Mendocino committee forwards question of cannabis cultivation limits to full Board after extended public comment

The Mendocino County General Government Committee voted unanimously to forward to the full Board of Supervisors the question of whether the county should change local limits on commercial cannabis cultivation, following several hours of public comment that included sharply divided views on zoning, environmental risk, economic viability and county process.

The committee’s motion — as stated for the record — asks the Board to decide whether “the limits of cannabis cultivation should be changed from what is currently permissible.” The motion was seconded and approved on a roll call vote of 2‑0.

The item drew more than two dozen in‑person and remote public speakers. Commercial growers, farm owners and representatives of the Mendocino County Farmers and Cannabis Association urged loosening limits or clarifying that county code allows up to 22,000 square feet per parcel by permitting two cultivation site permits. Several speakers advocated for a one‑acre option or a two‑track permitting system that would preserve smaller legacy farms while enabling larger agricultural‑style operations on agricultural and rangeland. Kyle Greenalch, a farmer and dispensary owner, noted county land statistics and argued that many rural landowners on rangeland…