Trinity County planning panel approves micro-business conditional use permit to add type 11 cannabis distribution

The Trinity County Planning Commission on May 8 approved a conditional use permit to allow an existing cannabis micro-business to add a state "type 11" distribution component, voting 4-0 to adopt the findings in PC Resolution 2025-08 and the conditions of approval with a clarifying edit to Exhibit A.

The decision authorizes a previously permitted micro business to add distribution and packaging operations on-site. Drew Plavani, cannabis division director, told commissioners the item was agendized as a conditional use permit because the county code requires a CUP for a type 11 distributor: "[A] type 11 distributor under the state guidelines, is allowed to have the lab come and take COAs" (certificate of analysis), a function not permitted for transport-only type 13 licenses.

The permit applies to a micro-business that already operates cultivation and other micro-business activities. Plavani said the project was previously approved for about 9,700 square feet of outdoor mature canopy and for a micro-business director's use permit; the CUP adds the distribution classification required for final-form packaging and testing.

Applicant representatives told the commission the change is intended to let locally grown product be packaged and tested in Trinity County rather than by distant facilities. Anna Wright, representing the applicants, said the main goal was "to change the type of distribution" so farmers can more readily reach retail. Co-applicant Laurie Ann Curran said the operation has placed products in retail already and that adding distribution would let them "vertically integrate" and keep value-added work in-county; she noted the applicants' brand is carried "in 18 stores across California." Another applicant identified himself as Aaron and said the site had been previously surveyed when earlier permits were issued.

Commissioners and staff spent substantial time clarifying whether conditions attached to the earlier director's use permit (DUP) — including limits on nonemployee vehicle trips — would continue to apply. Commissioner questions and public commenters focused on the difference between DUP and CUP rules and on whether trip limits created under the micro-business DUP would constrain a CUP for distribution.

Plavani advised that the county must apply the distribution code requirements for type 11 operations and that, in preparing the resolution, staff had overlaid distribution requirements on top of the previously approved DUP conditions. Commissioners sought clearer language so that conditions tied only to DUP thresholds would not unintentionally remain in force. The motion adopted by the commission included inserting the word "applicable" in paragraph 3 of Exhibit A so that "all previously approved conditions for the micro business DUP must be complied with" would read as "all previously approved applicable conditions." Plavani offered to further clarify the resolution text if needed.

Public comment was overwhelmingly supportive. Farmers and business representatives from Hayfork, Lewiston, Junction City and other local communities described limited local packaging options and licensing burdens. Adrian Keith (Hayfork) said small cultivators currently face high costs and logistics to move product to market. Lisa Wright (Lewiston), who identified herself as a member of the National Cannabis Industry Association Cultivation Committee, told the commission that vertical integration is common and often necessary for small growers to survive. Dana Houser, president of the Hayfork Chamber of Commerce, and others urged approval as a way to keep more economic activity and tax revenue in Trinity County.

Several commenters and staff also raised a property-boundary point: an attendee said parcel viewer mapping made it look as though a portion of the outdoor garden might sit across a creek on an adjacent parcel. Staff and an applicant said a professional survey marker exists and that if a future survey found an error, any out-of-parcel cultivation area would have to be removed — but staff did not believe the question affected the CUP decision.

The planning commission approved the permit by roll-call: Commissioner McIntosh, aye; Commissioner Foll, aye; Commissioner Barrett, aye; and Commissioner Harper, aye. The motion approved the conditional use permit CP 25-01, accepted the environmental findings under the Trinity County Cannabis Program EIR and the state CEQA guidelines, and directed staff to modify Exhibit A by inserting the word "applicable." The commission recorded the vote as 4-0 in favor.

Planning staff and several speakers said the staff report contained no agency comments and that the environmental and performance standards for distribution were addressed in the exhibits. Plavani recommended, for future similar matters, agendizing projects under the micro-business code section and explicitly applying the distribution performance standards into the conditions of approval to avoid the present confusion.

After the vote the commission moved on to routine reports. Deputy Director Chrisley announced personnel interviews for planning staff and commissioners shared brief local announcements.