Below you will find a timeline and discussion of our public input and activities regarding efforts to help clarify cannabis policy with respect to industry integration, economic development, state law, and land use law/policy. Many counties hire a "Cannabis Czar" to manage the integration of these interrelated and complex issues. We have done our best to bring these issues to the attention of the public, Lake County Officials, and the local business community. We have found that while there are some obstructionist forces at work in Lake County, there is broad support for economic development which benefits all members of the community.
Bradley Johnson has helped with bringing clarification to the many complex legal issues. Read more on the state-wide challenges implementing cannabis policy here:
TheRecorder interview with Attorney At Law Brad Johnson of Sacramento's Harrison, Temblador, Hungerford & Johnson.
Seeking clarity in the the statement by Chairman Steele at the May 15th, 2018 board meeting, in response to public input by Cliff Ruzicka, owner of Ruzicka Associates, that state law was delaying the issuance of early activation permits for cannabis cultivation.
Letter: BOS_letter_17-may-2018.pdf
Letter to CDD: Letter_to_CDD_5-15-2018.pdf
Proposed Resoltion: Ltr_to_LC_BOS_5-7-18.pdf
Observations around County policy related to Measure C, Measure G, and economic development. An appeal for activation of cannabis Use Permits before furher loss of Measure C tax revenue.
Letter: BOS_letter_9-may-2018.pdf
Bulding fee receipt: gh_building_permit_fee_for_4_acres.pdf
Economic Inpact Report May Update: Lake_County_Economic_Impact_Report_Update.pdf
Legal Analysis: Ltr_to_LC_BOS_5-7-18.pdf
Another attempt to hold the Board accountable to the public for explicit promises to qualified applicants that they may operate in 2018. Due to intentional delays $119,790 in Measure C tax revenue has been lost for 2018 from the Benmore Valley project alone. The claims of Measure C will not generate revenue appear to be supported by policies that make that a self-fulfilling prophecy. The public who voted Measure C into law deserve to have representation that support generating maximum revenue while stimulating local economic activity.
Legal Analysis: Ltr_to_LC_BOS_5-7-18.pdf
An addendum to the Lake County Economic Impact Report to reflect data and trends from the first 4 months of the regulated market clearly demonstrates that hard data and transparent methods point to erroneous conclusions in the HdL presentation to the Board of Supervisors. When projects on one group of contiguous parcels under common ownership are poised to generate over $800,000 annually in Measure C taxes and HdL projects $164,000 Measure C revenue from all of Lake County, something is wrong. Perhaps the data is being skewed to support an opaque political agenda?
At the Board of Supervisors meeting on April 24th, 2018, Mark Lovelace from HdL Consulting gave a presentation projecting economic activity and Measure C tax revenue for the nascent Lake County cannabis industry.
A letter to the Board with critical analysis supported by fact and transparent methodology: BOS_letter_27-apr-2018.pdf
The Benmore Valley Ranch Project is exempt from CEQA. The County is using CEQA as excuse to delay early activation of complete applications that meet the criteria set forth in Ordinance 3073. During the Board of Supervisors meeting on April 24th, 2018 there was a discussion of the state burdening counties with CEQA review, thus causing delays in processing cultivation applications. That is not the case for the Benmore Valley Ranch applicants and demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of CEQA.
The CEQA determination:Benmore_CEQA_Exemption_Determination.pdf
Email to Community Develepment Department: Email_to_CDD_23-APR-2018.pdf
Legal analysis of CEQA around Ordinance 3073: LC_Ordinance_CEQA_Analysis_2-22-18.pdf
Comments and suggestions to amend Ordinance 3073 to be more business-friendly, reduce environmental impact, and maximize Measure C tax revenue.
Legal Analysis: Ltr_to_LC_BOS_4-23-18.pdf
An examination of the loss of potential Measure C tax revenue in 2018. Due to the policy to delay the early activation of outdoor cultivation use permits for 6-18 weeks, most outdoor cultivators will not be able to operate in 2018, thus forfeiting potential Measure C tax revenue (see checks below). In the normal course of business, counter staff in a planning department have the discretion to deem an application complete before sending them out for referral to multiple agencies. The reason for less applications than expected is that most operators in the county recognize that the policy will not allow them to operate in 2018 and have given up. There are currently at least 23 licenses issued by CalCannabis to Lake County applicants awaiting approval.
Press Release: County_Preparing_to_Collect_Cannabis_Cultivation_Taxes_Revenues_Uncertain.pdf
Analysis: Feedback_on_CAO_Press_Release.pdf
Legal Analysis: Measure_C_Tax_Analysis_4-19-18.pdf
Lost tax revenue: Measure_C_tax_payment.jpg
