The Contra Costa Board of Supervisors today will decide whether to create an ordinance requiring industrial hemp growers in unincorporated areas to obtain permits from the county, and to establish cultivation standards.
Supervisors will also decide whether to allow industrial hemp cultivation in certain zoning districts with a land use permit.
The county adopted a moratorium on new industrial hemp growing in Nov. 2020, after people living near a handful of East Contra Costa industrial grow sites complained about odor, lights, and other factors.
Supervisors have since extended the moratorium twice, with the current ban in place until Sept. 30. County staff has since worked with state and federal officials to develop regulations for the county.
Growing hemp commercially has been legal in Contra Costa since 2018, when the first five growers were permitted. Hemp has many commercial uses, including food, clothing, medicine, building materials, and more. But neighbors soon complained they weren’t warned hemp growers were coming to the area and that growers were violating permitting conditions.
Supervisors will discuss creating a new zoning ordinance that new permits may only be issued for cultivation in an agricultural zoning district located with the boundaries of the East Contra Costa Irrigation District, the Byron-Bethany Irrigation District, or the East Contra Costa County Groundwater Subbasin.
The ordinance would also establish various requirements and standards for indoor and outdoor cultivation.
Land use permits would be good for five years and could be renewed if the permit holder complies with regulations and applies while the permit is still in effect. The renewed permit would last until it’s revoked.
The ordinance wouldn’t allow for industrial hemp to be cultivated within, or within one mile, of the county’s urban limit line. The minimum lot size for outdoor cultivation would be five acres. Indoor facilities would have to comply with rules regarding other structures. Other conditions of approval will include security plans, shielded lighting, and odor control.
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors meets virtually today at 9 a.m. and can be found at www.contracosta.ca.gov.
11 comments
“No stems, no seeds that we don’t need, Co Co bud is bad-a$$ weed”.
Maybe they can investigate the nonstop shootings on Highway 4. You know, the stuff that’s actually killing people
dem agenda
liquor store on every corner …check
legalized weed….check
legal theft …check
sanctuary for illegals and criminals …check
create divide through gov controlled media bias …check
install a racism curriculum in k -12 …check
push racism on everyone and have the media only allow racism …check
BINGO!
Fix the potholes!
Do we have the water resources to support this type of non-essential farming?
If water is possibly being shut off to farmers in the Central Valley who grow food crops, how can we even consider providing water to hemp crops?
Will these hemp farmers need to provide their own electricity if they have an indoor grow facility? Again, how can this use of electricity be even considered when the grid can’t support our population and we are asked to conserve electricity from 4-9pm?
Maybe this should be tabled until the board of supervisors is able to tackle the real problems we have in this county such as shootings on highway 4
$$$$ makes the world go round
Seems the liberal progressives favor growing weed instead of real fruits and vegetables.
So, was California’s $100,000,000 marijuana bailout the first step in a government takeover?
This is the only comment that actually makes sense. You don’t grow hemp to get high. Also, this type of industrial hemp is not used for CBD oil. Only out of touch old people get their granny panties in a uproar over marijuana and hemp. The rest of us really don’t care (I’ve never touched it) and feel its no worse than alcohol (I’ve heard of angry drunks but never an angry stoner)
I agree with CJRN that there has to be a concern with water usage as hemp does require quite a bit of water. Central valley farmers need to adapt to the fact that water is going to be an issue going forward with climate change. They need to start by utilizing more efficient methods of farming and choose crops that aren’t as water intensive. We as a state need to address the water problem as well. Everything from the way we recycle water (Less than 20% of urban waste water is being re-used), capturing urban runoff, desalination plants (would be very expensive and would need to capture the runoff brine so as not to kill off that part of the ocean), water pipelines (very expensive and need to make sure it doesn’t impact natural habitats too adversely).
🤣🤣🤣 Typical dem thinks they are the only person who makes sense. Thanks for showing your arrogance. Climate change is real, because you say so? Water levels haven’t risen since photography was invented, so explain that away. Your bogus conspiracy theories are laughable. There are 11 active desalination plants on the west coast. We need many more. But we also need to dig holes to capture water. You libs and your know it all attitudes are pitiful. You think you’re so smart but you’re not. Do you have any concept of the amount of water hemp takes? Any rough guesstimates? We need food production. Hemp grows wild back east. There is no reason other than greed to grow it here.
Not sure why you bring up marijuana on a hemp thread. But weed is a gateway drug. I’m not old or out of touch. Let’s not sugar coat it. Every crack smoker and herion addict will tell you they started with weed. I know your a liberal democrat and are probably in favor of legalizing all drugs, but some of us would like to live in a civilized society.
Conservative Californians have a voice too. You don’t get to pound your ideology down our throats. First you need to prove climate change even exists, then we discuss the remedy.
PS: The HOAX virus still hasn’t been isolated, and all the tests are fraudulent. Masks are for Halloween. Genocide is happening, I’m just a maggot.
Renew Land Use permit every 5 years?? That’s a joke!! There many ops in CoCo that are predicated on that renewal process and many have expired on that requirement but are still in business! You think hemp/marijuana cultivators are any different??
If the County Permit Director denies the approval or subject them to NTC compliance, they will run to DeSaulnier, B. Lee, etc to get leverage to bypass or get approval to continue!!
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