growing commercial cannabis in our neighborhoods has a significant impact on the value of our homes, our health, safety, and the environment around our neighborhoods.

1. The first meeting will be in person at the Board of Supervisors Chambers from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM.
2. The second meeting will be conducted via Zoom from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Please register now for the December 13th, 7 pm Zoom meeting! Here is the link:
https://sonomacounty.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lbdxKr0zShKYxJOI5O0Bww#/registration  

The link below is to the draft maps of the proposed residential enclaves and to view the Discussion Paper just published.

https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/county-administrators-office/projects/cannabis-program/cannabis-program-update-and-eir

Supporting the Public Good

We know from Public Request Act responses that the County listens to the cannabis industry more than to ordinary citizens. For this reason, it is important that a legal team, including technical experts, represent our interests throughout the entire revision process. Protecting our neighborhoods from poorly planned cannabis operations comes at a cost to all of us. Please donate today to support this effort.

You can also mail a check to:
Sonoma Neighborhood Coalition
PO Box 1229
Sebastopol, CA 95472

Celebrate this incredible engagement from the citizens and fund the legal support to protect Sonoma County.

Thank you, the Neighborhood Coalition team