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Agriculture Department, in coordination with the Sheriff’s Office, recommending the Board provide direction on the scope of study for the Ad Hoc Hemp Committee.
FUNDING: N/A
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Following a presentation on industrial hemp by the Agriculture Department on June 23, 2020, the Board requested the formation of an Ad Hoc Hemp Committee to include two members of the Board. The members of the Committee are District I Supervisor John Hidahl and District IV Supervisor Lori Parlin. The Ad Hoc Hemp Committee held a planning meeting via ZOOM on August 19, 2020. County staff participants were Sheriff John D’Agostini, Sheriff Lieutenant Mike Cook, Deputy County Counsel Daniel Vandekoolwyk, and Agricultural Commissioner Charlene Carveth. Agricultural Commission members, Bill Draper and David Bolster, also participated. The Ad Hoc Committee discussed the scope of study for the Committee, and are returning to the Board for further direction.
The Ad Hoc Committee is recommending that the Board direct the Committee, and allow the Committee to use staff time, to develop recommendations for a comprehensive Industrial Hemp Program in the County, including the following:
1) Holding a meeting, or series of meetings, on whether to recommend to the Board a moratorium on all renewals or new registrations while the proposed Industrial Hemp Program Ordinance is developed using a similar model to the Cannabis Ad Hoc Committee with public outreach meetings but allow existing registrants to finish out this growing and harvest season.
2) Developing recommendations regarding testing of industrial hemp.
3) Developing recommendations on issues such as zoning, parcel size, setbacks, registration limits, crop size limits, maximum acreage within the County, signage, track and trace harvested crops, or other restrictions.
4) Develop recommendations on new ordinances, or updating existing ordinances, addressing industrial hemp cultivation, industrial hemp plant...
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