Board dissolves cannabis ordinance task force; staff to draft ordinance and brief supervisors before Planning Commission review

The Lake County Board of Supervisors voted to dissolve the Cannabis Ordinance Task Force and directed county staff to move the group’s recommendations into a formal ordinance-drafting process.

Community Development Director Muraya Turner told the board the task force, established June 7, 2022 and originally intended to run about six months, had met for two years and nine months. Staff said it had received sufficient direction from the task force to begin drafting a revised cannabis ordinance — described in staff materials as a proposed new Article 73 — and that the draft would go forward through the Agriculture Advisory Committee and the Planning Commission with additional public hearings before returning to the board.

Several supervisors requested an intermediate briefing. Supervisor Sabati asked staff to present a concise summary of the proposed changes and a comparison to the current Article 7 so supervisors could provide conceptual guidance before the draft goes to the Planning Commission; staff agreed to prepare a summary table showing current rules versus proposed changes.

During public comment, multiple task force members, industry representatives and community stakeholders thanked staff and praised the task force process. Speakers included Margo Kambara, who urged more time and venues for in-depth comment on technical issues such as odor controls; Rebecca Harper of the Lake County Farm Bureau and representatives of the Lake County Cannabis Association and Lake County Cultivators Association, who emphasized economic benefits and urged alignment with state regulations; and Reverend Julia Buono, who welcomed the conclusion of the task force process. Several speakers said they would submit written comments on the forthcoming draft.

After public comment, a board member moved to dissolve the task force. The motion was seconded and passed; the board recorded no opposition.

County staff described the next steps: drafting the ordinance based on task force direction; review by the Agriculture Advisory Committee (a noticed hearing); Planning Commission review and recommendation (noticed public hearing); and return to the Board of Supervisors for final action. Staff also said it would accept and incorporate public input as the draft proceeded through the review process.