Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
With Californians passing Proposition 64, legalizing recreational marijuana, last November, counties like Solano are scrambling to set regulations for cultivation, transportation, sales, testing and more.
In December, the Solano County Board of Supervisors passed 45-day Interim Urgency Ordinance prohibiting commercial cultivation and the like. Earlier this month, the board extended the ordinance for 10 months and 15 days.
Tuesday afternoon, supervisors hosted David McPherson and Matt Eaton of HdL Companies for an overview of cannabis regulations across the state, possible impacts, the state of marijuana-related affairs in Colorado and more.
"Our goal today is really to promote outreach and education," McPherson said.
McPherson is a former revenue and tax administrator for the city of Oakland and Eaton is a former police officer in California and Colorado and supervisor investigator enforcing legalized marijuana issues in Colorado. HdL advises governments, serving 44 California counties and 300 cities in six states.
Both men advised on the importance of having the tough conversations with everyone who will be impacted, from residents to business owners to patients to police and city officials.
"When we went to the table to create regulations we didn't bring all the internal and external stakeholders to actually sit down and have a conversation," Eaton said, of Colorado talks. Since they were unprepared and uninformed, industry officials dictated the flow of information.
"It became apparent that we were outgunned," he continued.
In ensuing years the marijuana industry has evolved, as have regulations.
To keep up with the trends and to ensure everyone's happy, "You have to create an industry and a model that reflects your town," he said.
Bringing stakeholders together will help answer questions such as, what do you want grows to look like? Is there sufficient infrastructure in that area to support water and electrical needs? How do you want dispensaries and retailers to operate?
Regarding marijuana businesses, the pair emphasized the importance of having policies dictating the time, place and manner of their operations. Also addressed need to be signage, security and perhaps employee badges, among other things.
The goals, they said, "should be to develop and maintain an enforceable, robust regulatory structure designed to ensure public safety."
Licensing, trends and challenges also were discussed, with the emphasis that the supervisors would tailor the requirements to the county's needs.
Supervisor Skip Thomson asked about the DUI process and was told that testing is being conducted but is nowhere near done.
Supervisor Jim Spering said it would be helpful to get the input of each Solano city.
Staff is slated to bring back a draft with changes in March.
Possible next steps include a presentation to supervisors Tuesday, a community meeting Feb. 8 and a stakeholder meeting March 8.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Supervisors Get An In-Depth Education On Marijuana
Author: Kimberly K. Fu
Contact: (707) 644-1141
Photo Credit: Elaine Thompson
Website: Times-Herald
In December, the Solano County Board of Supervisors passed 45-day Interim Urgency Ordinance prohibiting commercial cultivation and the like. Earlier this month, the board extended the ordinance for 10 months and 15 days.
Tuesday afternoon, supervisors hosted David McPherson and Matt Eaton of HdL Companies for an overview of cannabis regulations across the state, possible impacts, the state of marijuana-related affairs in Colorado and more.
"Our goal today is really to promote outreach and education," McPherson said.
McPherson is a former revenue and tax administrator for the city of Oakland and Eaton is a former police officer in California and Colorado and supervisor investigator enforcing legalized marijuana issues in Colorado. HdL advises governments, serving 44 California counties and 300 cities in six states.
Both men advised on the importance of having the tough conversations with everyone who will be impacted, from residents to business owners to patients to police and city officials.
"When we went to the table to create regulations we didn't bring all the internal and external stakeholders to actually sit down and have a conversation," Eaton said, of Colorado talks. Since they were unprepared and uninformed, industry officials dictated the flow of information.
"It became apparent that we were outgunned," he continued.
In ensuing years the marijuana industry has evolved, as have regulations.
To keep up with the trends and to ensure everyone's happy, "You have to create an industry and a model that reflects your town," he said.
Bringing stakeholders together will help answer questions such as, what do you want grows to look like? Is there sufficient infrastructure in that area to support water and electrical needs? How do you want dispensaries and retailers to operate?
Regarding marijuana businesses, the pair emphasized the importance of having policies dictating the time, place and manner of their operations. Also addressed need to be signage, security and perhaps employee badges, among other things.
The goals, they said, "should be to develop and maintain an enforceable, robust regulatory structure designed to ensure public safety."
Licensing, trends and challenges also were discussed, with the emphasis that the supervisors would tailor the requirements to the county's needs.
Supervisor Skip Thomson asked about the DUI process and was told that testing is being conducted but is nowhere near done.
Supervisor Jim Spering said it would be helpful to get the input of each Solano city.
Staff is slated to bring back a draft with changes in March.
Possible next steps include a presentation to supervisors Tuesday, a community meeting Feb. 8 and a stakeholder meeting March 8.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Supervisors Get An In-Depth Education On Marijuana
Author: Kimberly K. Fu
Contact: (707) 644-1141
Photo Credit: Elaine Thompson
Website: Times-Herald