>> COMING UP ON THE HEADLINE HUMBOLDT WE SPEAK WITH TWO >> COMING UP NEXT ON "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT", TWO CANNABIS CULTIVATORS JOIN US TO RESPOND TO A CHANGE IN COUNTY REGULATIONS THAT COULD HARM A SCUTTLING INDUSTRY.

A MISSION THAT INVOLVED HAY AND HELICOPTERS, COMING UP NOW ON "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT".

>> FROM THE TOP OF HUMBOLDT HILL, THIS IS "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT", I'M JAMES FAULK.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

FOR DECADES WE HAVE STRUGGLED TO IDENTIFY THE INDUSTRIES TO REPLACE THE EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES OF THE PAST.

TIMBER AND FISHING HAVE HAD TIME SLICE AWAY UNTIL RIND REMAINS.

FOR GENERATIONS WE HAVE TAKEN FOR GRANTED THE BACKBONE OF LOCAL COMMERCE AND WEALTH GENERATION.

THAT IS WEED.

NOW THAT WE -- NOW THAT THE INDUSTRY AS THAT BEGUN TO SERIOUSLY STRUGGLE WITH FARMERS FORCED TO GROW MORE FOR LESS, THERE HAVE BEEN STEPS TO EASE THAT BURDEN.

THE HUMBOLDT CANNABIS REFORM INITIATIVE, WHICH APPROVED BY VOTERS, WOULD PROHIBIT NEW CANNABIS GROWING OPERATIONS AND A LONG LIST OF RULES THAT FORBID FARMS 10,000 SQUARE FEET AND UP, AMONG OTHER CHANGES.

ACCORDING TO SECOND DISTRICT SUPERVISOR REX BOHN THE CHANGES COULD BE DEADLY FOR BUSINESS.

>> THE INDUSTRY HAS A SMALL GLIMMER OF LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL RIGHT NOW.

IT JUST DOESN'T PUT A NAIL IN THE COFFIN, DIGS THE HOLE, NAMES THE CEMETERY AND PUTS EVERYONE IN A MASS GRAVE.

>> AT A HEARING IN FRONT OF THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS GROWERS EXPLAINED HOW IT WOULD UNDERMINE THEIR FARMING.

>> IT WOULDN'T ALLOW US TO EXPAND SOLAR IN ANY CAPACITY.

WE CAN'T ADD TO OUR EXISTING SYSTEM ANNUALLY AS WE HAVE THE FUNDS TO DO SO.

THIS MEANS WE WILL NEVER HAVE FULL SUSTAINABILITY ON THE FARM.

IT WOULD ALSO NOT ALLOW US TO EXPAND RAIN CATCHMENT SYSTEMS OR ADD ADDITIONAL TANKS ALLOWING US TO FORE BEER NOT USING OUR EXISTING PERMANENT WELL DURING THE SUMMER.

IT WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO FORM A CO CO-OP AND HAVE PROCESSING AND DISTRIBUTION ON THE SAME PROPERTY.

IT PREVENTS US AND OTHER SMALL FARMS TO WORK TOGETHER AND RESULTS IN LOSS OF REVENUE FOR THE FARMERS AND THE COUNTY AS WELL.

A NEW CONCERN OF MINE AFTER LISTENING TO THIS MEETING, MY CULTIVATION LICENSE WILL BE IN JEOPARDY EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS SINCE DECEMBER OF 2016.

>> IF THIS INITIATIVE PASSES IT WILL DESTROY MY ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT MY BUSINESS PLAN AND WITHER OUR FOORM BONES.

WE PLAN TO BUILD A BARN ALLOWING A NEW ROOF LINE, UP CREASE SOLAR COLLECTION, DEVELOP FARM STAY AND ECOLOGICAL COMPONENTS.

IF THIS IS PASSED THIS WOULD BE CONSIDERED CULTIVATION EXPANSION REQUIRING US TO REDUCE CULTIVATION BY 65% TO IMPLEMENT RENDERING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INVESTED INTO INFRASTRUCTURE, ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS USELESS AND A TOTAL LOSS.

IF THIS BAD POLICY IS TO PASS, THE PROPONENTS' LASTING LEGACY WILL BE THE WASTED TAXPAYER DOLLARS SPENT FUNDING THE INCREASED TIME DEMAND ON COUNTY STAFF TO OVERPROCESS CULTIVATION PERMITS AS THE NEW SYSTEM BOXES AND SUFFOCATES THE CURRENT CANNABIS FARMER INTO COMPLETE EXTINCTION.

>> SUPERVISOR BOHN ARGUED THAT HUMBOLDT COUNTY IS NOT BESIEGED BY MASSIVE FARMS CONTRARY TO CHARACTERIZATIONS OTHERWISE.

THE COUNTY HAS WORKED TO IMPROVE RULES OVER TIME, HE SAID, BUT IN A WAY THAT SEEKS TO PROTECT OPERATORS.

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOUR FARMS OVER 100 ACRES IN LAKE COUNTY.

WE HAVE FOUR FARMS OVER SEVEN ACRES.

OUR BIGGEST CONTROVERSIAL FARM IN McCAN WAS ONLY 5.5 ACRES.

A FARM IS A BIG FARM BIGGER THAN THE ONE I HAVE.

WE DON'T HAVE BIG APARTMENTS.

WE WROTE A GOOD ORDINANCE, UPGRADED WITH 2.0.

THE WHOLE IDEA IS TO MAKE THIS BETTER FOR EVERYBODY, BUT TO MAKE IT BETTER ISN'T TO CUT SOMEBODY OFF AT THE KNEES AND SAY, OKAY, NO MORE OF THAT.

WE NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT AGAIN >> ELIZABETH WATSON, HCRI ORGANIZER DESCRIBED THE MOUNTING IMPACTS ON COUNTY RESIDENT AND SUGGESTED THE INITIATIVE COULD HELP SMALLER GROWS THRIVE VERSUS BIGGER CORPORATE GROWS >> WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT OTHER PEOPLE THAN THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN CANNABIS LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

WHILE GATHERING 7,000 SIGNATURES WE FOUND THAT CITIZENS FELT OVERLOOKED.

THERE'S THE PERCEPTION THAT THIS WHOLE THING IS COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL.

WATER IS THE NUMBER ONE THING AND THE CHANGE IN NEIGHBORHOODS HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC NOW THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING OUT OF BUSINESS YOU LOOK OVER THE SIDES OF THE ROAD, IT IS FULL OF PLASTIC AND GARBAGE.

THERE IS A CERTAIN URGENCY THAT WE FEEL BECAUSE OF THE WATER SITUATION.

RURAL PEOPLE TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN WATER, THEIR OWN SEWAGE, THEIR OWN FIRE, AND WE LIVE WITHOUT ANY POLICE PROTECTION.

AND WE'RE WONDERING WHY THERE'S -- THIS INDUSTRIAL LEVEL DEVELOPMENT GOING ON ON LAND THAT IS BASICALLY AG AND P T Z.

THE BIG ONES ARE GETTING BIGGER AND THE LITTLE GUYS ARE GOING BROKE.

>> THE ISSUE IS SLATED TO GO BEFORE VOTERS IN MARCH OF 2024.

JOINING US ARE TWO HUMBOLDT COUNTY CANNABIS CULTIVATORS INDY RIGGS AND HANNAH WHYTE.

THEY STAND TO LOSE THE MOST UNDER THE STRAIN OF BAD POLICY.

THANKS, GUYS, FOR COMING IN.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US, JAMES.

>> THANK YOU.

>> APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND ENERGY FOR THIS.

ELIZABETH WATSON, DO YOU HAVE DIRECT RESPONSE TO WHAT YOU HEARD HER SAY HERE AND AT THE MEET SOMETHING >> SORRY, I WILL BUTT IN HERE FIRST.

WHAT SHE SAID, IT IS STATED IN THE REPORT PRODUCED BY THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AT THE PEAK OF PRELEGALIZATION WE HAD 15,000 INDEPENDENT FARMS.

>> MM-HMM.

>> POST LEGALIZATION AS IT STANDS WE HAVE 1,063.

>> WOW.

>> SO TALK ABOUT A DRASTIC REDUCTION IN WATER USE.

>> YEAH.

>> TALK ABOUT A DRASTIC REDUCTION OF FOLKS DRIVING ON THE ROADS AND OTHER CONCERNS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS AND EVERYTHING SHE SPOKE TO.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, HAPPENED.

THE PROCESS HAS DEALT WITH THAT.

>> MM-HMM.

>> SO JUST TO SPEAK TO THAT POINT, THERE'S BEEN ALREADY A HUGE DRASTIC REDUCTION IN ALL OF HER CONCERNS.

>> MM-HMM.

>> IT BEGS THE QUESTION WAS IT BETTER MAYBE FOR THEM WHEN IT WAS OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND.

AND NOW PEOPLE HAVE COME DOWN FROM THE HILLS AND GROWING IN AG ZONED LAND WHERE PEOPLE SHOULD GROW IT HAS BECOME AN ISSUE.

THAT IS MY DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE CLIP YOU JUST PLAYED.

>> HANNAH, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD?

>> YEAH.

I DO BELIEVE THERE IS A MISUNDERSTANDING IN THE WAY WE HAVE SEEN CANNABIS CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE PRESSURE ON CULTIVATORS ARE NOT JUST A DIRECT RESULT OF COUNTY POLICIES, BUT ALSO OUR STATE POLICIES.

PROPOSITION 64 WAS SOLD TO THE VOTERS AS HAVING A ONE-ACRE CAP FOR FIVE YEARS.

GIVING THE EMERALD TRIANGLE, HUMBOLDT COUNTY AN ADVANTAGE BEFORE CORPORATE CANNABIS CAME INTO CALIFORNIA'S MARKET AND THAT WAS TAKEN OUT.

THE PINCH IN WHY SMALL CULTIVATORS ARE SUFFERING IS THERE IS AN OVERPRODUCTION STATEWIDE I DON'T FEEL IS REALLY SOMETHING OUR COUNTY IS CONTRIBUTING TO IN THE SAME RATE THAT 60 AND 100-ACRE FANS IN LAKE COUNTY, SANTA BARBARA, ET CETERA.

>> SOME OF THE REFORMS THAT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO GET US OUT OF THE HOLE, CAN'T COME FROM THE COURTHOUSE, BUT HAS TO COME FROM STATE REGULATORS >> THIS IS AGRICULTURE.

EVEN THOUGH WE ARE NOT REGULATED AS AGRICULTURE.

THIS IS AGRICULTURE WE HAVE SEEN PLAYED OUT OVER DECADES IN OUR OWN COUNTRY.

THE CONSOL ID DATING, THAT IS PART OF THE FORMULA, CORPORATE COMES IN, HIGH REGULATIONS, PUSH THE SMALL FOLKS OUT, REGULATIONS CHANGE TO BECOME MORE AMENABLE TO CORPORATE INTERESTS AND THEY ARE THE ONLY PLAYERS LEFT TO MAKE MONEY IN THE STATE.

>> INDY, YOU WERE HERE NOT THAT LONG AGO.

>> CORRECT.

>> WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE ACADEMY YOU STARTED TO HELP BANDS FORM TO BE MORE COHESIVE.

>> RIGHT >> YOU SAID SOMETHING EARLIER -- ONE OF THE SPEAKERS SAID SOMETHING ABOUT HOW THE INITIATIVE MAY MAKE IT HARDER FOR CO-OP MODELS TO DO THINGS IN TERMS OF DISTRIBUTION.

IS THAT TRUE?

>> THAT IS ACCURATE.

THAT WAS A GREAT COMMENT BY DASCHLE.

YES, THAT IS A HUGE FACTOR IN THIS.

IT LIMITS LICENSES.

ONE LICENSE PER INDIVIDUAL OR ENTITY.

SO LET'S SAY YOU WANTED TO HAVE A COOPERATIVE MODEL THAT IMPLEMENTED SOME VERTICAL INTEGRATION, SO NOT JUST CULTIVATION, BUT SAY TRANSPORTATION, DISTRIBUTION, OR PROCESSING.

THAT WOULD NOT BE VIABLE FOR SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE OUT THERE STARTING TO LOOK INTO START CO-OPS.

>> YEAH.

>> SO THE MOMENTUM WE HAVE THAT HAS BEEN BUILDING TOWARDS REGIONAL CO-OPS AND SMALL FARMERS BANDING TOGETHER TO ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD HELP US COULD BE DESTROYED WITH THIS INITIATIVE.

>> THAT IS SOMETHING THAT STARTED TO TAKE ROOT.

YOU MENTIONED YOU ARE GIVING CLASSES AT THE ACADEMY RIGHT NOW >> RIGHT.

>> YOU ARE INVOLVED IN ONE IN WILLOW CREEK.

>> MY FARM IS A MEMBER OF THE WILLOW CREEK CANNABIS ALLIANCE, A REGIONAL MARKETING TRADE ORGANIZATION WORKING TO REDUCE SIGMAS OF CANNABIS IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY, BE MORE APPROACHABLE AND WORK AND COLLABORATE TOGETHER TO PROMOTE OUR UNIQUE AREA, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT HUMBOLDT COUNTY'S RENOWNED FOR, SMALL DIVERSE MICROCLIMATES AND A DIVERSE AND HEALTHY RURAL COMMUNITY.

THAT IS A MAJOR IMPACT OF THIS INITIATIVE IF IT WERE TO PASS.

IT WOULD BE SO HARMFUL TO THE RURAL ECONOMY.

>> YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY.

SO LET'S GET DIRECTLY AT THE QUESTION THIS INITIATIVE SEEMS TO POSE.

IT IS SAYING THERE ARE A LOT OF NEW IMPACTS OR DETRIMENTAL IMPACTS FROM LARGE MASSIVE GROWS AND IT IS CHEWING UP THE ROADS BECAUSE THEY ARE BRINGING IN ALL THESE TRUCKS.

THEY ARE PAINTING A PICTURE OF HOW THE INDUSTRY IS OPERATING RIGHT NOW.

IS THAT PICTURE ACCURATE?

>> NO.

AGAIN, GOING BACK TO WHAT I HAD STATED EARLIER, PRELEGALIZATION WITH 15,000 INDIVIDUAL FARMS SCATTERED ABOUT -- >> I GUESS I WOULD ASK IN THAT CASE HAVE THEY GOTTEN BIGGER AND ARE THERE MASSIVE GROWS AND LESS INDIVIDUAL OPERATORS?

>> I THINK THERE ARE FOUR GROWS OVER AN ACRE.

>> REX BOHN HAD REFERRED TO THAT.

>> REX HAD QUOTED OR STATED SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES DURING THE MEETING.

SO THERE'S -- IT'S REALLY, YEAH, IT IS NOT.

IT IS COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTEXT, THAT CLAIM, IN MY OPINION.

>> THEY TALKED ABOUT THE HISTORY OF WHERE THIS CAME FROM AND A LOT OF IT SEEMED TO STEM FROM A SINGLE ISSUE THEY HAD WITH A NEIGHBOR, IN TERMS OF THEIR NEIGHBOR'S GROWING OPERATION.

THEY THOUGHT THEIR EXPERIENCE WAS UNIVERSAL SO THAT IS WHERE HCRI SORT OF CAME OUT OF.

TALKING WITH YOU JUST NOW, THE PROCESS THEY WENT THROUGH ACHIEVED CHANGES.

THEY WERE NOTIFIED AND WERE ABLE TO MAKE COMMENT ON THE GROW NEAR THEIR HOUSE AND THERE WERE CHANGES MADE TO THE PROJECT AS A RESULT OF THE CONCERNS IN THE HEARINGS.

ISN'T THAT AN EXAMPLE OF THE PROCESS WORKING?

>> RIGHT NOW THE PROCESS IS LONG, IT IS CUMBERSOME AND THERE ARE SO MANY ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNITY CHECKPOINTS TO MAKE SURE THESE PROJECTS FALL IN LINE WITH THE NEW LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND THE REGULATED FRAMEWORK THE COUNTY HAS DEVELOPED TO MEET AND BE MINDFUL OF OUR GENERAL PLAN AND THE WAY WE WANT TO SEE OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPED.

SO WHILE WE NEVER SAW EIGHT-ACRE FARMS IN THE COUNTY PRELEGALIZATION, WE ARE SEEING THAT NOW BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THE LAND USE ORDINANCE WAS WRITTEN AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT BUSINESS, AS THIS IS LEGITIMATE AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS, CAN SCALE.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO USE YOUR PRIVATE LAND, THAT IS AGRICULTURALLY ZONED FOR AGRICULTURE.

IF YOU HAVE A 320-ACRE RANCH, A 1,000-ACRE RANCH, SEVEN ACRES DOESN'T SEEM THAT IMPACTFUL.

>> DOESN'T TAKE UP THAT MUCH.

ABSOLUTELY.

FARMING, YOUR PLOT SHOULD BE AS BIG AS -- MAYBE I'M THE OLD SPIRIT OF FREE ENTERPRISE.

IT SEEMS YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO -- ONE OF THE ISSUES THEY MENTIONED A LOT OF IS WATER.

I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN IMPACTS FROM GROWS OVER THE YEARS ON THE EEL RIVER ABUSE OF WATER SYSTEMS AND WHAT NOT.

BUT DO YOU THINK, IS THAT ISSUE REAL AND ARE COMMUNITIES BEING IMPACTED BY THE DEMAND OF WATER BY THE GROWING INDUSTRY?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

>> OKAY.

>> THERE ARE SO MANY RESTRICTIONS AND MONITORS ON OUR WATER USE.

I JUST FINISHED A WATER REPORT I DO ANNUALLY FOR THE WATER BOARD.

>> ANNUALLY.

>> YEAH.

>> WOW.

>> THAT IS JUST FOR THE WATER BOARD.

WE ALSO REPORT FOR OUR DOMESTIC USE TO FISH AND GAME.

SO WE REPORT TO OUR STATE'S AGENCIES THAT MONITOR WATER QUALITY AND THE IMPACTS ON WILD LIFE AND IT'S REALLY A MISNOMER THAT WE HAVE BEEN OUTUSING OUR SHARE OF THE WATER.

CALIFORNIA AND THE WHOLE WESTERN UNITED STATES IS IN A DROUGHT AND HAS BEEN IN A DROUGHT AND WE'VE SEEN INCREASED CULTIVATION MORE VISIBLY WHILE ACTUALLY DECREASING CULTIVATION IN THE COUNTY.

THROUGH DROUGHT YEARS.

>> YEAH.

>> SO THE DIMINISHED FLOWS IN CREEKS IS BECAUSE CALIFORNIA IS IN A DROUGHT NOT BECAUSE THE .017% OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY'S LAND IS UNDER CANNABIS CULTIVATION >> YEAH.

THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAVE BEEN THE, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS THE COUNTY BASICALLY DID THIS REPORT SORT OF LOOK AT THE FEASIBILITY OF WHAT THIS INITIATIVE WOULD DO AND RENDERED A NEGATIVE VERDICT.

ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE SUPERVISOR HANDLED THAT, WITH WHERE THE QUESTIONS LED THEM.

SHOULD THEY HAVE BEEN MORE VOCIFEROUS?

ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH REPRESENTATION ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS?

>> PERSONALLY MYSELF, I WAS SATISFIED.

OUR SUPERVISORS SEEMED TO VIEW THE REPORT AS SCATHING.

THEY POINTED OUT THE COST TO THE PUBLIC IT WOULD TAKE TO IMPLEMENT THE OVERHAUL OF REGULATIONS.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING PEOPLE REALLY NEED TO THINK ABOUT, TOO.

THAT IS NOT ONLY GOING COST CANNABIS FARMERS POSSIBLY OUR LIVELIHOOD, IT WILL COST THE PUBLIC, THE TAXPAYER TO IMPLEMENT THIS INITIATIVE.

>> THAT IS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE BEEN LONG TRYING TO ANSWER, YOU MENTIONED WE HAD 15,000 INDIVIDUAL GROWS I GUESS BEFORE LEGALIZATION AND NOW WE ARE DOWN TO OVER 1,000.

SO A THIRD IS GONE.

HOW SMALLER DO YOU THINK THE ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION OF CANNABIS IS NOW FROM WHAT IT WAS THEN OR HAS IT BEEN STEADY?

I MEAN, WHAT FALLOUT HAVE WE SEEN ECONOMICALLY AT THIS POINT FROM THE POOR MARKET CONDITIONS?

>> I THINK CULTIVATORS, WHAT WE SAW IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS IN THE COUNTY HAVE BEEN SPENDING THEIR MONEY DIFFERENTLY.

IT IS NOT THAT WE -- PREVIOUSLY WHEN THERE WASN'T REGULATIONS TO PAY FOR AND BE MINDFUL WITHIN YOUR BUSINESS, THERE WAS EXCESSES IN PEOPLE THAT WERE BUYING BIGGER TRUCKS AND NEW THINGS AND COMMERCE WAS UP, THE PRICE WAS UP.

IT WAS ILLEGAL.

NOW IT IS LEGAL.

CULTIVATORS HAVE BEEN SPENDING THEIR MONEY IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

WE HAVE COLLECTIVELY BEEN SPENDING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE.

>> YEAH.

>> TO MEET THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND THAT IS HOW WE HAVE BEEN SPENDING OUR MONEY, ON CONSULTANTS, CULVERTS, ENGINEERING, GRADING, WATER STORAGE.

THESE ARE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO DO BY THE COUNTY AND SO OUR MONEY IS BEING SPENT IN DIFFERENT WAYS NOW.

>> IS THAT -- I'M SORRY.

GO AHEAD.

>> I WAS GOING ADD AS WELL EXACTLY WHAT HANNAH JUST SAID AND WE ARE ALSO LIKE, WE JUST RECEIVED I THINK $16 MILLION FROM THE STATE TO IMPLEMENT -- IN GRANT MONEY TO IMPLEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTSEN OOUR PROPERTIES.

THAT IS A HUGE INFLUX OF MONEY THAT, AGAIN, THIS INITIATIVE WOULD MAKE NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO SPEND THAT MONEY IN OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND IMPLEMENT THESE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS >> YEAH.

>> SO I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE DIFFERENT REPORTS YO UH -- YOU HAVE TO DO, ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTS.

IS THAT REQUIRED IN OTHER INDUSTRIES FOR FARMERS OR EXCLUSIVE FOR MARIJUANA.

>> YOU PUT THE BIG C ON ANYTHING, CANNABIS ON ANYTHING WILL COST 420% MORE.

>> THAT IS FUNNY.

>> BUT IT IS NOT FUNNY.

I HAVE BEEN A GROWER AN AGRICULTURALIST, THAT IS WHAT I STUDIED IN COLLEGE.

I WAS GROWING FOOD SINCE I WAS 19.

I AM DEDICATED TO AGRICULTURE.

I HAVE NEVER HAD TO DO ANYTHING FOR CANNABIS COMPLIANCE FOR CULTIVATING OTHERWISE.

WE USED TO CULTIVATE IN A FLOOD PLANE IN WASHINGTON.

THE WATERS WOULD RISE AND COME THROUGH OUR CROPS.

THE REST OF THE VALLEY WAS HAY FARMERS AND SPRAY ROUNDUP ON THE REGULAR.

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IT IS IN THE WATERSHED IN THE PUGET SOUND BECAUSE OF LACK OF REGULATIONS.

>> WOW.

IT SEEMS TO ME IT WAS A FOCUS ON EVERYONE GETTING THEIR PIECE WHEN MARIJUANA WAS LEGALIZED.

THE INDUSTRY FLEDGLING AND FRESHLY LEGALIZED IS BUILT UP AND PROTECTED FOR THE FUTURE, DID THEY MAKE A MISTAKE TRYING TO GET A PIECE OF THE MONEY BEFORE THE MONEY WAS STABLY COMING IN.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

>> YEAH.

AND THERE IS -- >> GREED AT PLAY HERE.

BASICALLY.

>> THERE IS DEFINITELY SOME TRUTH TO THAT.

A LOT OF FOLKS PROBABLY PERCEIVED CANNABIS FARMERS AS HAVING PICKLE BARRELS FULL OF MONEY BURIED ON THEIR PROPERTY AND THINKING THEY COULD EXTRACT SOME OF THAT.

AND LACK OF FORESIGHT OF WHERE IT WAS GOING GO.

THE STATE TOOK AWAY THE ONE-ACRE CAP.

SO THERE WAS THAT IN PLAY.

HOWEVER, THEY HAVE HELPED OUT A BIT LOCALLY REDUCING MEASURE S AND TAKING IT AWAY FOR US HERE.

BUT THAT WAS IN LARGE PART BECAUSE OF THE ADVOCACY FROM OUR LOCAL TRADE ASSOCIATION.

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH.

>> HOW RESPONSIBLE DO YOU THINK OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS FOR THE ISSUES THAT THE LOCAL MARKET IS FACING?

IS THAT ALL COMES FROM THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHO PROHIBITS, LIKE YOU SAID, THE INTERSTATE TRADE WITH WEED.

HOW MUCH IS OUR OWN LOCAL REGULATORS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OF THIS?

>> I THINK THE COST OF COMPLIANCE HAS BEEN DAUNTING DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF LAND AND THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT PARCELS.

WE HAVE SO MUCH WATER IN THE COUNTY.

THERE IS A LOT OF LAND USE KNOTS TO UNTANGLE AS FAR AS FITTING THE CANNABIS OPERATION ON TO A PIECE OF LAND SO THAT CAN BE ENORMOUSLY COSTLY.

IF SOMEONE HAS ALREADY OWNED THEIR LAND FOR GENERATIONS AND THAT IS THE LAND THEY OWN, THEY ARE GOING WORK TO BUILD OUT THE BUSINESS ON THEIR LAND.

IT MIGHT COST MORE -- SOME BUSINESSES DID A TRIPLE R AND CLOSED THEIR HILL SHOPS AND MOVED TO THE VALLEY.

I THINK THAT HAS REALLY BEEN A PART OF THIS HCRI INITIATIVE.

PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO SEE THE WEED, TO SEE THE GREENHOUSES, TO SEE WATER TANKS.

I DON'T LIKE TO SEE ALL THE WATER TANKS ON MY FARM.

I DON'T THINK IT LOOKS GOOD.

I THINK IT IS UNREASONABLE IF I WAS JUST GROWING ALFALFA ON MY FIELD, I COULD DIVERT A MILLION ACRE OF WATER IN JULY.

AS A CANNABIS CULTIVATOR I HAVE TO STORE ALL MY WATER IN THE WINTER TIME FOR THE ENTIRE CULTIVATION SEASON.

I HATE I HAVE THAT MUCH PLASTIC ON MY FARM, BUT THAT IS HOW WE MEET THE ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS SET FORTH.

SET UP BY THE COUNTY TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

THOSE OF US WHO ARE DOING THAT WORK ARE ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> YEAH.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING DOWN AND GIVING US YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

I HOPE YOU ARE WILLING TO COME BACK.

SOUNDS LIKE NEXT WEEK FOR YOU.

YOU ARE A REGULAR APPEARANCE.

>> I LIKE HANGING OUT WITH YOU, JAMES.

>> WE GOT PLANS.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US, JAMES.

>> YEAH.

NO PROBLEM.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THIS SHORT BREAK.

>> IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM.

HUMBOLDT COUNTY THIS WEEK INVITED DEVELOPERS TO BID ON A RE-ENTRY RESOURCE CENTER ATTACHED TO THE EXISTING JAIL.

THE STATE WILL TWO-THIRDS OF THE $28 MILLION PROJECT.

AS SOON AS 225 THE CENTER WILL HOUSING 44 LOW RISK INMATES AND OFFER COUNSELING AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES.

>> YOU SHOULD BE WORKING TO MAKING YOURSELF A MORE SUCCESSFUL.

WE ALREADY HAVE A LOT OF STAFF AT THE DATA RESOURCE CENTER AND EARLY TIME AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO TRANSITION SMOOTHLY BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY.

>> TODAY I COME TO YOU AS A >> IN A VIDEO PRODUCED BY THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND RELEASED THIS PAST WEEK TO MEDIA WE LEARNED HOW LOCAL OFFICIALS JUMPED INTO ACTION TO SAVE IN PEARL LIVESTOCK FROM THE ELEMENTS.

>> IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS WE HAD SNOW ON OUR MOUNTAINS.

ON SATURDAY WE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM SUPERVISOR BUSHNELL, SHE HAS BEEN RECEIVING CALLS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THE STARVING COWS.

RANCHERS CAN'T GET TO THEIR COWS DUE TO IMPASSABLE ROADWAYS, THESE ARE PRIDE ROADWAYS.

THROUGH SNOW AND DOWNED TREES.

ONE OF THE RANCHERS SAID IN THE 80s WHEN THE SHOW WAS SO PREVALENT AND THEY COULDN'T GET TO THE RANCHES, THEY CALLED UPON CAL FIRE AND THE COAST GUARD TO DELIVER HAY IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WAS THE DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY SERVICES IN THE COUNTY SO WE ARE HELPING COORDINATE THIS AND ASKING OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS TO ASSIST.

>> WE ARE GLAD TO HELP.

THIS WENT THROUGH CHAIN OF COMMAND AND GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES.

>> THEY TOOK OVER AIR OPERATIONS.

THE SOUTHERN HUMBOLDT CHIEF IS COORDINATING.

HOW MANY HERD OF CATTLE NEED TO BE FED, WHAT THE LOCATION WE THINK THEY ARE AND PROVIDE THE INFORMATION TO CAL FIRE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY CAN SAFELY DELIVER THAT.

THE WEATHER HAS BEEN SO HIT AND MISS THE PAST FEW DAYS THEY ARE TRYING TO FLY BETWEEN THE WEATHER AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO DELIVER THIS.

THE HAY IS COMING FROM PRIVATE SOURCES AND PAID FOR BY THE RANCH IT IS DELIVERED TO.

>> THIS IS AN ATYPICAL TYPE OF OPERATION.

IT SHOWS THE RESILIENCE OF COOPERATING WITH SEVERAL AGENCIES TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.

>> WE DON'T KNOW UNTIL THE SNOW MELT HOW MANY HEAD HAVE DIED OFF DUE TO THESE CONDITIONS.

IF WE DON'T ACT, THERE IS GOING BE WAY MORE THAT WILL DIE AND IT WILL BE A CATASTROPHE FOR OUR COUNTY.

>> THIS SITUATION IS NOT OVER AND THE WEATHER IS GOING EVOLVE IN THE NEXT SEMPB TO EIGHT DAYS THAT EVERYONE SHOULD BE PAYING ATTENTION TO.

>> WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO BECOME FURTHER VICTIMS OF THE SNOW EMERGENCY.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO TRAVEL, DON'T TRAVEL.

DON'T CHECK ON THINGS YOU DON'T HAVE TO CHECK ON.

PLEASE DON'T VISIT PLACES YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE CONDITIONS ARE.

WE URGE PEOPLE PLEASE STAY HOME, STAY WARM, ONLY TRAVEL WHEN NECESSARY AND LOOK AFTER EACH OTHER.

>> IT IS ALWAYS NICE TO END OUR SHOW WITH A MOO-VING STORY.

WE WILL BE BACK NEXT FRIDAY WITH MORE NEWS YOU CAN USE.

STAY TUNED.

STAY INFORMED.

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