While one was doing their taxes or wondering if Mercury retrograde is a real excuse for missing deadlines, Permit Sonoma lit up a new vision for cannabis in the county—and took it to the Board of Supervisors on April 15 for an informational update (read: no votes, just vibes).
The update centers on a proposed Cannabis Program overhaul and draft Environmental Impact Report, with the bold idea to define cannabis as “controlled agriculture.” That’s bureaucrat for “yes, it’s a crop—just one we keep on a shorter leash.” If adopted, cultivation would be treated more like traditional farming, albeit with some very un-farm-like restrictions.
For example, operations would need to stay 100 feet from property lines, and cultivation would face 600-foot setbacks from residential clusters—because even in Sonoma County, no one wants to smell someone’s skunky terroir during morning yoga.
The proposal also flirts with visitor-serving options like on-site sales, limited events and “special happenings,” which seem to split the difference between a farmers’ market and a Phish tailgate.
There’s also talk of allowing “visitor-serving uses,” which is county-speak for letting stoners have a little fun. Picture pop-up weed tastings, a few curated events and maybe the occasional acoustic guitar under a string of Edison bulbs—but don’t expect Burning Man North.
Meanwhile, cannabis-related businesses like manufacturing and distribution would be allowed in commercial and industrial zones—a normalization move that could help stabilize the wobbly weed economy.
Missed the meeting? One is not alone. Maps, draft amendments and the full wonkfest are available online, should one wish to subject themself to land-use tables and setback maps. And if one’s got strong feelings (or just wants to relive their high school government class), written comments are still welcome, presumably until they’re not. So if one has thoughts (or just wants to see their name in county records), now’s the time.
Will this new direction bring clarity or just more haze? Time will tell. But if the goal was to treat cannabis more like any other crop, we might’ve finally gotten closer. Is this progress? Possibly. Is it perfect? Certainly not. But if the county’s going to blaze a regulatory trail, at least they’re inviting us along.
Micah D. Mercer lives and loves in the North Bay.
