Facing SLO County job losses, supervisors consider extending conditional cannabis grows
After hearing from dozens of members of the San Luis Obispo County cannabis industry on Tuesday — including many who said they’d lose their jobs without an extension of a temporary measure allowing cannabis grows — the county Board of Supervisors voted to meet in January to consider conditional cultivation.
The “abeyance” resolution currently allows 34 existing countywide cannabis grows as applicants await permitting hearings under the county’s permanent ordinance, which can taking months and years before consideration of approval.
The abeyance is set to expire on Dec. 31.
The abeyance has been extended twice already, as the transition into a new agriculture industry rolls out.
One opponent, Diane Moody of Nipomo, said neighbors are being affected by marijuana cultivation, and urged the board to “please don’t extend another year.”
But several growers said the county’s process to obtain a permit has been excruciatingly slow and restrictive, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars in getting approved, and delaying economic growth.
“Instead of a smooth process with the county mentoring a new industry to fruition, we have a broken system with a county that’s profiting off forcing an industry to fail,” said Helios Dayspring, owner of cannabis business Natural Healing Center, which is based in Grover Beach with cultivation sites countywide. “I personally will not accept failure for my employees, my investors, and myself.”
Jacob German, a financial analyst with Natural Healing Center, said the company faces laying off 30 employees without an extension of the abeyance resolution, designed to help the industry transition from medical marijuana into the legal cannabis era.
Those who were growing medical marijuana in the county as of 2016 were allowed to continue their agricultural operations as they await a cultivation permit hearing under the county’s current ordinance (the county started accepting applications in 2018).
Several Spanish speaking workers attended the meeting as well, expressing fear of losing their jobs and incomes around the holidays, without an extension of the abeyance.
“I hope you extend (the abeyance),” a speaker who identified himself as Felix said in Spanish. “I have two kids. I need a job.”
SLO County supervisors divided on marijuana issue
The board voted 3-2, with supervisors Debbie Arnold and Lynn Compton dissenting, to put the item on the board’s agenda on Jan. 14.
The discussion will consider an extension of the abeyance as cannabis applications continue to be processed.
Supervisor John Peschong, the deciding vote after a 2-2 split in his absence on the same issue at a Dec. 10 meeting, said the county needs to best figure out how to address lawful grows in line with county regulatory laws.
Peschong said he’d heard from growers about a backlog in the county’s cannabis ordinance planning process. Some cannabis growers said they’ve waited up to two years to get permitted.
Peschong added that there’s a need to provide legal teeth to prevent certain growers from operating under violation.
“We need to be able to figure this out,” he said.
Supervisor Lynn Compton said she believes the county’s ordinance is sufficient.
“Google all the problems Santa Barbara County is having about cannabis,” Compton said. “I don’t want that problem here in this county. I believe we have a fair ordinance and people have to abide by that.”
Opponents of the extension of the abeyance cited issues with lack of public health and safety compliance, including odors and the potential for fires at cannabis sites, among code compliance issues.
Creston farmer Jim Wortner said in public comment he spent 18 months getting his traditional farm permitted. He added that no other industry should get special treatment so out-of-town investors can make “green rush profits.”
“No other business or agriculture enterprise in SLO County is allowed to circumvent the county planning department land use process,” Wortner said. “Why should cannabis grows get special business treatment?”
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson also spoke at the meeting. He said some growers are using the abeyance to make money from cannabis sales while failing to comply with laws, creating a law enforcement burden.
Supporters cite public support, benefits
But Supervisor Adam Hill cited San Luis Obispo County voter support for Proposition 64, adding that if restrictive marijuana policy hinders local grows the black market will only continue to thrive.
“I am grateful that folks came out to speak, folks who we normally don’t hear from because they’re working in fields and taking care of families,” Hill said in his support of furthering the policy discussion. “I am moved by that.”
Fernando Gonzalez-Garcia, an operations manager for multiple county cannabis farms, said the county is stalling innovation with its lack of permissive regulation.
“This is like going to Henry Ford and telling him to stop making the Model T or Steve Jobs not to make the iPhone,” Gonzalez-Garcia said. “This is an industry that’s doing a great thing. The way I see it, you’re saying the American dream is non-existent. You’re saying, ‘Take a starting industry and start it somewhere else.’ ”
County officials said, that as of late October, 28 permits had been approved, including 19 for cultivation and nine for other cannabis activities including manufacturing, non-storefront delivery, distribution and testing facility.
But Nick Andre, of Natural Healing Center, said that even with a permit, facilities need to be brought up to code and business licensing is required, which can take more time before operations can begin.
The county Board of Supervisors will discuss extending the abeyance at a Jan. 14 meeting in San Luis Obispo.
This story was originally published December 17, 2019 at 3:23 PM.
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