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Commercial cannabis farms — there goes the neighborhood?

People fed up with commercial cannabis grows in rural neighborhoods — and the smell, chemicals, lights and traffic they say comes with them — will take their case to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on August 7.

“The current cannabis ordinance does not protect rural neighborhoods and the environment,” said Craig Harrison, of Save Our Sonoma Neighborhoods. Members of the group call for changes that “support our safety and security.”

SOSN describes itself as a non-partisan group of hundreds of Sonoma County citizens and community leaders. The group is unhappy with Supervisor Susan Gorin, who despite her implied support as as a member of the County Board’s Ad Hoc Committee on Cannabis, “has done nothing to protect neighborhoods.”

The SOSN was formed by residents such as many in Bennett Valley who say a rogue grower was operating a five-greenhouse farm without a permit. They said the operation violated environmental and planning laws, and was illegally located on a ridge line adjacent to a regional park. Responding to the complaints, County officials agreed the farm lacked a legal use permit, but allowed it to keep operating for six months while the proper approval was secured.

“All activities on this property are in compliance with county law and are on public record,” the owner, Kathy Klein, told The Sun. “I have followed the law to the letter, am following permitting per the penalty relief act and am engaging in a legal activity voted on by the public.”

Harrison said his group is not calling for prohibition of weed farms, but protective steps such as as 1,000-foot setbacks and a community voice in the decision-making process.

“Who wants to smell the odor of cannabis plants or worry about safety while walking in a park? Who wants to see Sonoma Mountain lined with ugly security fences to prevent criminals from stealing high-valued cannabis plants?”

The place for Cannabis operations is in industrial zones where they can be properly monitored and protected, he said. “We demand a new updated ordinance be passed that supports the interests of all Sonoma County residents, not just the marijuana industry.”

If not, Harrison said, “We are prepared to take additional steps, with overwhelming support from Sonoma County citizens.

5 Comments

  1. K Boss K Boss August 3, 2018

    I do not smoke, but many others feel the same way about the stink of vineyard and grape waste. It is horrible.

  2. mary jane mary jane August 4, 2018

    What about all the chemicals the wineries surrounding us use? Can’t see marijuana grows creating anymore traffic than the wineries, and tasting rooms have already done. What’s the difference between grape vines or marijuana plants growing?

  3. Tawney Masson Tawney Masson August 5, 2018

    Obviously, you have not seen the events hosted by weed growers. Tour buses, parties, jumpy houses, food served…all without event permits. Running illegal events.
    Shame on Supervisors.

  4. Black Bud Black Bud August 5, 2018

    The difference is that cannabis operations bring violent crime. When is the last time you heard of some East Coast thugs doing a home invasion robbery at a vineyard?

  5. jim bracco jim bracco August 6, 2018

    #1 – This initiative is about commercial pot growing and where that should be allowed.

    It’s not about wine. Please see

    http://preserveruralsonomacounty.org/ for that.

    The fact that other things suck means what exactly? We shouldn’t care about 10 foot fences facing our bedroom windows, with security lighting, guards, dogs in our rural
    neighborhoods? With 24 operations having employees and garbage, delivery, etc. trucks driving up and down our private easements at all hours? With who knows what being sprayed where our children play?

    Where 11 people have been shot down dead and women and children pistol whipped and tied up by criminals looking for weed and cash and 7 homes invaded?

    So help me out, your point is we should look the other way on all that because, you know, wineries are also bad news? Doesn’t work for me.

    #2 – See any home invasions at any wineries lately?

    #3 – Pot uses 3 times the amount of water as grapes

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