News&Comment

Growers in Fear Concerned about having grow locations known. Prefer hiding behind your place

Some growers or land owners have contacted us to express concern that their safety might be compromised by having the public information about their proposals listed here. We certainly don’t wish harm on anyone.  Read More….

Sonoma County CAG  (Cannabis Advisory Group) membership conflicts of interest highlighted in formal complaint by SOSN

The Cannabis Advisory Group Should Disclose All Conflicts of Interest Dear Ms. Bratton and Mr. Goldstein: I am concerned that many members of Cannabis Advisory Group (CAG) are using their positions on the CAG to influence decisions in which they have a financial interest or an organizational responsibility. They may also have personal relationships that…
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From the field: PD Post. I can no longer enjoy my back yard

Commercial cannabis  EDITOR: Sonoma County’s cannabis growing businesses should be allowed only in industrial zones, not in neighborhoods. One popped up next door to me and turned my life upside down. This unpermitted operation sits on my fence line and is practically in my backyard. I can no longer enjoy my backyard or live comfortably…
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California’s New Pot Laws Face Bumpy Rollout

Many experts say the state is blunting its own effort with over-regulation and high taxes, potentially stifling a high-growth market   By Nour Malas March 24, 2018 7:00 a.m. ET 71 COMMENTS SAN FRANCISCO—California has long been seen by outsiders as a sort of Wild West of weed, with marijuana growers and medical dispensaries operating for…
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Wine and Marijuana, What could go wrong?

Cannabis and Wine in Sonoma County The Cannabis Advisory Group was formed by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors to advise the Supervisors on Cannabis regulations.  It consists of 20 volunteers, mostly involved in the Cannabis business. At the Feb 27th meeting some the CAG board members comments were: Grapes use more water than Cannabis…
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From the field: A Pot Business At My Fence

Sonoma County’s commercial cannabis grow businesses should be allowed only in industrial zones, not in neighborhoods. One popped-up next door to me and turned my life upside down. This un-permitted operation sits on my fence line and is practically in my backyard. I can no longer enjoy my backyard, or live comfortably in my house…
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Facts and Figures on Pot Growing

9 out of the last 11 murders in Sonoma County happened at pot farms. Outdoor pot grows consume roughly 60 million gallons pf water a day – 50 percent more than is used by all the residents of San Francisco. The energy needed to produce a single joint is enough to produce 18 pints of…
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SOS Neighborhoods Cannabis Permit Map updated to include ministerial permits

Map of Current Cannabis permit applications in Sonoma County Pins in Red are ministerial permits – You won’t be notified of these operations coming to your neighborhood by  the County. Destroying your neighborhood is just a formality in these cases. Rubber stamp. No notification to neighbors, no review, no hearings, no environmental impact study, no water…
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PD Editorial: Safety must come first in cannabis rules

Residents, especially in rural neighborhoods, are justifiably frightened about being the next victims of a violent break-in at a home with no connection to the cannabis trade. “How many more of these need to happen before the board takes some kind of measure to revamp the ordinance that we have?” Chuck Pinnow, a Penngrove resident,…
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24 Mind-Blowing Facts About Marijuana Production in America

You thought your pot came from environmentally conscious hippies? Think again. The way marijuana is grown in America, it turns out, is anything but sustainable and organic. Check out these mind-blowing stats, and while you’re at it, read Josh Harkinson’s feature story, “The Landscape-Scarring, Energy-Sucking, Wildlife-Killing Reality of Pot Farming.” 24 Mind-Blowing Facts About Marijuana…
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