The phrase “Humboldt Grown Cannabis” has a potential marketing value of billions of dollars, kinda like “Napa Valley Wine”. As am I’m here in Eureka, I can watch the government tv channel for County meetings, the City of Eureka, and the City of Arcata. Jurisdictions that are serious about getting this stuff right work pretty much all the time on cannabis, mainly because they see it as an existential issue.
There are about 5000 farmers in Humboldt [all numbers, as usual, are guesses] which grow about 3 million pounds of cannabis a year, enough to supply the entire state with legal weed. So far about 800 have licenses have been issued, a disturbingly low ratio. This phenomena is being reported state-wide. There are many reasons why someone might not want a license: cost, hassle, government intrusion, personal rights, and strong cultural forces are a few I can see.
Eureka set aside a few blocks downtown for the cannabis extraction companies, and is seeking to set aside some bay-front property for production facilities. Meanwhile, across the bay a mile or so, Arcata has a “marijuana industry zone”, where a lumber mill once lived. Each town has two retail shops, with more in process or planned.
The electeds are quickly discussing making adjustments in the laws and rules. They’ve noted that the stores do a very good job of fixing up long-vacant properties, and they’re getting questions about tourist accomodations. Like winery tours. As they consider how to help to make something work, they’re questioning why they started out so hard. The council reps and county supervisors are getting on board in an enthusiastic way. Everyone has been telling them to do so for two years, but better late than never.
Whether “Humboldt Grown” becomes a valuable property depends on the regulatory agencies.