Navigating the Future of Cannabis Cultivation: Championing Sustainable Practices Amidst Possible Regulatory Changes

The South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) has been at the forefront of promoting sustainable cannabis cultivation through its Growing Green for the Yuba program. This initiative, launched in 2015, supports SYRCL’s vision that cannabis cultivation should not harm water quality, fish, or wildlife.

The Growing Green program encourages cannabis farmers to enter the licensed and regulated market, which can then help implement best practices and effectively manage water usage.

As part of the Growing Green campaign, SYRCL actively engaged in the County’s public process to legalize commercial cannabis cultivation. When Nevada County’s Cannabis Ordinance was adopted in 2019, SYRCL evaluated the environmental effects of legal commercial cannabis cultivation on both our community and the Yuba River watershed.

Key to the success of the ordinance is having illegal growers enter the legal market by minimizing barriers to that entry. In 2021, SYRCL surveyed the community and discovered that many cultivators believed that the process of coming into compliance was perceived as inaccessible, too expensive/time consuming, and lacking in benefits. Despite this, and even though cultivators face significant regulatory hurdles, over 200 cultivators have secured licenses since the County program began.

Exclusion Zones Proposed

The County is now poised to consider changes to the ordinance. Some of these changes could be of benefit to the success of cannabis farmers and encourage more entry into that legal market, but one proposed amendment has the potential to have a negative effect. The draft ordinance includes a proposal to create an “Exclusion Zone combining district” that would allow residents to apply to prohibit all commercial cannabis activities “to preserve the residential nature of the property” (Sec. L-II 2.7.13.A). SYRCL believes the amendment is redundant, because, under our current ordinance, cannabis is only allowed to be farmed on land zoned Agriculture – cultivation is not permitted in areas zoned Residential-Agriculture or Residential. In addition, the primary use of Agriculture zoned land is commercial agriculture with all other uses secondary.

“It is a very slippery slope if certain farming starts to be restricted in Ag Zoned land.”

Diana Gamzon, The Nevada County Cannabis Alliance.

SYRCL is concerned that this unneeded amendment introduces a layer of uncertainty that could deter cultivators from entering the legal market. This uncertainty stems from the possibility that even after investing considerable time, resources, and effort into becoming licensed and regulated, cultivators could still face the risk of their activities being prohibited by nearby residents. This unpredictability could make the prospect of entering the legal market less appealing and far more risky.

How to get Involved in the Public Process

Attend a Public meeting:

Wednesday 8/21 at 6:00 pm: Higgins Lions Community Center (Roy Peterson Building) 22490 East Hacienda Drive, Grass Valley.

Thursday 8/22 at 5:30 pm: North San Juan Fire Protection District, 10057 Reservoir Street, North San Juan.

Write a letter:

Written public comments are due August 30^th at 5:00 pm to Planning Director Brian Foss at brian.foss@Nevada CountyCa.gov or mailed to his attention to 950 Maidu Avenue, Suite 170, Nevada City CA 95959.