Right now Humboldt County Marijuana laws are governed by "Hysteria" and not "Reality." There needs to be consistent rules that are not based on criminal or punitive behavior. There need to be a shift in judgement. Instead of looking at Marijuana farmers as comparable to Goat Farmers and placing them in the position as the "Goat" instead of the "Farmers" the MJ farmer has been demonized and ostracized as the lower tier participant in the economic scale.
The present process that allows the Humboldt Sheriffs Department to "take" money and land in the name of "noncompliance" without giving people the chance or opportunity for compliance is an unequal process that is not unlike Prohibition.
To have growers in a "volunteer compliance" status regulated by the Humboldt County Sheriffs and Humboldt County Supervisors has the potential to help off set many fiscal issues for the county. That alone should be motivation.
Here is a conundrum: If all of the Napa County Supervisors were asked if the NAPA valley wine were the best in their area, do you think they would all agree? Of course.
If all of the Humboldt County Supervisors were asked which marijuana was the best in the open market, what would they say? Humboldt Grass hopefully! The stigma needs to go away!
More information coming soon!
Is it really the job of the Sheriff to regulate an agricultural product? After prohibition, did Sheriff's regulate the growing of wine grapes? Seems like that should be the Ag department or whoever monitors that.
ReplyDeleteRuchard, stop with the hypocracy. The BOS are heavily invested in the drug war and in pushing the ideological divide that says "good" people drink wine, while "bad" people smoke pot, snort coke or take LSD.
ReplyDeleteI understand that the BOS is filled with gold diggers who have no moral code to live by except the mighty dollar, but until politicians and citizens can call BS on the war on drugs, no taxation should be collected.
I'm afraid the train may have already left the station. The other counties (SoCal, Bay Area) have been organizing while we've been contemplating.
ReplyDeleteWe have a lot of folks here that have been in this business for decades. They have the knowledge and the skill in this area to continue to produce superior product and dominate the market. Some things can only be learned through trial, error, blood, sweat and tears. In order for that to happen, branding needs to happen. This county is supported in good part on the marijuana money that is spent here. If growers were able to step out, grow legally and pay taxes the county coffers would be a lot better off. Of course not every grower would, but some would. Legalization is coming. The questions now are how the state will regulate it, what they will require of one to be a legal grower, what they'll charge for permits and in taxes. Will it be possible for our local mom and pops to go legal or will only the well off be able afford do so?
ReplyDeleteInstead we are getting a sales tax hike.
ReplyDeleteOur county government is braindead.
And on a trip to Sonoma County we noticed the Cannabis Cup-- the utlimate and highly sought venue of weed cultivation and tasting awards-- is being held at the Santa Rosa Fairgrounds this weekend.
ReplyDeleteToo bad the popular, profitable and well respected business & pleasure event isn't being held in Humboldt, the epicenter of where it all began.
Julie seems to be right: the train has already left the station and other counties have been busy organizing-- while we're still contemplating whether or not to keep it in the closet.
We're not "contemplating" keeping it in the closet, that is how the community votes. In 2010 Humboldt, Mendocino and Trinity counties voted NO on a legalization initiative. That's right, we voted to continue prohibition!!! We voted to continue the arrests and the money spent on law enforcement. I doubt that position has changed much over the last four years.
ReplyDeletePeople in this community need to wake up. Good and even great pot is being grown every day in places all over the United States. This is a dying black market in Humboldt. And good riddance. Its put a lot of black brothers and sisters in prison over the years, while the fatcat white landowners in the Humboldt continue to blow wads of cash on there own self indulgences.
"This is a dying black market in Humboldt. And good riddance. Its put a lot of black brothers and sisters in prison over the years, while the fatcat white landowners in the Humboldt continue to blow wads of cash on there own self indulgences."
ReplyDeleteWhat about all the dead people buried all over these hills? No one ever wants to talk about them. Pot growers and seller all have blood on their hands. Legalizing won't change that.
Do alcohol makers have blood on their hands from all of the drunk driving deaths? Do gun makers have blood on their hands? Drone manufacturers? You are headed on a VERY slippery slope by saying that.
ReplyDeleteI do agree on the racial aspect. White growers get slaps on the wrist while black distributers and users get much longer crimes. Over 150000 black men are in jail for LIFE for possession/ sales of drugs. A victimless, non violent crime
Typical: "Do alcohol makers have blood on their hands from all of the drunk driving deaths? Do gun makers have blood on their hands? Drone manufacturers? You are headed on a VERY slippery slope by saying that."
ReplyDeleteOne big difference to eludes the criminal mentality and that is growing and selling pot was and is criminal, illegal. So, no they don't have blood on their hands.
Pot growers and sellers and their apologists are guilty as sin. Everyone is whining and crying about all the crime in Humboldt County, well looking the other way while pocketing all that tax-free money for 50 - 60 years has its costs. Not only do they have blood on their hand but bear a substantial responsibility for the current state of LAWLESSNESS in this community.
I have the sinking feeling that we are about to watch the various Emerald Triangle factions rip each other to pieces while more organized, effective people come up with a plan. Then the Humboldt/Mendo growers will play the angry victim. Let's face it, these are people who moved here to be left alone.
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