Amid a Collapsing Cannabis Economy, Community Members Ask Humboldt County BOS to Suspend the Measure S Cultivation Tax

Sunsets in the background silhoeting cannabis buds in the foreground

Sunset from a Southern Humboldt legacy farm [Photo provided by Ridgeline Farms]

As wholesale cannabis prices drop to all-time lows in the legalized market, Humboldt County cultivators, distributors and their supporters are asking the county for a tax reprieve. Suspend Measure S is a grassroots campaign supported by the Humboldt County Grower’s Alliance, cannabis industry operators, allied businesses and community members. 

The petition seeks a two-year reprieve from Humboldt County’s cultivation tax, and a further look at reduction and/or restructuring of the tax after the two-year period. Currently, Humboldt County cannabis cultivators pay between $1-$3 per square foot of cultivation area regardless of yield, market conditions or loss. 

Measure S has been the focus of scrutiny in the past. After passing in 2016, Humboldt County Board of Supervisors (BOS) amended the voter approved measure in 2017 and 2018 allowing the tax burden to fall on property owners as opposed to the cultivation license holder, as well as to expand the taxable square footage area and to collect the tax regardless of whether cannabis was cultivated or not. In 2020, the Humboldt County Superior Court Judge, Kelly Neel, ruled that the BOS had overstepped. The County challenged Neel’s decision in California’s First District Court of Appeals, but Neel’s ruling was upheld in March 2021. Humboldt County was forced to issue refunds for taxes collected outside the original Measure S parameters. 

Cannabis taxes taxedIn October of last year, the BOS decided to allow cannabis cultivators to defer their October Measure S tax bill until May 31st, 2022. The deferment gave temporary relief, but now Humboldt County cultivators are facing the March installment of the Measure S tax bill in addition to the May deadline for the October tax – both taxes due before many cultivators are able to harvest their first light deprivation crop of the year and while many cultivators are still struggling to sell cannabis from the year before. 

Ed Denson, one of the lawyers that challenged the county’s changes to Measure S, signed the Suspend Measure S petition with this statement: 

Measure S was a mistake in the first place, a harvest tax would have been more just and more supportive of the industry. With the cannabis market collapsed this tax is a cruel taking of money from hard-pressed farmers. You can’t get blood from a stone. If farmers can’t make a living they’ll have to sell-out and leave the County. Suspend the tax, and replace it with a reasonable and fair tax that doesn’t penalize wanting to start and operate a business. 

Denson’s not alone in his sentiments. Many of the county’s cannabis cultivators paint a bleak picture. “My family can’t afford to operate at a loss, especially after we have front loaded considerable permitting costs. We will be out of business if this doesn’t happen,” one petitioner wrote.  

However, it’s not just cannabis cultivators that are concerned. Realtor Sandi DeLuca, Coldwell Banker Sellers Realty, is concerned about the overall impact to the county if a mass exodus of cannabis farmers occurs. “I have a unique niche working with cannabis properties in Humboldt County, so I have been paying close attention to how the regulatory system has [affected] the value of farms going through the licensing process. …With the recent substantial drop, [our] market is now flooded with cannabis properties.” 

minature house with keys next to it

House For Sale [Stock photo from Unsplash]

DeLuca worries that the sudden availability of cannabis farms and the collapsing cannabis industry will decrease their market value, thus impacting the value of neighboring single-family residences in the process. “…The value of your single-family residence went up when the farm went up and it’s going to go down when the farm goes down,” she warned. 

An Arcata business owner that signed the Suspend Measure S petition wrote, 

…The decline in local income has [affected] every part of commerce in the county. The businesses can barely hang on, [without] the support of our farming families, who are such a large percentage of our community, and until about 6 years ago, [were] our economy. Now there’s nothing left. The small farmers no longer make more [than] the costs of operating and payroll, and there is nothing left to cycle into the community. Local sales tax revenue speaks volumes. Our farmers are being drained by these taxes, and our community receives NONE of the benefits. Humboldt County needs its small farms to be profitable and our farmers need to be able to afford to pay their employees what they deserve. Cannabis and tourism is all we have, but with a drained economy, we can’t provide the experience to sustain business that compliments the areas of natural beauty. We need the economic fuel that comes from farms turning a profit. 

Less economically diverse rural areas are also likely to take a heavy toll if the cannabis industry continues to struggle. A Southern Humboldt cannabis-allied business owner stated his concerns on the petition:

The town of Redway/Garberville relies on the continuing tradition of cannabis cultivation in order to survive. If the farms are unable [to] survive [,] all businesses in the area will also struggle to survive. Grocery stores, hardware and supply stores, as well as all the [non-profits] that rely on donations will suffer the same fate. Giving short term tax relief until the market stabilizes could help assure our town continues to thrive.

Although not directly impacted by the cultivation tax, local distributors are also sounding the alarm for reform. Isaiah O’Donnell, Bulk Flower Distribution Manager at Bear Extraction, says that their company has had to lay off or defer some staff due to the market crash. The alarming drop in bulk flower prices, sometimes below the cost of production, has ultimately led to the distribution company moving a fraction of the product they once were. “[We’re doing] way less volume, it’s way more competitive,” he said.

About eighteen months ago, the distribution company was moving a couple thousand pounds on a good week, and a thousand pounds on a slow week. Now that volume is a fraction of what it was: A good week now is five to seven hundred pounds of bulk flower being moved, and a slow week is averaging just one to two hundred pounds being distributed. Due to the lack of sales volume, Bear Extraction temporarily shut down their Los Angeles hub. 

O’Donnell believes the loss in distribution volume is a direct result of the decreasing white market prices, “Most farmers are forced to make a hard decision; ‘Hey do I put my product in the white market and deal with the prices that are there? Or do I pull my product out and take the risk, [and make] 30% more in the traditional market?’” 

Others are also concerned that over-regulation, over-taxation, and over-production will force many legal legacy farmers back into the traditional market. 

Cultivators ask Humboldt County to support the cannabis industry by suspending the local tax [Photo stock from Unsplash]

The three counties that make up the Emerald Triangle – Humboldt, Trinity and Mendocino, are in the top five counties that hold the most cultivation licenses in California. Humboldt County has the most in the state with 1,636 active cultivation permits on file with the Department of Cannabis Control. Many legacy cultivators, who are now struggling, were some of the first to sign up to come out of the “green closet” after Prop 64 passed the recreational use of cannabis in 2016. Humboldt County’s general fund has received over $47.5 million in cultivation taxes to date. Those taxes, as well as the economic stability of the industry are in jeopardy as cultivators face a drastic reduction in profit; many cultivators have been operating in the red for the last two years. 

O’Donnell, who helped write Measure S, is now asking the county to suspend the tax, along with others. “We really need tax reform across both county and state. …We [the county] should be leading that fight by example,” he said.

Many cultivators held onto their bulk flower from the 2020 season after the price dropped in the winter, expecting it to rise as seasonal market trends generally indicate. However, that led to a large quantity of product flooding the market in the spring of 2021, driving the summer harvest prices uncharacteristically low. Many cultivators, unable to sell their aging product, were forced to sell product at a loss.

In a recent op-ed, Natalynne DeLapp, Executive Director of the HCGA, wrote, “Self-funded cannabis businesses cannot survive two years of deficit profits. The proverbial “pickle barrels of cash” have long since been depleted, having been spent on county land use permitting.” 

The coming season is not promising for the small cannabis farmer according to O’Donnell, “In this year, there will be realistic price points of five or six [hundred]. But if you have anything that doesn’t hit that upper…tier, you might get offers of three, three-fifty, four hundred, and now you’re starting to compete with these mega farms …that are just pumping out mid-tier product.” 

Realtor DeLuca is concerned about how the economic impact will affect not just the local businesses that the cultivators buy supplies from, but also the hit the county will take in loss of overall tax revenue income, affecting all of Humboldt County’s residents.

California continues raking in record amounts of cannabis tax revenue while retail sales tax revenue drops at both the state and county levels. The drop in retail sales may be attributed to pandemic-related revenue loss, however, Humboldt County has seen a downward trend in retail sales tax revenue, pre-pandemic. 

DeLapp warns,

…If the county insists on keeping with the status quo and the farmers cannot make the payment, what happens? The farmer’s county cultivation permits are in jeopardy, state licenses are in danger, and the farmers’ ability to run their businesses legally will not be an option. And then, where are we left? Farmer’s defaulting on their mortgages. Are farmers losing their land and homes because they have liens on their property? And no ability to earn a legitimate income? Do we want to return to the Murder Mountain era? Our industry came into compliance and started the process back in 2015 to remedy the social and environmental circumstances of the past. Yet, here we are six years later, and the experiment is not working; the system is broken, and the people trying the hardest to be good are being punished.

Dylan Mattole, owner of Mattole Valley Sungrown in Honeydew, also believes cannabis cultivators are facing punitive regulations that stem from the stigma that continues to surround cannabis, despite legalization. “We have …a long way to go before we actually get to any true form of legalization,” he said, talking about the 68% of California cities that prohibit any type of cannabis retail, cultivation or manufacturing business. The jurisdictional prohibition was written into the voter approved Prop 64. According to Mattole, “We …are still living under prohibition. In order to play, you have to pay an unjust punitive tax, … for past and future transgressions of the entire industry.” He also believes cannabis cultivators have expended whatever monies they had saved, to come into stringent compliance regulations not leveled on other industries. 

DeLapp explained further,

Measure S is an entitlement tax. No other agricultural industry or business has to pay simply for the right to operate. In addition to the county cultivation tax, as farmers improved their property through permitting, their lands were reassessed for increased property taxes, which are paid directly to the county. Farmers also pay state, and federal income tax, state cultivation taxes, and all licensing and permitting costs are paid by the applicant. Unlike traditional agricultural industries that received low-cost loans, government subsidies, tax credits, and tax exemptions and were qualified to receive PPP loans and grants this last year, cannabis farmers receive none of those benefits. In addition, cannabis farms are subject to IRS tax code 280E, which prohibits tax write-offs that other businesses receive. Cannabis operators pay taxes on their taxes!”

Mattole, born and raised in Humboldt County, returned to the area to raise his family in the rural hills of his youth. He has deep roots in his community as a legacy farmer and wants to see the cannabis cultivators in the Emerald Triangle survive these economically depressed times, and hopefully, build businesses that can be passed down to future generations. 

Suspending Measure S won’t single-handedly save the Humboldt County cannabis farmer, but, Mattole says, “It buys us some time.” Time, he says, that will allow some cultivators the opportunity to see if the market will rebound. He believes many cultivators are asking themselves, “Is this even worth it. Do I want to go through this much stress? And go through the vulnerability to borrow money, to front-end costs …and do all these things, when at this point, [not only are] these prices low, [but] will I even sell my crop?” he ponders. 

A cannabis cultivator voiced the same concerns on the Suspend Measure S petition:

[The] tax is disproportionate in today’s collapsing market. My family can’t afford to operate at a loss, especially after we have front loaded considerable permitting costs. We will be out of business if this doesn’t happen.

Several petitioners expressed concerns about suicide rates among destitute cultivators. Statistically, men are 3.7 times more likely to commit suicide than women; a concern for the predominantly male industry. Living rurally also raises the risk of suicide. In 2018, Humboldt County had 37 reported suicides, almost 2.5 times greater than the state’s overall average of suicides per 100,000 population. The economic collapse of the cannabis industry has many fearful for their friends and neighbors, and the impact the fallout could have on the rest of the Humboldt economy. 

One petitioner wrote:

We are losing LOCAL farmers at an alarming rate. Preserve local business by preserving local business. Aka save farms and you will save the community. Farmers are a keystone species to our culture and our economy.

Another implored the county to suspend the Measure S tax for the good of all:

Many friends and family members have gone the long, hard road to become licensed and legal, only to be pushed to the edge financially. We are in the midst of a huge fallout in the cannabis industry, and the safety net that cannabis has given Humboldt economically is about to be cut. The consequence on our community will be so drastic that Humboldt as we know it will be gone forever. Farmers are already taking their own lives as they struggle with the current economic climate in the industry, and it’s only getting worse. Cannabis single handedly helped our community during so many recent recessions, that to turn our backs on our drowning farmers would not only be pure evil, but quite literally would be cutting off our nose to spite our face. Protect the farmers, suspend measure S.

O’Donnell reiterated the sentiment,

Humboldt’s going to have to decide: Do we want cannabis to be a part of our industry? Or are we going to continue down the path of boom-and-bust cycles and have it disappear like we had with timber and fisheries? Cannabis is heading in that direction. … The industry is collapsing. We’re losing friends, family members, people are committing suicide. Their dreams are vanishing before their eyes.”

“We are not asking for a handout; we are asking for a reprieve,” states DeLapp.

The Suspend Measure S campaign published this press release on 1/13:

The grassroots campaign to Suspend Measure/ S is hosting a rally and press conference on Tuesday, January 18 from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM at the Humboldt County Courthouse.

Press Conference from 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM with ten speakers who will talk about the state of the cannabis industry, the impact on real estate market, employees and workers, environment, local banking, financial and tax impacts, and business and canna-tourism.

Supporters are encouraged to attend the peaceful and family-friendly gathering to make themselves seen and heard by the Board of Supervisors and community at large.

Attendees may bring signs and wear their branded business gear.

For more information or to sign the Suspend Measure S campaign, click below:

Humboldt | Suspend Measure S | Cultivation | Tax | California 

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Legallettuce
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Legallettuce
2 years ago

The customer will buy Humboldt weed that is tested at $150 to $200 an ounce all day and night. Sales of weed in the legal and traditional market exceeds billions annually just in this state. Removing the tax is your focus, lol, well then you’re doomed. They do realize they advocated for legality and credit themselves for crafting policy, anyways.

The only way out is to fight against the tyranny, stand up, not this whiney shit. You legals have waisted 5 years not tackling real issues. The issue is not taxes but the unjust regulartory policy of the voters intention. Policy is not law and we the people do have a say when exercised appropriately. The regulations need to be challenged.

(a). You should be allowed to sell direct to a consumer.

(b). You should be allowed to use mail to deliver.

(c). You should be allowed to transport from point a to b with cultivation permit (your already pay’in the road and gas tax) as long as you’ve logged it.

(d). Put the one acre cap back in place that we the people voted! (This should have been the main focus of a lawsuit immediately after it was changed, but ya’ll blew it!)

(e). Distribution needs to be removed or overhauled somehow as a neutral entity none of this brand or vertical ownership crap.

Good luck but taxes ain’t your issue. Taxes are the issue for corporate cannabis cause Uncle Sammie doesn’t take security notes as payment. They figure if they get enough of you “grassroot” complaining then the governor will forgo the big state taxes they gotta pay by mid-April. I vote NO, pay your taxes and quit whinning start really advocating for your cause.

Last edited 2 years ago
Jay Beigh
Guest
Jay Beigh
2 years ago
Reply to  Legallettuce

Much truth in this.

Legallettuce
Guest
Legallettuce
2 years ago
Reply to  Jay Beigh

Yea, but the people who would challenge cannot because we do not have legal permits. So the industry is left with these mouthpieces for corporate cannabis to do their bidding. Weak asses all of them, buncha corporate shills!

Trinistan
Guest
Trinistan
2 years ago
Reply to  Legallettuce

I’ll have to agree with this also. Bummer, but the focus has been in the wrong areas. There is too much money in the status quo regulations at this point. If the farmers can get the changes outlined by lettuce, then other people will suffer (think distros, retail, state and local tax revenues). Who has the greater will, funding and access to Sacramento? Not the legacy farms of the triangle.

Yes the measure s tax is wrong and should be based on production, but the farmers signed up for this situation and a small protest at the courthouse won’t make substantial difference. Might make some people feel better I guess. It’s now too late to make those hard changes to the structural issues. It would take years and millions in PR and lobbying. People can’t even pay their bills, how are they going to affect major change?

rollin
Guest
rollin
2 years ago
Reply to  Legallettuce

(a), (b), (c),……

Don’t look now but sounds like you’re advocating for a free market, less government! Bernie would be disappointed.

well . . .
Guest
well . . .
2 years ago
Reply to  rollin

How is regulation equal to free market? Did you miss the 1 acre cap?

rollin
Guest
rollin
2 years ago
Reply to  well . . .

I excluded (d). Bernie would love that.

Farce
Guest
Farce
2 years ago
Reply to  Legallettuce

Right there with you! The immediate removal of the 1 acre cap was your doom. Removed in a back room deal amongst commissioners appointed by the Governor who was actively encouraging his friends to invest in huge grows! Should have stood up right then and really fought. The vertical integration model that was crafted and pushed by Ted the Wine King and his friend Assemblyman Woods? That was some obvious bullshit too…that everybody just let happen. Since then you have refused to acknowledge the reality of huge mega-farms popping up all over the state and in Oregon…Heck- y’all are already blowing off METRC and selling on the black market. How could you mismanage your money and your business so badly?! And as for the permitted farms on the market and their downward spiral- it’s already happening. Just ask Charlie Tripodi how many he has available. This tax is just to have more money in your pocket while you fail and exit. Sorry but it’s over. End game. We saw it all coming- how could you not?! Did you only listen to your consultants and trade groups as they talked pretty and took your funds into their pockets?

Permanently on Monitoring
Guest
Permanently on Monitoring
2 years ago
Reply to  Legallettuce

Mr Lettuce is the most correct of all of you…

Everything changes, and rescinding the tax, or even turning out the Supervisors entirely (recommended) won’t save you from the simple economics of oversupply…

You can’t escape, and growing twice as much is not the answer.

Lake County is being paved with greenhouses and vineyards, and Mendocino has been sold to the cartels…

In 10 years, there may be a “backyard industry”, but I sold my Humboldt property in 2017 in anticipation of your demise. 2 years of COVID have not been an assist.

As long as each county creates separate ordinances and taxes and permits, you are all screwed.

We need national law, not state law, and, we are not 50 countries, just one…

Until then, grow black market, and bury the Krugerrands carefully…

Jay Beigh
Guest
Jay Beigh
2 years ago

//”As long as each county creates separate ordinances and taxes and permits, you are all screwed.”//

Disparities provide opportunity. Those who seek and find the locales with the low taxes and production costs can leverage the disparaties to their dramatic advantage and thrive.

Careful locations of licenses makes a smart orginization more money than any other single thing.

JB

Steeze
Guest
Steeze
2 years ago

Nice Archer reference

well . . .
Guest
well . . .
2 years ago
Reply to  Legallettuce

I love what you have to say on this topic!

Taco 36
Guest
Taco 36
2 years ago

A lot of you are just doing it wrong, I see plenty of farms with the owners driving fresh off the lot trucks, living in nice homes, owning multiple farms etc. The key to it is having an insider supervisor and running winters runs in your dry facilities. Utilize your farms during the winter and continue the tradition of back dooring your products when you can.

Really?
Guest
Really?
2 years ago
Reply to  Taco 36

This is already being done, still doesn’t pay the bills at 450$ per lb ! Cost of goods to market is 564$ Per lb. on the Legal market. TOO MUCH WEED ….. that’s the problem, on both sides of the market. Legal farms are feeling it so much more than the traditionals because of all the taxes/permits .

Perspective
Guest
Perspective
2 years ago
Reply to  Really?

Most, if not all “legal” farms are selling their”weed” traditionally.

Really?
Guest
Really?
2 years ago
Reply to  Perspective

Yes I am aware !

Reality Check
Guest
Reality Check
2 years ago
Reply to  Really?

Boo fucking hoo. You all had 5 more years of green rush to blow up your endless square footage, with zero track and trace until recently, literally every farm dumped boxes upon boxes out the back door crashing , nay, destroying the traditional market! Thanks a fucking lot. Seriously, you’re going to cry ? Now? While the last 5 years the fools without the “magic pass” having been trying to stay afloat with 6 holes. Or just 100sqft if their parcel is small! You all got what you wanted. Division. Discord. Life destroying abatement efforts on former comrades all funded by YOUR suck up payments to the county . Crying smug little tears about stomping out “illegal” farms while you ALL (illegally) flooded the only market the bush grower had. Selfishness and the every man for themselves mentality got you here. GLWT.

Last edited 2 years ago
Really?
Guest
Really?
2 years ago
Reply to  Reality Check

Ya okie dokie, roll on with the bad attitude my friend. Fact of the matter, market is flooded.

Legallettuce
Guest
Legallettuce
2 years ago
Reply to  Really?

The traditional market is not oversupplied. The traditional market product is over 50% outdoor. The traditional market understands the demographics of our industry we been running for over 60+ years. You don’t know fuck when it comes to the real traditional market. The ’96 medical co-op market that got overrun by your sellout friends is not the Traditional market. It’s a failed distribution network that is being squeezed by real Traditional Market families and your corporate buddies. The less of you that exist the better our business will be you are a part of the group that fucked it all up and now we gotta clean up your fuck’in mess!!

Really?
Guest
Really?
2 years ago
Reply to  Legallettuce

Haha! LL I AM a “traditional market “ grower! Second generation of!!!! So maybe take a chill pill , we probably know one another . Geez 🙄

Really?
Guest
Really?
2 years ago
Reply to  Legallettuce

And the black market is flooded and No one wants outdoor!!!!!!!!

Legallettuce
Guest
Legallettuce
2 years ago
Reply to  Really?

I am not seeing this flooded market all of you talk about except on the legal side and that is a result of a corporate strategy (they need cash, now!). I do not sell though in CA so I admit I know zero about either the legal (learning) or traditional market (just started) in this state. I just got back from a road trip and every state I went (5 in total) needs weed.

See you mention Outdoor specifically. That is called a tell. I can say the real traditional market don’t give two fucks regarding indoor or outdoor only that they pay more. 90% of the time they buy outdoor cause of higher profit margins (just like any business). That comment is post ’96 cause on Main Street, USA they just want a fat bag at a decent price with good herb. So, if what you say is true then ya’ll allowed others to dictate your market and yea, you get what you deserve.

Now, back to the California market which I just entered. I took a trip down to LA with a nice stash just to hand out to some people I know. The offers are well above 900 (which was the lowest) they didn’t seem to be over supplied. So, I guess the question is when is the last time you really hustled cause the comments you make don’t agree with the reality I just experienced.

shortjohnson
Guest
shortjohnson
2 years ago
Reply to  Legallettuce

We made that trip in early Dec and had no issue unloading bud all across the midwest at prices not avail at home.
Pretty sure we brought home covid from the good folks in Saint Paul

Last edited 2 years ago
thatguyinarcata
Guest
thatguyinarcata
2 years ago
Reply to  Legallettuce

You’ve got to wipe that bravado out of your eyes.

The traditional market is absolutely flooded. Yes, there is still an unmet demand for true top notch flower, but there is more better flower available for cheaper than ever before. All around the country.

The stuff you brag about selling for 15 on Minnesota went for 15 per qp when I drove my first load back to the midwest 13 years ago. And it was moving like crazy at 24 four or five years ago. And many buyers back there had never seen that quality before.

The traditional market is doing better than the corporate market, but it absolutely is over supplied and experiencing many of the same market shifts the corporate market is dealing with

Legallettuce
Guest
Legallettuce
2 years ago

Your Traditional Market is flooded, mine is not. We dont reference your market as anything other than a distribution channel of the medical cooperatives in California that decimated our hills after ’96. Cause ya’ll grow better, faster and more than us was the chant. Well, now that distribution channel is getting crushed because your caught in the middle of the real traditional market and the corporate backed legals. it’s the legals that fucked up Top Shelf (you do know who they are or you ain’t got any skin in the game (masters of the 503c)) which interestingly coincides with the supposed flooded market bullshit.

I see what is happening in NY. Tryin to take that shitty distribution model that fucked up the California market but ya’ll running into issues on every corner. Ya’ll tried and failed in IL, FL and MI. Your group has a lot of success in OK, AZ and NV. So we’ll see how it all falls out over the next 5 years but to be clear the Traditional Market is no where near flooded. I know this cause I just got back from my holiday travels, lol.

Mega me
Guest
Mega me
2 years ago
Reply to  Taco 36

As if success is measured by “ new truck”. That’s little kid shit, any fool can buy a new truck

mlr the giant squirrel in Eureka
Guest
mlr the giant squirrel in Eureka
2 years ago

The tax was the cornerstone of the measure passed by voters. Wouldn’t it take the voters to change it?

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
2 years ago

“…The value of your single-family residence went up when the farm went up and it’s going to go down when the farm goes down,”

Maybe folks who work regular jobs will be able to afford housing. Wouldn’t that be more equitable than propping up artificially inflated real estate prices?

canyon oak
Member
canyon oak
2 years ago
Reply to  I like stars

Right, some of us are excited about the prospect of a collapsing cannabis economy.
More property for sale, deflating land prices, less self-important big city swindlers around, less dirt bag ear gauged laborers, all good news.
Good riddance to the bane of the hills!
Nothing against the plant, but It will be a good day when the weed growers, legal or black, start packing up and moving back to the flat land where they came from.
All this reminds me of the Pro-Timber propaganda I saw in carlotta/fortuna during the Redwood protest era.
“ this community supported by selling overpriced weed to poor people in the hood” is what the signs in the yards should read now.

shortjohnson
Guest
shortjohnson
2 years ago
Reply to  canyon oak

I do agree it would be nice to see some normal folks around and have them able to buy property and not having to worry about the next growdozer coming around the bend with shit falling out the back and the cloud of dust trailing for 100 yards.

Trinistan
Guest
Trinistan
2 years ago
Reply to  I like stars

Note for the realtor, the oversupply of farms on the market will not tank the local real estate market values. She’s simply complaining because she specializes in a section of the market bound the fail. Best not to tie your business to a failing industry.

Residential assets have dramatically appreciated this last two years. Banks and reasonable people never loaned on the value of the business and permits, just the land and improvements (houses mainly, not greenies). If the land around these farms does become more affordable, then more normal people will be able to stay and raise a family easily offsetting the out flux of broke farmers.

RealityCheck
Guest
RealityCheck
2 years ago
Reply to  Trinistan

“Normal people” eh?

Hayforker
Guest
Hayforker
2 years ago
Reply to  RealityCheck

Probably non growers?

Last edited 2 years ago
shortjohnson
Guest
shortjohnson
2 years ago
Reply to  Hayforker

Normal= folks who take pride in what they do. Folks who commit to a community and support the community not suck it dry and leave a wake of trash behind. Folks that stop so you can cross the road, not blare on the horn and stomp the pedal leaving you and your old lady sucking diesel smoke. Folks that get to know their neighbors and want to see them succeed not folks that hide from you, steal your tools and gas can and oogle and whistle at your teenage daughter from their NJ registered subaru forester.

thatguyinarcata
Guest
thatguyinarcata
2 years ago
Reply to  Trinistan

There are very few “normal people” who want to live in the areas where the farms are concentrated

shortjohnson
Guest
shortjohnson
2 years ago

Not so. I know lots of folks willing to take over properties in So Hum or out in the hinterlands of Garberville and Benbow. They dont want to be there now because there is a dirth of normal families and good folk out there, or at least they have been out numberd for the last 20 years by greenrush scum. By the way there are lots of good folk that came in the rush but there are way more who came shit and left the toilet paper blowing in the wind.

rollin
Guest
rollin
2 years ago
Reply to  I like stars

“Wouldn’t that be more equitable than propping up artificially inflated real estate prices?”

Yes it would. But the liberal answer to everything is more government. Their answer will be to subsidize folks who work regular jobs to be able afford artificially inflated housing (with magical money printed outta thin air). Then when inflation finally rears it’s ugly head, as it’s doing now, blame capitalism. Liberalism is a mental disorder!

willow creeker
Member
2 years ago
Reply to  rollin

Do you ever make a comment that doesn’t mention liberals? It must be all you think about!

shortjohnson
Guest
shortjohnson
2 years ago
Reply to  willow creeker

Hes obsessed. The reality is the libs and cons are all people with red blood and heart beats. Raised by Conservative ranchers and married into a family of dems. Ive heard it all.

This Is My Name
Guest
This Is My Name
2 years ago

Gee, I’d love to not have to pay my taxes this year too.

Who can I petition about that?

The CPI adjustment: the worst aspect of S
Guest
The CPI adjustment: the worst aspect of S
2 years ago

Curious though what are your taxes? Are they revenue based, like the excessive Transient Occupancy Tax, for hotel lodging, at a ridiculous 12%, paying for staff junkets to Vegas, and wishful thinking advertisement for Eureka? Are you thinking of income taxes? Growers are not exempt from that. Provide another local example where you are taxed ahead of time to engage in an activity.

B Honest
Guest
B Honest
2 years ago

Measure S is a cultivation permit tax.
It doesn’t matter if you sell a product or not.

The state already taxes the farmer on weight sold. $160 per pound.

So why is the county double taxing?

Do you pay taxes twice on your work?

After you pay taxes. The county should impose another tax on you for the right to work in Humboldt.

Is that fair?

My property pays a property tax and then double that for the right to cultivate.

How is that fair?

I still pay taxes on income just like you.

This Is My Name
Guest
This Is My Name
2 years ago
Reply to  B Honest

Did you agree to those terms before starting the business ?

Yes?

Jeffersonian
Guest
Jeffersonian
2 years ago

Once the government is involved in your business it will never relent. The government is involved now because it wants money for all its socialist endeavors. In this case they will only throw a bone.The bottom line is there are simply too many people growing pot. The good part is that this will thin the herd.The industry is out of control, and the damage to the environment and demographics plainly reveals this.The bad part is that it feeds the black market, which is being treated far too leniently. Any change which does not address this latter issue is useless. Prior attempts at enforcement have proven futile, given the slap the hand approach of government, so I am not optimistic.

thetallone
Guest
thetallone
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeffersonian

“there are simply too many people growing pot”-yes that is the truth, everyone and their brother jumping on the budwagon is what began the downward spiral of prices, and now mega farms are only compounding the situation.
As far as your idea for more enforcement, sorry, but the ability of the gov to eradicate is such a monumental job that they have mostly given up.
The only way lb. prices will ever recover is if pot is made illegal again, and they can enforce it, which they can’t.

Jeffersonian
Guest
Jeffersonian
2 years ago
Reply to  thetallone

Note I stated I was not optimistic. But mandatory minimum sentences and civil forfeitures like the feds do would arguably make a difference. The problem is a lack of political will.

Panthera Onca
Guest
Panthera Onca
2 years ago

Too little too late. SoHum is a ghost town. There are +/-850 legal grows in Humboldt and every real estate office in the county has a half dozen of them for sale. Add it up it is 15-20% of all farms. The selling prices for these legal farms is like $1.3 – 1.8 million each. This is not going away. There is too much greed, and not just from the growers, but from the regulators. Regulators who saw cash cows raining from the sky. There are no Cannabis jobs. Let that sink in, in Humboldt county there are hardly any Cannabis jobs. This contraction will go on for at least 5 years. Great work everybody!

Littlefoot
Guest
Littlefoot
2 years ago
Reply to  Panthera Onca

“SoHum is a ghost town”, more like a zombie town. When will the people of SoHum agree to get rid of all the tweakers? All they do is start fires and leave needles everywhere. Time for em to go.

Person48
Guest
Person48
2 years ago
Reply to  Littlefoot

As someone that grew up in So Hum, The weed bill killed all realistic life of growing cannabis on the side. It turned into investors looking to make money.
Having to commit to a forever prop tax increase whether or not you grow is BS.
These are all San Diego dudes that don’t even know how to grow.
HCGA is s a joke and a waste of money..maybe they had good intentions but they’re just as dumb as the rest of us.

Perspective
Guest
Perspective
2 years ago
Reply to  Panthera Onca

No, the “asking” price is “$1.3 – 1.8 million”, not the “selling” price. The farms listed at those prices will most likely only sell for $600k, if they sell at all. Who wants an off grid pot farm for 1.8 million? Nobody!

Trinistan
Guest
Trinistan
2 years ago
Reply to  Perspective

Yes there is no value in the business and permits, if anything they are a negative because CDFW and waterboard still have their claws in the property and if you drop the farm, you’ll have to remediate the site back to prior conditions.

None of the farms are selling and yet no one is dropping their high asking price. Why? Is it because most farmers have no clue as to real market functions? Are they still pie in the sky dreaming? These over the top prices show me they aren’t serious about selling, not unlike the major regulatory changes they needed to make years ago. When things come too easy, they also go too easy.

Farce
Guest
Farce
2 years ago
Reply to  Perspective

The scavengers are lined up. Value in the standing timber? They will be bought up when that value reaches the sale price. Bought, clearcut and then resold. Just like last time around. Greed feeds the barren, cut over moonscapes that are coming…

well . . .
Guest
well . . .
2 years ago
Reply to  Panthera Onca

I only see 1 grow for sale on the land man listings.

Bozo
Guest
Bozo
2 years ago

Attention dope growers: Prohibition is nearly over.

The end of alcohol prohibition in the USA put 100,000 of stills ‘out of business’.

You are now engaged in the tail-end epoch of er… ‘providing stills’.

10 miles x 10 miles of dope cultivation in agricultural land will supply the entire nation.

Soil is good… so no bags of soil anymore. Soil companies will have to go back to providing vegetable garden soil.
Irrigation water is available (no more DFW).
Big greenhouse companies will supply any sort of building you want.

Agricultural breeders will supply and provide any sort of clones.
Lots of field labor is available.
Big AG businesses will move in.

Now, repeat that topic in a number of states.

Last edited 2 years ago
willow creeker
Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Bozo

Yes that’s pretty accurate but I don’t see federal legalization right around the corner. I see a Republican getting elected next time around, and either way, it’s definitely a ‘second term’ issue for any president. Congress is not going to be in any rush to take on this subject. It will take a lot of political capital to push through, and I don’t see it happening anytime soon.
Not sure where that leaves us, but prices are likely to stay low unless there is a crackdown in other states, which is possible.

Steve Koch
Guest
Steve Koch
2 years ago
Reply to  willow creeker

Don’t really need national legalization if individual states permit setting up single state banks (I.e. no interstate commerce) that guarantees deposits. That will cut way down on robberies of growers and make it easier to tax.

Most states see legal weed (at least medicinal) as a potential tax cash cow plus a job generator.

rollin
Guest
rollin
2 years ago
Reply to  Steve Koch

Yup. And the Republican thing is a bullshit boogieman. It’s plenty safe for Repubs to get behind legal weed now. The majority support it, which is all any politician gives a shit about.

well . . .
Guest
well . . .
2 years ago
Reply to  rollin

Not even the Dems truly support federal legalization, the republicans are certainly behind them on the issue.

Trinistan
Guest
Trinistan
2 years ago
Reply to  willow creeker

National end to prohibition is a joke. It’s already there practically and when it’s legal in some form in so many states who cares. There is already an over supply. Simply too late already.

Longone
Guest
Longone
2 years ago
Reply to  Trinistan

Does anyone really think the feds will do a better job when it comes to taxing weed. Right now the bill they currently are working with taxes weed at like 30%. Farmers won’t see one dime increase in price if the cultivation tax is removed . Retailers will justify paying less because now they will be responsible for all the taxes. Humboldt currently has some of the lowest county taxes in the state. I feel for the legal growers I was one but I left.. the writing was on the wall after driving thru Santa Barbara county. There’s no way to compete with the production coming out of there. It’s insane. Greenhouses as far as you can see. Multiple mega grows

Farce
Guest
Farce
2 years ago
Reply to  willow creeker

federal “legalization” will surely spell the end. It would open us up to international supplies due to our trade treaties. Mexico and Colombia are already gearing up. Colombia- that’s who undercut and destroyed our domestic cut flower industry. Most people want cheap, decent A- or even B buds. Colombia and Mexico can do that much cheaper than Oklahoma or Oregon. I’m blown away that somehow, dreamily people think federal “legalization” would save them….It will bury them

Really?
Guest
Really?
2 years ago
Reply to  Farce

Yep ! Agreed! The Federal Government already has two “ medical “ testing facilities of which is then available for resale to the public.

rollin
Guest
rollin
2 years ago
Reply to  Bozo

spot on

yesmeagain
Guest
yesmeagain
2 years ago
Reply to  Bozo

Thank you! I’m wondering if the descending prices of cannabis farms, already equipped with water systems, greenhouses, lots of infrastructure, could actually lead to affordability for food farmers. You know, people who grow fruit & veg on a large scale, and sell it at reasonable prices to people with modest incomes. Radical idea!? Remember re-localization? Regional independence from agribiz?

thatguyinarcata
Guest
thatguyinarcata
2 years ago
Reply to  yesmeagain

The cannabis farms that are for sale are generally under an acre of developed ag land. And generally far from a market. There is the potential to make money on fruits and veggies, but not if you’re buying the place for 600k+.

You could get 20+ acres of actual farmland around here for that price.

shortjohnson
Guest
shortjohnson
2 years ago

Yup they are dreaming. But I do believe there is a potential for these former pot farms to transition to other things. Just wont be selling at 2500 an lb as far as I can see. Maybe delicacy crops.

Perspective
Guest
Perspective
2 years ago

Really hard to sympathize. I’m up in the mix and while most aren’t making the money they are use to, they certainly are not broke. In fact, most I know have more money and assets than most successful people. They are still buying 75k+ trucks, still taking vacations, still dropping $200 on dinner, still buying whatever, whenever. They are trying to paint a picture of great distress, when most are having the time of their lives. If the state and county really want to see how bad they have it, look at Instagram. If the cultivation sf tax has you upset, just take all the sf you had over all the years and divide it by the tax. See, ain’t so bad. I’m not against anyone playing the legal game. I truly wish them success, but I’m certainly not feeling sorry for them. Take your money and invest in something else, before it’s all gone.

Field Worker
Guest
Field Worker
2 years ago
Reply to  Perspective

Maybe owners/operators but those of us down the totem pole are hurting right now. I’m unable to even afford this years rent, it’s not all rainbows.

Farce
Guest
Farce
2 years ago
Reply to  Perspective

Yes these are mostly crocodile tears. Fake tears shed and fake fear (mass suicides, Return of Murder Mt. LOL) being spread by very greedy people. I know a bunch of these very well-to-do folks. They are nice people…but not good people. When John Ford told us of his concentric circles being drawn around every permit and those neighbors within the circles being targeted for abatement they did not care- they moved ahead and let their own neighbors get torn down. Many- like the principal behind Bear Extracts- were spraying Eagle 20 on their plants and selling them as “medical for sick people”…such a scam and they all did this with zero ethical qualms because…$$$$. Isaiah? Isn’t that the Emerald Scamily guy who saw no problem with inviting in a Canadian mega-corporate grow to blow us all out? Because…$$$$ for him. These people love to march out the concept of “Community Community Community” but they actually destroyed the community for personal, selfish interest. And they are still doing fine- expensive vacations w/ their like-minded friends, multiple properties w/ massive grows and lifestyles of the rich and famous for them while they have driven their neighbors into poverty, No- these are not good people. I’m sorry for any legitimate mom n pop that made the decision to jump through permitting hoops and get in bed with these nice yet unethical people who worked with John Ford to destroy our county’s small operators. But I have negative sympathy for this crybaby approach to now not pay the taxes they held up as the very reason why the abatements were necessary and why they- the permitted farms- were much better citizens and “C’mon everybody- step into the light! Oh you can’t afford it-should have blown it up during the 5 year drought- well see ya later!!!” I sure hope the BOS does not fall for the crybabies showing up their “branded gear” ha ha ha the whole thing is just so ridiculously absurd and manipulated. Maybe CCV-Humboldt will weigh in as “the voice of the cannabis community” LOL!!

willow creeker
Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Farce

Isaiah is a good guy. We are on different sides of the legalization issue but him and his family are solid trustworthy and good people 100%. I don’t like this ‘us vs. them’ bullshit we are all doing what’s best for us /our family

Last edited 2 years ago
Farce
Guest
Farce
2 years ago
Reply to  willow creeker

His Mom and Dad are cool and solid. What he did with Emerald Scamily was not cool at all. He’s not very smart if he doesn’t understand that the Emerald Scamily strategy destroyed many small neighbors. And if he’s smart enough to understand what they did -and attempted to do by selling off to the Canadian corp- well then he’s greedy, arrogant and selfish. Maybe he was cool at one time? Didn’t know him then…. It’s always weird when people say they don’t like the ‘us vs them’ bullshit, like I started it or we made it up out of thin air. When somebody fucks over their neighbors then it is they who created the ‘us vs them’ situation and it’s very okay to call it out. I guess we could say your comment might very well be a form of “gaslighting”. You know- where you turn it around and blame the victims for the situation that they bring to attention…How dare they?! I thought we were #sameteam bro? Everybody should just stay positive and get along while we edge you right out… LOL!!

willow creeker
Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Farce

No not that. I mean I guess I don’t see it as us vs them, like I don’t think emerald fam farm or Isaiah is eating my lunch. Different lanes. As much as I enjoyed the glory days of our lifestyle- when state legalization passed I knew it was over. I stayed in the black market lane, my choice, and watched everyone else go legal. It doesn’t bother me what other people did. They are not the ones to blame. It does bother me a bit that they continue to sell their product in the black market, because that’s not ‘staying in your lane’
But the death of the cannabis culture here happened in November 2016. It was time for it to go. Too many lowlifes and out of town interests anymore. One truth in life; everything changes

shortjohnson
Guest
shortjohnson
2 years ago
Reply to  Farce

Like the gents w four garage grows and a PGE CARE account because they didnt want to pay the electric to run 65 lights. When found out and raided they had over 30k in cash and guns to forfeit.

Littlefoot
Guest
Littlefoot
2 years ago

It’s weird how the comments on this site are almost always criticizing Cannabis farmers, calling them dopers and accusing them of destroying the environment. Then at the same time the commenters seem to support corporate mega grows because whenever they are mentioned the people say, “You mom and pop dopers should work harder to keep up.” But the corporate mega grows don’t hire locals as employees, their profits leave the county, and they actually DO hurt the environment compared to a small farm. It makes no sense.

You guys realize Cannabis farmers literally built this county and held it together for decades, right? The entire county of Humboldt would be a ghost town without Cannabis. And don’t come at me talking about logging, the logging industry here sold out to outside interests and caused itself to collapse with poor business practices.

Kym Kemp
Admin
2 years ago
Reply to  Littlefoot

Commenters in general are a very small minority of the readers. Generally, they are angrier than the every day reader. I’ve noticed they don’t reflect the readership numbers.

Last edited 2 years ago
Legallettuce
Guest
Legallettuce
2 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Oh, I assure you some of your readers comment way to much but it’s usually a DM to me in response to my post.

Farce
Guest
Farce
2 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Well I talked to a lot of people who don’t want to be on here commenting. I’d say I roughly represent 20 people/readers that I know and who feel the same way every time I make a comment

Kym Kemp
Admin
2 years ago
Reply to  Farce

And people tell me all the time in person how amazing I am and what wise comments I make….It’s rare that people tell me otherwise. I don’t think that’s because almost everyone agrees with me though.

Dave Kirby
Guest
Dave Kirby
2 years ago
Reply to  Farce

Hi my name is Farce do you agree with me? Where do you get the number 20? Do they know your real name?

Dave Kirby
Guest
Dave Kirby
2 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

I made one New Years resolution. That was to stop reading any comment thread that has to do with Covid. There is absolutely nothing useful to be learned there. Social media is becoming a social disease. The number of angry cranks is growing. Ive noticed that some of the big internet players are dropping comment sections altogether. One of the bigger sports related sites decided to shut down its comment section due to disinformation and lack of civility. The ability of trolls to hide their identity while spewing bile is only amplifying the incredible polarization abroad in this country today.

Farce
Guest
Farce
2 years ago
Reply to  Dave Kirby

Ha ha! You are the most politically polarizing commenter I saw on the covid threads! Well- I’m glad your resolution helped you pull back ha ha! You were always TRUMP BAD, BIDEN GOOD on every smallest anything and you would shame people for not going along in your cult. THAT is what leads to polarization. IMO BOTH parties suck. But sometimes one of them does something good and it should be recognized. I really didn’t like Trump but even a broken clock is right twice a day.

Dave Kirby
Guest
Dave Kirby
2 years ago
Reply to  Farce

I never said Biden is good but I will take any opportunity to bad mouth that seditious asshole as the menace he is to what’s left of our Democracy. Nothing good came out of that jerks administration.

canyon oak
Member
canyon oak
2 years ago
Reply to  Dave Kirby

Seditious?
So your into the idea of the nation state now?
You think the charade of democracy is authentic?
Our entertainment nation is a front to keep the public junk-food dumb right?
Idiocracy?
Defending democracy seems very un-skeptical, right?
global business operations will continue to rape and pillage the earth just like the old days, regardless, it seems.
Villagers will do the same, even as captives in a system not their own.
The race to the cyborg era is fast upon us!
What we need is borders, language and culture.
And conservation.
And strong laws to force corporations to be loyal to the countries that harbor them.
The concept of a multinational corporation should be absolutely canned and banned.
Trump had so much right with trade tariffs and manufacturing, I thought.
But I’m a peasant.
He was not so good environmentally on issues of course, but it’s a trade off if we bring manufacturing for a wasteful lifestyle back to onshore.
No imports, no exports.
Think locally act locally.
It’s time for real sustainability.
I think comment sections are good for keeping people engaged between “elections”.
Kym s comment that most readers Don’t comment is surely true.
It may also be true that most people just don’t think much about macro-scale issues like politics etc, and likely aren’t fans of writing or composing ideas either.
Or maybe they are way smarter than critical commenters.
However, I’ve been to Walmart and Fred Meyer, I’ve seen who lives in America.
The idea of voting or commenting on current events maybe out of their grasp.

Kym Kemp
Admin
2 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

All I can say is that some stories have a large number of readers and a small number of commenters. And some vice versa. COVID stories draw angrier commenters in particular though cannabis is a close follow up.

Kym Kemp
Admin
2 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

The big Quake last month had almost 27,000 views and…161 comments.

really
Guest
really
2 years ago

Welcome to the real world of doing business. I want no taxes for my business too

jack bourne
Guest
jack bourne
2 years ago
Reply to  really

except your business doesn’t pay these type of upfront taxes just to operate. All farmers are asking is to be taxes just like a normal business. We already have to pay IRS 280e rules, that do not allow us normal deductions, we are paying one of the highest tax rates of any industry. Its not fair, all we want is to be taxed like a normal company!

real bussines cost
Guest
real bussines cost
2 years ago
Reply to  jack bourne

We pay county taxes for all equipment up front for the business.including desks computers tools . We also have to pay for a bond upfront before the state will activate our lic. We also have to have all insurance workman’s comp and liability or you can’t pull any county permits for construction.

Last edited 2 years ago
That sauce
Guest
That sauce
2 years ago
Reply to  really

Lol, county, state or federal? Oh that’s right, you don’t have to pay county taxes (besides property taxes) unless your a weed business

Fndrbndr
Guest
Fndrbndr
2 years ago
Reply to  really

I understand your point. What kind of business do you operate? I can almost guarantee the taxes are more lenient. Our farms taxes go like this. 13,000 sqft = 13,990.00 to the state 14,000.00 to the county then if you are lucky and are able to sell a pound you owe the state another 164.00. These are all the main charges not accounting for testing= 500.00 transportation=100.00 per hour, water board can be another 10,000.00 if you pull from a creek and have crossings. Now after all those charges you get to wages, trimming, workers comp, insurance, fertilizer, fuel, etc, etc. At this point if everything goes right and you sell your harvest it’s time to calculate income taxes.
I just wanted to paint the correct picture. At 500.00 per lb there just isn’t enough money left to pay for trimming, harvesting, or any other form of employee work.

Farce
Guest
Farce
2 years ago
Reply to  Fndrbndr

And this is why huge fields of weed up near Medford were not harvested this year but left to rot. That’s what overproduction does. Sorry but this is not our problem. It is your problem and I’m sorry if you couldn’t see it coming as most of us did. Maybe leave your crop to rot in the field and save that money so you can…I don’t know…put your farm on the market and learn a new skill in a place where you can get another job? Because that is what people do when they get forced out of their jobs…Just be glad you won’t be struggling along the next few years because it’s going to get much much worse. Much!

Fndrbndr
Guest
Fndrbndr
2 years ago
Reply to  Farce

Definitely saw it coming ( read my post below). At least the property doesn’t have any fines or compliance issues, and can’t be abated. Sell the sqft and LLC if possible and plant fruit trees in the gardens. As for a new job already on top of that. Working on a grant for fire prevention. I was a hotshot and also worked in siviculture remediating logged units. I think thinning and clearing the messed up landscape has a long future ahead.

former local trimmer
Guest
former local trimmer
2 years ago
Reply to  Farce

oooouuuuoooo…. someone went and said it…

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
2 years ago
Reply to  Fndrbndr

The best time to do some math and check the viability of a business plan is before you start, not after. The greenrush had already hurt prices pretty severely before folks chose to sign up for legal status. The writing was on the wall for those who chose to read it.

Fndrbndr
Guest
Fndrbndr
2 years ago
Reply to  I like stars

The only choice we had was to join the program or go bankrupt. The property we bought in 15 had already been used for cannabis. Wether we pursued a permit or not we still had all the issues with the F&G, Planning, and the waterboard. If the problems associated with legacy logging and cannabis weren’t fixed we would be fined out of existence.

Last edited 2 years ago
Locals Only
Guest
Locals Only
2 years ago
Reply to  I like stars

Uh not so ! Last year at this time our harvest was all sold for an average of 1500$ per lb . This year, no one is taking second harvests, and first harvest went for 500$ per lbs .

Julian Brahm
Guest
Julian Brahm
2 years ago

Perhaps a bit of street theatre, having a wake for Humboldt weed. A procession of mourners and a casket full of cannabis, various people offer eulogies about what a noble weed cannabis once was.

Fndrbndr
Guest
Fndrbndr
2 years ago
Reply to  Julian Brahm

Dump it in the bay!

Last edited 2 years ago
Steve Koch
Guest
Steve Koch
2 years ago

Humboldt should make it as easy as possible for legal growers to succeed, providing those growers conform to environmental regulations to which any farmer must conform.

The goal should be to use legal growers to drive illegal growers out of business.

Legal growers should realize that the big growers will tend to eventually drive small growers out of business.

Trinistan
Guest
Trinistan
2 years ago
Reply to  Steve Koch

“ The goal should be to use legal growers to drive illegal growers out of business.”

They already have been, but you see enforcement will never solve this mess. Only economics has the power to do so and that’s what is happening. Over supply mainly out of the area. The emerald bubble has popped.

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
Ernie Branscomb
2 years ago

 Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch’intrate

The petition seeks a two-year reprieve from Humboldt County’s cultivation tax”

I need a better reason to hope right now. What good is two years going to do?

Locals Only
Guest
Locals Only
2 years ago

Exactly! Until there is about a quarter of the production currently grown , nothing is going to change!

$5000 a pound back in the day!
Guest
$5000 a pound back in the day!
2 years ago

What a bunch of fucking babies! Let the free market Play out. That’s capitalism. The big time growers who made the most money when weed was illegal were the ones with the pickle barrels full of dough that could afford to go legal. All the mom & pops got wiped out in the beginning. Who was there to help those guys? The big dogs stomped on legacy mom & pops and thought they were the shit. Now the rooster his home to roost and they’re in the same boat as the mom and pops a few years ago. How does it feel? Yeah, like shit! Most of the real growers who made Humboldt what it is left or got wiped out a long time ago. Fuck the green rushers and the greedy assholes from the past. Make it work or go bankrupt. Let the market play out and the chips fall where the may. No handouts for millionaire growers who spent the last 30 winters in Costa Rica or Nicaragua. You guys are assholes and are now getting what you deserve!

jack bourne
Guest
jack bourne
2 years ago

I’ve never been on vacation, never been to Hawaii or Costa Rica. Sure there was a couple of people who spent all there earnings having fun and you are jealous. Meanwhile, real farmers are suffering, people cannot pay the Measure S tax when they did not make any sales or were forced to sell for less than the cost to produce. Sure maybe a successful farmer once made a good living. Think about all the businesses they supported and the workers they had. How many workers on these farms had no money this Christmas because they got laid off mid season as the prices went down. Everyone in the community is connected to the cannabis market, its the single biggest employer in Humboldt. All the stereotypes about growers are total BS, i run a 5000 sqft farm. I am fully permitted. I cannot make it, i just spent 2 years paying upwards of 70k a year just to make 60k at the end of the season. This is not sustainable. I am just loosing money and never even made a single dollar to support myself. I have been living on the edge of poverty trying to make every payment and keep my business alive. If i didn’t have to pay these ridiculous taxes i might of squeezed out a small profit of 15k, enough to live on for the year and try my luck next year. Very few farmers are millionaires. And lets not forget, these rules are punishing the very people who decided to go legal, meanwhile the illegal cultivators are not paying any taxes and have a huge advantage over us. Over taxing the legal industry will only force more legal farms back into the illegal market.

Trinistan
Guest
Trinistan
2 years ago
Reply to  jack bourne

I hear ya. The problem is that farming doesn’t work on a small scale with the inefficiency of mountain scenes. Even if there was no tax and you squeezed out 15k, that’s still a loosing effort.

Yes many will go back to the blackside market, but in the end a person has to decide if they want to live in reality or pursue ideals. If you stick with ideals be careful to not harbor animosity when things go a stray.

Jay Beigh
Guest
Jay Beigh
2 years ago
Reply to  Trinistan

// “ The problem is that farming doesn’t work on a small scale with the inefficiency of mountain scenes.”//

^^^^^This.

Timber is the only efficient agriculture effort in the mountains.

Following is a paragraph from a 46 page White Paper I wrote 4 years ago justifying why the Triangle was a cannabis dead end in the legal market and why I was locating elsewhere.

// “For the first time ever, cannabis cultivation will be moving into the more common commodity realm — prices being driven by the sum of production costs (land, energy, labor, etc.).   Expect prices for cannabis to eventually fall in the legalized states, primarily the result of smart, agriculture and business minded folk now allowed to legally do smart things.  The California ‘Green Rush’ has already driven a large portion of entrepreneurs and investors to make questionable wagers behind that curve.  Pain will arrive soon enough, trust me. “//

JB

Redwood Dan
Guest
Redwood Dan
2 years ago
Reply to  jack bourne

Ditto! Sounds like we both have the exact same story going on.

Perspective
Guest
Perspective
2 years ago
Reply to  jack bourne

They never left the “illegal” market! Doesn’t take a blind person to see that the “legal” farms end up doing something with their product. Where are all the pounds “we can’t sell”?

People make bad business decisions all the time and lose money. Hell, I’ve lost more than I’ve won, but I’m not crying about it. People need to take responsibility for their actions. Don’t try to tell me you didn’t have illusions of grandeur, I did. Gracefully bow out and move on to the next thing.

Steeze
Guest
Steeze
2 years ago
Reply to  jack bourne

Sorry, you’re only producing 60k worth of herb on 5k square feet? Even at $400lb that’s only 150 lbs.. I think the issue is you are not a good grower. You should be producing a lb for every 10 square feet minimum outdoors.. that would be 500 lbs, $200k on your 70k for production costs. MINIMUM. I could do that by myself.. In fact I have. Drip tape, an in-line nutrient injector, and a badass sprayer.. cut my own clones, did 2 days of tractor work to lay out the soil in mound rows, created the whole water system myself, harvested and trimmed (mostly machine trimmed then hand detailed. ALL myself.. so what’s your excuse?

Locals Only
Guest
Locals Only
2 years ago
Reply to  Steeze

The strains that are currently popular do not produce the weight as strains from back in the day . As an example ICC will never pack the weight that Grand Daddy Purple did . But I will agree that a 4K grow should produce 200lbs per run x 2= 400 lbs . So that’s approximately 200k for the year BEFORE expenses . Cleaning tab alone would be approximately 40k . So ya, that farm would be operating in the negative.

Steeze
Guest
Steeze
2 years ago
Reply to  Locals Only

Except that ICC is blown out and nobody wants it.. I stand by my math. 500lbs minimum on 5k s.ft. 1500 is fully possible. Shitty/lazy growers got away with it for a while, but that is the nature of a free market. You can’t compete if you’re not producing near to quota. That’s like getting 1/2lb per light indoor. Wtf are you doing so wrong

Jeffersonian
Guest
Jeffersonian
2 years ago

Wow bro, your resentment is visceral. Better come to grips with that before it gives you cancer..

I grow sweet corn
Guest
I grow sweet corn
2 years ago

I agree 100% with $5000 a pound!
Humboldt became an outlaw state. Crimes of murder, rape, missing persons, home invasion and rip-offs were common place. Dope growers thought they could do anything they wanted (pollute=rodenticide/fert. runoff and steal water) and that time is over! Humboldt is better off with a limited number of legal farms.
The next phase of Humboldt history will be people who left the shitty cities in the south with remote jobs or sold out and want to live a quiet life. I welcome them.
Farming is tough: nine times higher than the average of suicide rates.
90% of new businesses fail in the first five years…why would pot be any different.
Cannabis growers had twenty five years of untaxed profits at $4k-5k a pound and if you didn’t plan for today you deserve what you have now.
A friend in San Diego (true story) grew six and a half pounds of pot in a 15 x 25 foot back yard and he doesn’t smoke. He had no mildew or rot and bought the clones at a legal dispensary. I encouraged him to give it all away for free as that he hasn’t smoked in twenty years. He said “shit it is easier to grow than tomatoes”.
WAKE UP Humboldt growers: you are not special and no one owes you anything!
I hope that the “traditional market” is seen for what it really is: Greedy people who are cheaters.
I hope pot gets legalized federally and pot growers who illegally produce more that $5,000 of pot get the same prison sentence as a $5k moonshiner…three to five years in federal prison!!!
Why can’t we all have cheap high quality cannabis and bake cookies and be laughing with all our neighbors. The time of the outlaw growers and legal growers who “back door’ their weed sucked and is over….BBB-BYE!

$5000 a pound back in the day!
Guest
$5000 a pound back in the day!
2 years ago

It’s funny. Isaiah helped write the rules and now you’re complaining?? What ever happened with that Emerald Family scandal thing? Interesting Bear extracts hired you after that…
..

Legallettuce
Guest
Legallettuce
2 years ago

The growers who made them who they were now work for us, lol.

Dude
Guest
Dude
2 years ago

Right what ever happened to the buyout of EFF by cannacordova or some crap? What about the buy out of Northern emeralds, or sisu? Almost like the whole point was to sell out. Lifestyles of the rich and famous for sure

Reality Check
Guest
Reality Check
2 years ago

As if they didn’t own a calculator in 2016 when this whole mess launched!! Delusional! And I’m getting super whiny entitled vibes from all the “golden ticket” permit snobs. While those that DID own – and use – a calculator at the outset of this county-state money grab have resigned themselves to the ugly truth that the goose done get killed. Like covid, everyone gonna get it, in this case- broke.

Bill
Guest
Bill
2 years ago

Poke it. It’s done.
Everybody wanted golden eggs and now the goose is cooked.
Those poor poor realtors!
Seriously?
They squeezed the goose the hardest, but will still get their % of a distressed sale, and complain about the size of the eggs?
Waaaanhh!

And your property value means nothing to you if you intend to stay…that is… stay, if you don’t mind looking out on a hillside of abandoned hoop houses, wrecked trucks, and other artifacts of a collapsed industry.
Prop 64 was an indicator of this impending implosion.
It was just a matter of time.

Xebeche
Guest
Xebeche
2 years ago

The BOS bears huge responsibility here but the real estate gouging is epic. When I moved here 51 years ago 40 acres cost $8-10k. Now those same parcels are selling for upwards of $500k. Inflation doesn’t cover it. It is pure speculation & greed. Feeling sorry for a real estate agent is akin to pitying a banker

Trinistan
Guest
Trinistan
2 years ago
Reply to  Xebeche

Inflation isn’t the only factor. Asset appreciation from wealthier out of the area buyers, federal monetary policy, supply and demand, etc. Besides they just don’t make land anymore. The north coast is beautiful and covid is driving prices up as the Internet is more available allowing people to stay connected. Times change and so do the prices.

C S
Guest
C S
2 years ago
Reply to  Trinistan

The cost of assets, like land, and recent movement in the price of basic living goods across the nation are directly linked to the openness of the US financial system and the practice of trade interventionism around the world as other countries intervene in their economies to make their uncompetitive industries more competitive (ie the “China Price” = due to illegal subsidization). It is natural that prices for products and assets rise of time, but the PACE of change has been abnormal which is obscured of the change occurring during our lived lifetimes then the contradictions of Assets bloating, manufactured good prices falling, subsistence goods (food, energy, rental housing) rising. The amount of work that can and will continue to be remote is fleeting, the impact marginal. If able to be remote over term will likely also be easiest to be replaced by artificial intelligence.
Problem is most have superficial understanding of Economics, the NEws treats Finance (or asset prices) as Economics, and we, globally, are in uncharted territory as to the state and current nature of a globally distorted Economy of much over-premising in an era of an over-stylized Globalization and Free Trade Ideology (as not reality).
Was great to read this commentary as an outsider. Just wish Americans would wake-up to how their faith regarding Economics and Finance, faith being belief as to what is, is undermining themselves across the spectrum.
I will say no Federalization. Make and sell in State, even if black market, the last thing the US economy needs is more Free Trade with other countries (with US being market that is wide open and others having closed financial systems, closed markets, inaccessible distribution channels and oligarchs who harvest all the benefits as vast underclasses of peasants make the goods dumped on US markets).
Great growth of middle classes talked about around the world = people who make 10 USD a day.
NO to Federal Legalization, keep it a State matter.

RealityCheck
Guest
RealityCheck
2 years ago

Never mind crying about the predictable consequences of voting in favor of interventionist policies that were thinly cloaked by the word “Legalization”.. (ie.. over regulation/taxation, barriers to market entry) ..
Humboldts fate was sealed long ago by the introduction of light dep. But I bet your group keeps on playing that same song all the way to the end.

619upf.jpg
Fack Chuck
Guest
Fack Chuck
2 years ago
Reply to  RealityCheck

I came to read the comments. I leave with this @RealityCheck meme.

thatguyinarcata
Guest
thatguyinarcata
2 years ago

We should have just held the county to measure S as it was written. Tax collected BIENNIALLY, once every two years.

The biggest problem with all of this cannabis regulation (and there are many) is that we’ve repeatedly let the state and county change the rules as they see fit. We collectively fucked up by letting 64 pass, and then we’ve let bureaucrats and politicians make it worse with their arbitrary changes

JustWantToHearTheEndOfTheStory
Guest
JustWantToHearTheEndOfTheStory
2 years ago

OMG, too funny. Guess basing a local economy on THC is not viable, next will be demands for taxpayer subsidies to the growers. That coal train is looking better all the time. Excuse me while I finish laughing.

That sauce
Guest
That sauce
2 years ago

Lmao at all the “too bad so sad” type comments. Wait till y’all see what this place looks like after all the growers are gone, how long do you reckon 9 out of 10 businesses will stay open for?

Also Lmao at all the comments about knowing growers that are still “killing it” …nobody is killing anything but the last of there savings right now. LMFAO!

well . . .
Guest
well . . .
2 years ago
Reply to  That sauce

I agree.

Steeze
Guest
Steeze
2 years ago
Reply to  That sauce

Won’t matter now. Hsu getting turned into a polytechnic and the fiber optic line bringing tech jobs. We will see a dramatic change soon enough. Y’all just need to learn how to trade crypto and stocks. It’s really not all that complicated.

Locals Only
Guest
Locals Only
2 years ago
Reply to  That sauce

Agreed ! No one I know is killing it . And this county is going down, and not in a blaze of glory !

Total Collapse
Guest
Total Collapse
2 years ago

Noticed the migration to Southern Oregon a few years ago. The smart ones saw what was coming and relocated. There is a good story up today on Politico about how the worst practices we used to see in Humboldt were just moved north to where it is really wild west and how their “legalization” just made it worse in every way. Very informative.

Legallettuce
Guest
Legallettuce
2 years ago

//Do we want to return to the Murder Mountain era?//

WTF!! You are the Murder Mountain era Nancy. The area is known as Rancho to us. GTFO with your corporate stooge bullshit. The tax ain’t hurting us Traditional Market growers and it sure the fuck ain’t gonna help any small grow survive. It’s your corporate friends that need the tax break cause they don’t have CASH and ya cannot pay taxes with a wall street security note. Also, most of the money gets funneled from Canada meaning the exchange rate also comes into play when they gotta shell out CASH to pay taxes in the US. You’re a fuck’in stooge using your local ties to help corporate cannabis destroy the small grows. We OGs see right through you fuckers!!

John Deere
Guest
John Deere
2 years ago
Reply to  Legallettuce

“Return,” indeed. Ask Dick Drewry’s family and neighbors if “legalization” has made them feel like we ever escaped.
RIP Dick

https://kymkemp.com/2021/02/03/85-year-old-rancher-killed-by-unknown-person-in-bell-springs-area-findings-from-autopsy-and-investigation-reveal-shooting-was-homicide-says-sheriffs-department/

Legallettuce
Guest
Legallettuce
2 years ago
Reply to  John Deere

I was down in Garberville that day. Wish I woulda done what I was supposed to do that day. Not that it woulda put me close but closer than most head’in over the hill. Blessings.

Locals Only
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Locals Only
2 years ago
Reply to  John Deere

Rest In Peace Dick, knew him my whole life and a kinder person you could not find 🙏

Legallettuce
Guest
Legallettuce
2 years ago

Uncle Sammie wants his money fuckers. Cash only!!! Tick Tock!!!

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John Deere
Guest
John Deere
2 years ago

What about the megafarms owned by people who live out of the area, on which no one lives? Should they be allowed to continue to extract our resources for profit at the expense of the community, and get a reprieve on paying taxes, too? Or the acres of mixed light approved by the County, operating on multiple huge fossil fuel burning generators runnning 24/7, polluting our environment? Or the farms operating from vast, unregulated amounts of well water, depleting their neighbors’ springs and impacting surface waters… should they get propped up, too? How about the “legal” farms with hordes of foreign workers who use county services/fragile rural roads in violation of their permit conditions, guarded by for hire mercenaries with AR-15 assault rifles… do they get a pass, too?

I support tax reform that is targeted to benefit the people who live and grow in Humboldt County, not the huge industrial operations that have been permitted without being held to the same standard as smaller legacy cultivators. Co-opting the rhetoric of the plight of these small farms in service of tax relief for the big players is unacceptable, on top of this outrageous preferential treatment. The premise for allowing these huge operations is that they would generate local tax revenue. And now that would be lifted, under the guise of supporting the poor downtrodden local legacy cultivator?

If you actually live on and work your farm yourself, the struggle is real. Change the tax structure to provide relief and incentivize environmental stewardship and best practices for these people. Otherwise, tax the shit out of the greedy budminers who care nothing for our community. They invest nothing and extract everything, while externalizing the costs to our environment, roads, and public safety.

The DCC just announced it will be disbursing $100 million to local equity jurisdictions to support “…initiatives for water protection and renewable energy…”

Some values alignment is in order, across agencies and jurisdictions.

Arctostaphylos
Guest
Arctostaphylos
2 years ago
Reply to  John Deere

Some solid points here.

Perhaps a compromise. No Measure S tax on first 10,000 sq ft. That would cover mostly smaller projects with a Zoning Clearance Certificate or Special Permit and would take some strain off the small farms. The County could continue to tax sq footage in excess of that 10k sq ft.

Locals Only
Guest
Locals Only
2 years ago
Reply to  Arctostaphylos

This!!!! Very good idea!

Poster formerly known as Matt
Guest
Poster formerly known as Matt
2 years ago

Sounds like they are trying to change the rules, which is just what they argued against the other day.

Marcia Mendels
Guest
Marcia Mendels
2 years ago

Kym, thank you for your thorough and thoughtful investigation and reporting on this subject.

Kym Kemp
Admin
2 years ago
Reply to  Marcia Mendels

Lisa Music wrote this and did a very nice job.

Wattslakeyachtclub
Guest
Wattslakeyachtclub
2 years ago

Pounds for 150$ in Santa Barbara…this is what happens Larry…this what happens ….this what happens

geoffrey davis
Guest
geoffrey davis
2 years ago

”If it wasnt a weed, weeda all starved out along time ago”…….. Hugh Duggins….RIP. Hugh said that 25 years ago.

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
2 years ago
Reply to  geoffrey davis

Thanks for some words of wisdom from the hill.

It’s sad how many good local people have been killed and frustrating how many remain unsolved.

too many cooks
Guest
too many cooks
2 years ago

too many people producing too much weed, Simple, some of you must go.. good luck

Perry Gale
Guest
Perry Gale
2 years ago

We of Humboldt, the people, families, friends, small busines owners, businesses large and small…long ago and to this day chose and still choose to be complicit with the marijuana growing industry and people and all that entails…rampant street drug use and dealing, rampant property and violent crime, widespread homelessness, deep poverty, poor public health, economic collapse…we deserve the bitter consequences, every last one of them. We can even keep feigning ignorance just as we’ve done for decades but the truth and reality care not one bit about our ugly plight.

Bill
Guest
Bill
2 years ago
Reply to  Perry Gale

Sorry, but you paint with a very broad brush.
There are many societal ills happening concurrently with the collapse of the cannabis market. That doesn’t mean they are attributable or even symptomatic.
Capitalism and avarice are old and happy bedfellows.
You’ve only to look to the trees and rivers to se what they’ve wrought.
Look no further than our own greed for demons.

River time
Guest
River time
2 years ago

Curious: Humboldt marijuana growers are taking a page from the pharmaceutical industry:
More favorable laws and regulations, please.
Once again, truth is better than fiction.

laura cooskey
Guest
laura cooskey
2 years ago

Farming is hard, and unless you’re a mega-grower of anything, seldom lucrative.
When cannabis farmers complain about the high costs of permits, taxes, etc.– all the BS they go through to be legal, in the face of crashing market prices– they should keep in mind that even $50 a pound is about 10x what organic vegetable growers get… retail. Not $5000, as in the days of old; not $500, which made everyone cry; not $50, which most cannabis growers consider unthinkable. Think about it. $5 a pound, that’s a sort of average of prices paid for peppers, squash, beans, lettuce, etc.– anything your local organic farmer sells at the Farmer’s Markets.
True, they’re usually not paying anything like what cannabis growers must to stay in business. But keep in mind your relative profits in the price… and ask yourself if you’re ready to be a real farmer in the free market, where the net income for produce is far less than that $5/ pound.

Locals Only
Guest
Locals Only
2 years ago
Reply to  laura cooskey

If we don’t have to pay permit fees and taxes that have no correlation with the lbs of product being grown, THEN we would be on a level playing field . We lease a portion of our farm to a gentleman who grows a sizeable vegetable garden yearly. He has no permits, pays no taxes, reports no income. So how is there any similarities between the business structure?

justsayin
Guest
justsayin
2 years ago

After 40 years of not paying taxes like everyone else, then lobbying whining and paying off politicians to get it legalized.. Now they want to complain because they have to pay taxes…like everyone one else. Seems like a case of “Be careful what you wish for.”

Laughinlark
Guest
Laughinlark
2 years ago
Reply to  justsayin

Best comment yet! Living large no more!

Perspective
Guest
Perspective
2 years ago
Reply to  justsayin

I remember “we want to pay taxes” as being part of their campaign.

Connie DobbsD
Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Perspective

That was a typo.

Farce
Guest
Farce
2 years ago
Reply to  Perspective

Ha Ha! Along with “I am a Farmer!” and that march and rally in Arcata must be remembered as the ultimate idiocy. Ha ha ha!! “I want to tell my mommy and daddy what I really do!” said some weaklings. Well- Tell them! “Oh no- it’s illegal and they will be mad at me” said the 30-something child. These mental midgets and cowardly sell-outs were Comedy Gold…except they insisted on killing everybody

Migs
Guest
Migs
2 years ago

This is a supply and demand phenomenon.Taxes only help support the price floor. The next bottom would correlate with a theoretical tax reprieve, at best. Inflation is hitting everything hard. Many nutrients are byproducts of the petroleum industry, which is going nuclear. Costs for everything are going up, pot price is coming down at the same time. There simply isn’t any hope here. It’s bad and it’s gonna get worse. I understand that pot did a lot of good with the bad up here, but this should have never gone past medical if you guys wanted to keep the party rolling, albeit at a lower volume. This really should serve as a wake up call to all you central planner enthusiasts. The gov ruins everything. The supes are an embarrassment. Also, Sandi has been hustling properties up here for years. She should know it’s about time the land comes down in price so the next generation can afford to own land where they grew up. It’s fun making money off rich dopers, but the jig is up and its about time. Unfortunately it looks like bay area and south richie richards are moving up here and I prefer the dopers to being a serf in neofeudal humboldt

Jason
Guest
Jason
2 years ago

Dont see to many a acknowledging the affects concentrates have had on the flower market, its all dabs now

Chad
Guest
Chad
2 years ago

100 sq ft canopy indoor in 5 houses. 500 feet indoor. No permits. No taxes. Pay mortgage with garage. Retired off the Equity of real estate.

Better plan. Take your permits and stick them in your butt

Industryguy
Guest
Industryguy
2 years ago

There’s to much Mid grade flower also on the market, sun grown doesn’t cut it most of the time now. If you want to compete you have to have AAA light assist or indoors … and if your a farmer, you have to be hip to the trends in terms of strains, people want color, icey, and gas

Farce
Guest
Farce
2 years ago

Guess I’ll drop this article here. It’s just nice when mainstream media runs a story admitting the truth that we have been here saying for the last couple years….Permitted mega-farms sell on the black market all the time. SOP….https://apnews.com/article/business-california-los-angeles-marijuana-congress-c237d1bd1f7cb14faa8d32b930d860ad

Kirk Vodopals
Member
Kirk Vodopals
2 years ago

It’s just a plant! Legalize it! No, don’t do that! Keep it illegal to maintain our profits. Oh, it’s legal now. Hooray! Wait, we need an acreage cap to keep the hill muffins going. Please save us gubmint. How come this shit show is so shitty?!

Gggg
Guest
Gggg
2 years ago

So, growers want a measly tax eliminated while the market sucks until it doesn’t again? Get your hands back in your pockets and realize things are NEVER going back to the way that they were, so you can adapt or get a new profession. Other businesses can’t do this and expect shit so why the special treatment. Welcome to the tax paying world of unfair and bend over. There are a lot of people who fail at business, cannabis and otherwise, it is more often than not lousy business acumen. How are legal growers even surprised right now?

Loatcoast707
Guest
Loatcoast707
2 years ago

It’s a huge huge huge world.out there sooooo much marijuana .. bummer Humboldt standards changed cause there is tons of beautiful weed out there … Those who sit here waiting will see lowest price or fight for your right and go out there and get it out there legs and BM weed always sells 150 ounce all day long still cheaper than a store