Cannabis Growers, Winegrape Growers Duke it Out Over Regulations

California’s Santa Barbara County adopted some of the most lenient regulations for commercial cannabis growing in California, and the result has been an explosion in production in the past four years. Last year, the county was home to 35& of the state’s licensed cannabis acreage. As a result, locals, particularly vintners, have grappled with cannabis’ impact on the area.

According to an article on WineSpectator.com, in April, a nonprofit made up of more than 200 vintners, growers, and homeowners, dubbed the Santa Barbara Coalition for Responsible Cannabis, filed suit against the county’s board of supervisors, citing what the coalition considers a lack of ordinances regulating cannabis production and a faulty licensing program that has allowed farmers to stack licenses and create some of the largest cannabis grows in the state. The suit aims to cut down on the number of unpermitted cannabis farms and stop the board from issuing further permits by challenging the environmental reviews that have led to permit approvals.

Read more about the situation here.