Daniel Mintz Mad River Union HUMBOLDT – Humboldt County’s cannabis industry is advancing to its next phase with the Board of Supervisors’ adoption of a new commercial production ordinance. At a May 8 hearing, a majority of supervisors voted to approve inland and coastal versions of the new ordinance along with an Environmental Impact Report.…
5th District rivals face big crowd, many questions
Jack Durham Mad River Union McKINLEYVILLE – The two candidates for Fifth District Supervisor squared off during a forum last week in McKinleyville and tackled issues including incorporation, illegal cannabis grows and a controversial highway interchange project proposed in the Trinidad area. More than 160 people filled Azalea Hall April 23 for the forum, sponsored…
Madrone: Sundberg swayed by MJ money
Daniel Mintz Mad River Union HUMBOLDT – The issue of Fifth District Supervisor Ryan Sundberg’s campaign contribution connections to the cannabis industry has been raised as he seeks re-election, with his opponent, Steven Madrone, saying that it’s a “very serious conflict of interest” Implying that Sundberg’s campaign financing will sway his decision-making, Madrone is asking…
At this rate, Humboldt may never be the Napa of cannabis
Daniel Mintz Mad River Union HUMBOLDT –The Board of Supervisors and those involved in the cannabis industry are questioning why the Humboldt County Convention and Visitors Bureau isn’t promoting cannabis-related tourism. Lack of effort to capitalize on the county’s reputation for quality cannabis was noted after a presentation by the bureau at the April 3…
Tougher cannabis cultivation regs demanded
Daniel Mintz Mad River Union HUMBOLDT – As Humboldt County’s Board of Supervisors prepares to approve a new commercial cannabis production ordinance, the Friends of the Eel River watershed protection group, the Yurok tribe and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife have called for holding off on further permitting. The extent of county permitting…
McK’s second cannabis dispensary approved
Daniel Mintz Mad River Union MCKINLEYVILLE – Once a target of federal pressure, the Hummingbird Healing Center cannabis dispensary will re-establish itself in McKinleyville’s business center. A conditional use permit for Hummingbird was approved by the county’s Planning Commission at its March 15 meeting. Hummingbird will sell medicinal and adult use cannabis products out of…
Warning of ‘trainwreck’ for cannabis industry
Daniel Mintz Mad River Union HUMBOLDT – A cannabis attorney has told Humboldt County’s Board of Supervisors that if a backlog of permit applications isn’t caught up with, the local industry will face a “trainwreck.” The county’s cannabis cultivation permitting backlog was highlighted as supervisors approved extending a temporary permitting program at their Feb. 27…
MCSD takes vague stand on Mercer Fraser pot factory
Jack Durham Mad River Union McKINLEYVILLE/GLENDALE – McKinleyville’s town board has weighed in on a controversial county decision to rezone riverfront property in Glendale to heavy industrial and to permit a 5,000-square-foot cannabis manufacturing factory at the site. The McKinleyville Community Services District Board of Directors convened Feb. 7 to consider backing an appeal filed…
Big Bottoms pot plant planned
Kevin L. Hoover Mad River Union ARCATA – For years, Sun Valley Floral Farms has been asked whether they’d get into the cannabis cultivation business once the drug was legalized. The answer has been, consistently and adamantly: no. That’s still the case, despite what might seem like an ideal and highly profitable extension of the…
Water district fights rezone in Glendale
Daniel Mintz Mad River Union GLENDALE – Citing potential threats to the drinking water supply of the county’s major cities and several communities, the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District will appeal a cannabis manufacturing permit approval. At its Jan. 17 meeting, the district’s Board of Directors voted to file an appeal of county Planning Commission…