Future of commercial cannabis cultivation in Santa Cruz mountains
The future of medical marijuana and commercial cultivation a discussion that took place in Ben Lomond Wednesday night just ahead of next years election. Politics of pot, that’s what was on everyone’s mind but the room was divided. Some people were for growing pot while others were against it.
“Right now our mountains have some bad actors in it and we’re seeing some environmental degradation everywhere,” said Eric Hammer with The Cannabis Choice Committee of Santa Cruz County.
Hammer said the nights focus was to prepare the community for the change that’s likely to come for cultivating pot. Instead of cultivators going directly to dispensaries a couple more steps could be added. Which has business owners like Brad Barkan interested.
“The meeting is for everybody to know what jerry browns signatures on the three ab’s that he just passed meant,” said Barkan, Owner of Central Coast Wellness Center.
Barkan’s talking about stricter laws the Governor just passed on licensing for growers, sellers and manufacturers. The regulations will also crack down on clinics that prescribe pot to patients without a valid need. But Barkan said that doesn’t happen at his dispensary. He’s owned Central Coast Wellness Center for three years now and said he only gives medical marijuana to those who need it. Still he understands the reason for restrictions.
“There are people out there that are using 98 percent of their square footage for marijuana cultivation they’re cutting down trees they’re moving dirt they’re stealing water and this is what the regulations are suppose to protect,” said Barkan.
Right now commercial growers can only have 99 plants per parcel and patients with a medical card can only grow on a 10 by 10 space. But the cultivation committee is currently weighing other recommendations.
” One of the recommendations that we’re looking at that are going to go forward are you know talking about plant count size, talking about transportation, talking about out of county,” said Hammer.
Cannabis advocates will be presenting those recommendations to the Board of Supervisors in December. And next November we could see pot legalized statewide.
