Marijuana growers sue California over lack of limits on big farms

[vostok]

A coalition of marijuana growers is suing the state in a bid to block regulations they contend

will allow big-money cultivators to drive boutique farmers out of business.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Sacramento County Superior Court by the California Growers Association,

comes a little more than three weeks into California’s experiment in legal recreational sales and

amplifies long-held fears of a corporate takeover of cannabis agriculture.

The suit challenges state regulations that allow businesses to acquire an unlimited number of a

certain type of growing licenses despite provisions in the voter-approved Adult Use of Marijuana Act

urging protections for small and medium-sized growers.

These growers were counting on the state to set limits for at least the first few years of legalization,

giving them a chance to get a foothold before the big operators moved in.


Proposition 64, passed by voters in 2016, did not include specific mandates,

but the California Department of Agriculture proposed a limit of 5 acres per

farm for the first five years — a restriction growers had rallied behind

The state, however, did not include the provision in regulations released in November,

and it was not in place when recreational sales began Jan. 1. The guidelines instead limit the size

of a marijuana grow depending on what kind of license a farmer obtains,

with a maximum of about an acre per license.

But there are no limits on the number of licenses a farmer can have.

That means a big-spending owner may be able to obtain dozens or even hundreds of licenses,

said Hezekiah Allen, executive director of the California Growers Association,

an advocacy group for more than 1,000 marijuana farmers, business owners and patients.

The lawsuit says the failure to set limits “will have a devastating effect on small and medium cannabis

businesses, local economies throughout the state, and the environment”

by driving down prices and forcing existing growers to revert to illegal sales.

Allen said the suffering is likely to be concentrated in Humboldt, Mendocino and Trinity counties,

which by some estimates produces 60 percent of the marijuana consumed in the United States.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture, which issues cannabis cultivator licenses

, did not respond to a request for comment.

Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: [email protected].

 

[Grandpapy]

It's important to displace 1000's so Commerce can come in to provide something not needed.

 

[John Levy]

But now with legalization of weed for recreational purpose the californian authorities put a more stringent regulations on the growers. All this is in practice to control the cultivation and prevent the users from buying weed. Moreover the licences are still not issued and because of this a lot of farmers are protesting against the authorities. Many Marijuana dispensaries are also suing the authorities for the limited trade opportunities.

 

[xtsho]

The small growers are screwed. Big money is already taking control.

Anyone that thinks they're going to get into the cannabis industry better have a big bank account because the little guys are going to be going away. They will be squeezed out. It won't be long before the industry consolidates behind a few large operations. That's the future and there is no stopping it. The big guys have thousands to give in campaign donations so you decide who is going to garner favor with those making the regulations. It's pay to play and they don't accept bags of weed. The only green that matters is the kind printed by the US government.

People wanted legalization. With legalization comes consolidation. I wouldn't be surprised to see companies like Monsanto buying up some of the larger grow operations. The cannabis industry will follow the same path as the microbrew industry. The people that started the industry will happily take their million dollar payouts by selling to the big boys.

 

[Dr Magill]

Might be a niche market for designer weed in the making

 

[Kkesu]

I will still be growing my own regardless of how cheap it gets to just buy it, I hope they get some help with this, one of the ups I liked about this was it WASN'T going to some giant corporation who will hoard all the profits.

 

[Cold$moke]

^agree
I dont need for someone to grow my flowers lol

 

[Indacouch]

((Snaps rubber band))

Terrible news, just terrible

 

[Kingrow1]

Im on the side of the big companies in this one, you wanted democracy but bitch like sissys when it dosent fit your minority.

No one has broken the law and thats legality for you.

Liberty, equality, freedom....

 

[xtsho]

Im on the side of the big companies in this one, you wanted democracy but bitch like sissys when it dosent fit your minority.

No one has broken the law and thats legality for you.

Liberty, equality, freedom....

Big companies equals cheaper weed and consistency. Those of us that grow our own will just keep doing what were doing. None of this effects me. My smoke will still be what I grow myself. I'm not doing this for the money.

 

[Kingrow1]

Big companies equals cheaper weed and consistency. Those of us that grow our own will just keep doing what were doing. None of this effects me. My smoke will still be what I grow myself. I'm not doing this for the money.

They got in through legal channels, their rights obtain the same democracy. Still cheaper for us to grow than buy but what happens if they squeeze the seed companies and make it hard to grow.

Its not a great situation and that 'im allright jack' dosent help in the long run. They could end up holding all the cards plus people rarely win against the goverment and multinationals.

 

[xtsho]

They got in through legal channels, their rights obtain the same democracy. Still cheaper for us to grow than buy but what happens if they squeeze the seed companies and make it hard to grow.

Its not a great situation and that 'im allright jack' dosent help in the long run. They could end up holding all the cards plus people rarely win against the goverment and multinationals.

It might not be the best situation but I already have genetics and will continue as I have. Cannabis to the masses is what we're going to have. At least I'll be growing the good stuff.

 

[Kingrow1]

It might not be the best situation but I already have genetics and will continue as I have. Cannabis to the masses is what we're going to have. At least I'll be growing the good stuff.

Yer ill be growing poppies for opium if that legal med rubbish ever comes over here, you lot can stick it out with the goverment and corporate control. Not in this game to be an everyday chump

 

[Mcgician]

The small growers are screwed. Big money is already taking control.

Anyone that thinks they're going to get into the cannabis industry better have a big bank account because the little guys are going to be going away. They will be squeezed out. It won't be long before the industry consolidates behind a few large operations. That's the future and there is no stopping it. The big guys have thousands to give in campaign donations so you decide who is going to garner favor with those making the regulations. It's pay to play and they don't accept bags of weed. The only green that matters is the kind printed by the US government.

People wanted legalization. With legalization comes consolidation. I wouldn't be surprised to see companies like Monsanto buying up some of the larger grow operations. The cannabis industry will follow the same path as the microbrew industry. The people that started the industry will happily take their million dollar payouts by selling to the big boys.

Agreed. We're fucked.