County's first medical marijuana town hall in Sonoma

As the California Marijuana Legalization Initiative has been approved for the November ballot, where it will appear as Proposition 64, the regulatory landscape is poised for a dramatic change.

To deal with the changes in a way “that recognizes the unique character of our County and our communities,” the County is cultivating the participation of stakeholders through a series of town halls and a public survey.

The first town hall will be held in Sonoma on Monday, July 18, at the Veterans Memorial Hall, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. It will be hosted by 1st District Supervisor Susan Gorin, a member of the county's Medical Marijuana Ad Hoc Committee. Additional town hall meetings will be held in the coming weeks, one in each district of the county.

Sonoma County has eyed this type of evaluation long before Prop. 64 was approved for the ballot, recognizing the need for establishing marijuana policies that preserve environmental resources, protect community health and safety, and ensure the industry's contribution to the economic vitality of the county.

In February, the Board of Supervisors directed staff to develop new zoning regulations to permit marijuana cultivation, storage, distribution, deliveries and manufacturing, and to investigate other marijuana-related laws and policies. It followed a six-county policy study discussing the possible impacts of legalized cannabis on the economies, the environment and public safety of Sonoma, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino and Trinity counties.

Those policies helped Assemblymember Jim Wood and state Senator Mike McGuire craft state legislation, which were recently signed by Gov. Brown at the end of this session.

The county formed the Medical Marijuana Ad Hoc Committee in 2015, originally composed of Supervisors David Rabbitt and Gorin. While Rabbitt was replaced by Supervisor Efren Carrillo in 2016, Gorin is still on the two-member committee.

“I'm going to have to understand the specifics of the initiative, and how it would affect the just-signed legislation,” said Gorin. “I'm not sure what powers it would leave at the local level, or take away from the local level.

“But whether the potential legalization measure is approved by the state or not, we do need to work on developing some consensus on where and how we cultivate marijuana, whether it is for medicinal purposes or legalized recreational purposes,” said Gorin.

Recognizing the complex regulatory issues that would come with decriminalization, along with opportunities and challenges, Supervisor Carrillo said, “We know this growing industry will have a big impact on our County and encourage all stakeholders to participate in shaping the County's approach.”

Currently, there are a number of Sonoma County regulations pertaining to medical cannabis dispensaries, which may or may not be incorporated in new regulations. These include the following:

• Marijuana dispensaries are permitted in commercial zones

• Permitted primarily in urban zones

• Must be located at least 1,000 feet from another dispensary and 500 feet from a smoke shop

• Must be located at least 1,000 feet from any school, park or other establishment that serves children

• The total number of dispensaries is capped at nine

• Deliveries are not allowed

• Consumption of medicine is not permitted on the premises.

There are currently nine dispensaries in Sonoma County. Dispensaries are not allowed in the city of Sonoma and none are currently located in the Sonoma Valley. Most other city jurisdictions also prohibit dispensaries in city limits, though they are allowed in Santa Rosa. Cultivation for personal medicinal use is allowed in several cities, including Petaluma.

Four states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for recreational use, including Alaska, Oregon, Colorado and Washington. Nevada and California could become the next states to legalize marijuana for recreational use when voters consider ballot initiatives later this year.

Whether or not Prop. 64 passes in November and decriminalization becomes the law of the land, dispensary rules may still be subject to adjustment as a result of the current effort to develop new zoning regulations.

At next Monday's town hall, representatives from a number of County departments will be available to discuss the marijuana industry as it relates to agriculture and the environment, health and human services, taxation and revenue, economic development and enforcement.

The county has also posted a short online survey to gather input and feedback on issues and opportunities presented by the marijuana industry. The survey will be open until Friday, Aug. 5, and asks questions about where to allow cultivation, zones where cultivation is discouraged or illegal, taxation and other policy questions. To fill out the survey, visit: www.surveymonkey.com/r/6YBKMSR.

Additional information on the Ad Hoc Committee, current laws and policies and the regulatory process can be found at sonomacounty.ca.gov/CAO/Medical-Marijuana.

Contact Christian at Christian.kallen@sonomanews.com