County seeks public input on proposed update to cannabis ordinance

Do you have an opinion about the County’s proposal to update its cannabis ordinance? If so, the County wants to hear from you.

The proposed update seeks to support the local cannabis industry while protecting the environment and ensuring operations are compatible with surrounding neighborhoods. It would allow most cannabis operations to be permitted by right, and not subject to review, in areas zoned as industrial and commercial; eliminate term limits and permit renewals; apply land-use regulations uniformly to medical and adult-use cannabis; adjust setback requirements that protect concentrated residential development; and allow on-site retail consumption, subject to relevant health ordinances.

The revised policy would also designate cannabis cultivation as “controlled agriculture,” which is considered a primary use on agricultural lands. The current ordinance considers cultivation to be secondary and incidental to traditional agricultural use. The revision would allow most policies related to agriculture to also apply to cannabis, as well as allow for regulations to protect public health and safety. While cultivation uses on agricultural lands would be subject to discretionary review, much of the environmental review requirements would be addressed by a programmatic environmental impact report, which will help streamline permit processing.

Written comments are due by May 1. They may be submitted to Cannabis@sonoma-county.org or sent by mail to Permit Sonoma, Attn: Cannabis Ordinance Update, 2550 Ventura Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95403.

Visit the County Cannabis Program website for more information https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/ad...