Pride of Place: McGuire and Wood Introduce Cannabis Appellations Bill to California Senate

California cannabis featurePress release from the Origins Council:

On Tuesday June 30th, California North Coast Legislators Senator Mike McGuire and Assemblymember Jim Wood introduced Senate Bill 67, which proposes to further refine and develop the state’s cannabis geographic indications program for licensed California cannabis. A geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin. In order to function as a GI, a sign must identify a product as originating in a given place. From the Legislative Council’s Digest:

This bill would limit the establishment of appellations of origin to cannabis planted in the ground, in open air, with no artificial light during the flowering stage of cultivation until harvest. The bill would also require the department to establish standards by which a licensed cultivator may designate a city or city and county of origin for cannabis produced 100% within the designated city or city and county.

Appellation of Origin is a specific type of GI that is premised upon the concept of a causal link between the product and the place of production. The French describe this concept as terroir , the collective influence of the environment which causes the unique qualities and characteristics of region specific products. Terroir is widely accepted as the premise for appellation of origin designations, most notably wine. The bill ensures that cannabis appellation of origin designations are awarded based upon a defensible causal link claim.

Establishing a City of Origin designation that mirrors the existing County of Origin designation provides urban producers with an indication of source, which is another type of GI. In contrast to an appellation of origin, an indication of source is not premised upon a causal link, and only requires that the product on which the indication of source is used was produced in the designated area.

On June 9th, Humboldt Supervisor and Chair of the Board Estelle Fennell sponsored a letter from Humboldt County urging Senator McGuire to pursue this legislation.

“ I was very proud to sponsor a letter from our Board in support of this important aspect of terroir requirements. Southern Humboldt is home to world renowned heritage cannabis farmers, many of whom pioneered this industry. So I am very excited to see this important policy move forward ensuring that Appellations of Origin truly reflect the terroir of our region and appreciate Senator McGuire and Assembly member Wood for their leadership.“

On June 23th, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors voted to add their support to this legislative request, illustrating the issue as one impacting California’s heritage cannabis producing regions broadly. Supervisor John Haschak, Chair of the Mendocino Board of Supervisors sponsored the item, which passed unanimously. Supervisor Haschak said:

“ The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors strongly supports the recognition of terroir for cannabis cultivation. This legislation is a huge step forward for Mendocino County’s heritage cannabis farmers. It will provide sustainable economic development by connecting craft cannabis to our land and help to support our heritage farmers in preserving and securing their genetic resources, cultural resources, and land holdings. I am proud to have sponsored our letter of support for Appellations of Origin. We would like to recognize Senator McGuire and Assemblymember Wood as well as the Origins Council and the Mendocino Cannabis Alliance for their commitment to this legislation.”

On June 30th, a broad coalition of 16 cannabis advocacy associations submitted a letter of support for SB67 stating:

“As attitudes regarding cannabis continue to shift throughout the country and national markets begin to emerge, this program will communicate the authenticity of California appellation-grown cannabis. Collectively, a comprehensive system for the protection of county of origin, city of origin, and appellations of origin that expresses the diversity of California cannabis production and ensures that California-based products can be marketed accurately and defensibly, will secure California as a formidable leader in positioning this policy across regional, national and global arenas as those opportunities open up.”

Most of the organizations signing onto the letter, most notably the Humboldt County Growers Alliance , supported Senator McGuire’s successful legislative efforts last year with Senate Bill 185 , which further strengthened legal protections associated with the use of cannabis appellation of origin and county of origin designations. SB67 reflects a multi-year legislative effort on the part of Senator McGuire and the cannabis industry to develop these historic programs in support of the heritage cannabis farming communities of California.

A 2018 Report issued by the California Growers Association estimates that in 2018, California had 60,000 cannabis cultivators statewide, a significant portion of which are located within the Emerald Triangle, a world renown cannabis producing region comprising Humboldt, Mendocino and Trinity Counties. Current estimates show that collectively, the Emerald Triangle holds over 2300 of the state’s approximately 4800 cannabis cultivation licenses, underscoring the investment of the region’s local governments into these designation of origin programs.

A publicly funded branding and marketing initiative for Humboldt cannabis is being developed as a part of the County’s Project Trellis Program . Last year, Mendocino County worked with cannabis industry stakeholders to inform an economic development strategy for Mendocino Cannabis. The development of a regional branding and marketing program for Mendocino cannabis is under discussion as a part of this broader economic development strategy.

California is the first region in the world to establish a legal geographical indications system for cannabis. As other regulated cannabis producing states and countries consider such geographical indication programs locally, they turn to California as a model. As has historically been the case, California continues to lead the world in advancing pioneering public policy for cannabis.

Origins Council is a nonprofit education, research and policy advocacy organization dedicated to sustainable rural economic development within cannabis producing regions, and establishing nationally and internationally recognized, legally defensible, standards-based, geographic indication systems for cannabis.

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Willie Bray
Guest
3 years ago

🕯🌳So weed grown in the earth can be called Humboldt weed and the one’s grown in a bucket can not? Right?🖖🇺🇸

the misadventures of bunjee
Guest
the misadventures of bunjee
3 years ago
Reply to  Willie Bray

Really hard to tell unless a particular strain was developed and patented as being from Humboldt. Otherwise yes, there really is no way to tell where bucket or pot-grown pot is from. However on my last trip to L.A. I had seen plenty of places using the “Humboldt” name to move product that wasn’t grown anywhere near the Triangle. Or even NoCal. Thing is, while Humboldt has long held the reins of good bud, legalization has allowed anyone else with an IQ above a potato to also grow quality bud. The sun is no more unique here than it is in say, Kentucky. The natural sour soils around here aren’t exactly top quality either, it needs assistance to create more value of what’s grown in it.

Samoan Steve
Guest
Samoan Steve
3 years ago

So, in essence, a grow bag with store bought soil doesn’t qualify?

Rod Gass
Guest
Rod Gass
3 years ago

//California continues to lead the world in advancing pioneering public policy for cannabis.//

That’s double talk which actually means … Progressive cannabis is socialist business standards. AKA $64. The free market must be killed. Survival of the “legal”.

With liberty and justice for all
Guest
With liberty and justice for all
3 years ago

Who cares what these theives designate with the industry they’ve stolen from 90%of us.trying to act as if they’re looking out for cannabis farmers.news flash you’ve designated 90% of us criminals and have your theiving weasels robbing and extorting us into total ruin!!!! No you absolutely will not be getting my vote or ANYONE around me’s vote.you are scum and just another fake,corrupt,corporate sellout slimy politician

It's a Farce
Guest
It's a Farce
3 years ago

It’s bullshit but they have to do it. McGuire and Woods pushed the scam “legalization”. Woods is good buddies w/ the wine distributor from Napa who sucked in a bunch of fools from here and sold us all out. They both promised fairness to heritage growers and then pulled the rug out. Now they will pretend that appellation means anything. Yes we have some microclimates. But distinct growing regions are also based just as much if not more on soil types. We have heavily amended forest soils, not resident soil types that can grow decent cannabis. This is a ridiculous effort by the corporate “legalization” machine to fool the public and market their corporate weed. It might work! The public is so stupid that many of them think we got a fair “legalization” and that permitted growers are the “good players”…

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago

“Southern Humboldt is home to world renowned heritage cannabis farmers, many of whom pioneered this industry”…….I think those were the little mom n pops that got screwed you’re speaking about. You catered and cared only about the people that had hundreds of thousands of dollars that were able to afford your outrageous permitting fees. In other words the people that blew it up big time.

thetallone
Guest
thetallone
3 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Pretty much.

Farce
Guest
Farce
3 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Thank you. And yes- and now they steal and misrepresent our heritage. It’s the American way, I guess…but it’s still disgusting and dishonorable.

Ben Round
Guest
Ben Round
3 years ago

In general this seems a good idea.
And. “Artificial light” is defined by the state to include sunlight deprivation techniques.
And. Everything needs to be “in the ground”? No bags above if, for instance the ground below may be sensitive? Are they thinking that “in the ground” means it would always be natural soil? There may be some. But much would still be amendments.
So would those types of operations, even in Humboldt, not be included?
If so, the bill is not very well thought out, or logical. (Hopefully there will be enough flexibility to allow for some exceptions).

Jeffersonian
Guest
Jeffersonian
3 years ago
Reply to  Ben Round

More assistance for the black market from government

Trashman
Guest
Trashman
3 years ago

Do the people who use this stuff really care?

Yeah,sure
Guest
Yeah,sure
3 years ago
Reply to  Trashman

Probably not…

Creeker
Guest
Creeker
3 years ago

What a load of horse sh!t. So many reasons this is ridiculous I don’t know where to start. But good luck all you permit patsies. Good luck

Radio Head
Guest
Radio Head
3 years ago

Well…. After 3 painful years in the permit process, I, a “permit patsie”, am finally having “good luck” all the way to the bank (with a lotta legal cash)!

Reader
Guest
Reader
3 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Start your own banks

the misadventures of bunjee
Guest
the misadventures of bunjee
3 years ago
Reply to  Reader

Won’t happen unless you can get them FDIC protected. That’s federal, so no, you will not start your own banks. Not yet anyway.

Perspective
Guest
Perspective
3 years ago

Only cannabis grown in native soil should qualify for an appellation designation. If it’s grown in potting soil, it should be stated as such.

Perspective
Guest
Perspective
3 years ago
Reply to  Perspective

I retract my comment. A regional designation is just that.

Third World County
Guest
Third World County
3 years ago

What a Joke. I have worked at hundreds of farms and I only know two Farms in Humboldt that use native soil to cultivate their weed. Everything here has been clearcut and the topsoil has washed into the rivers decades ago. We now have Dazey’s supply us with bagged soil to grow our appellation weed. Former Supervisor Mark Lovelace said it best “the only reason people came here to grow weed was so they could hide. Napa has Appellation status and they don’t have a Dazey’s selling imported soil. The owner of Mattole Farms said in a video
“It’s the air . It’s the land. It’s the water.”
It’s bagged soil. It’s greed. It’s BS.
A marketing scam nothing more.