According to cannabis industry environmental regulations proposed by the California Department of Food & Agriculture, cultivators would not be allowed to grow more than 1 acre of cannabis, regardless of municipal rules, until 2023, the Eureka Times-Standard reports. Operators expressed mixed reviews of the plan as some would have to completely overhaul their business plan, while others say it would protect small farms over large-scale corporate grows.
“I know this is going to be very difficult, costly and painful for some producers,” said California Growers Association Executive Director Hezekiah Allen in the report, “but when you look at the big picture and the entirety of the state of California or even bigger with the national cannabis reform movement, this is a very prudent decision to have been made.”
Alex Moore, co-owner of Honeydew Farms in Humboldt County, who has already received a license for their 6-acre site and are more than a year into operation, called the proposal “frustrating” and “ridiculous.” Under the plan, Honeydew would be permitted to retain their 6 acres; however, the state would only license one of them.
“Ultimately, I’m staying positive,” he told the Times-Standard. “If Honeydew Farms has farms for our company and ends up being landlords with the rest and leasing to other companies then so be it.”
More testing, licensing, and other industry regulation proposals are expected to be released today.