When California voters legalized marijuana for recreational use in November 2016, it was also a victory for Gavin Newsom, who spent months traveling the state as the face of the campaign. At an election night party at a San Francisco nightclub, the then-lieutenant governor celebrated this “point of pride,” telling attendees that California had sent […]
Marijuana
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Ex-Rohnert Park Cop Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Extortion
The former head of the Rohnert Park Public Safety Department’s drug interdiction team pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges of conspiracy to commit extortion under “color of law,” falsifying records in a federal investigation and tax evasion. Ex-Sgt. Brendan “Jacy” Tatum and his former partner, Joseph Huffaker, were both indicted by a federal grand jury […]
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Thieves Are Stealing California’s Scarce Water for Illegal Cannabis Farms
One day last spring, water pressure in pipelines suddenly crashed In the Antelope Valley, setting off alarms. Demand had inexplicably spiked, swelling to three and half times normal. Water mains broke open, and storage tanks were drawn down to dangerous levels. The emergency was so dire in the water-stressed desert area of Hi Vista, between […]
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HSU Expanding Curriculum with Polytechnic Push
As a way of prioritizing Humboldt State University’s push to become polytechnic, the university is expanding its curriculum to include more STEM-related degree programs as soon as fall of 2023. “This is what a 21st-century education looks like: programs where students build the skills to have meaningful careers and a nuanced understanding of society’s complex […]
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County Allows Cannabis Growers to Apply for Tax Refunds in Wake of Court Ruling
After a an appeals court ruled the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors overstepped when it “impermissibly broadened the scope” of the cannabis tax voters approved in 2016, the county is beginning the process of refunding potentially millions of dollars in tax payments. In a press release issued today, the county is introducing a process for […]
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Going Big
Humboldt County’s largest cannabis trade organization has come out in opposition to a proposal to construct a 23-acre cannabis farm in the Arcata bottoms, largely on the grounds that the project is just too big. “Historically, [the Humboldt County Growers Alliance] has supported many cannabis projects before the Planning Commission, while remaining neutral on others,” […]
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Ford Sentenced in Cannabis Insurance Embezzlement Case
Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Christopher Wilson sentenced John Ford to serve 90 days in jail and five years probation after the former insurance broker pleaded guilty to felony embezzlement. An investigation by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office and the California Office of Insurance alleged that Ford contracted with various clients […]
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Fortuna to Fine Commercial Cannabis Growers, T-S reports
Fortuna will begin fining commercial cannabis growers in the city $1,000 a day after a unanimous vote Monday by the city council, according to the Times-Standard. Read the full story here.
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Deputies Not After Cannabis in Evacuation Zones
A false rumor picking up steam on social media alleges that Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office deputies are serving warrants on marijuana properties in the Island Mountain area where the owners have been evacuated because of the wildfire threatening Humboldt County on its southeastern border with Trinity County. “That is not true. We do have our […]
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CDFW: Online Cannabis Permitting Workshop Happens July 22
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), CalCannabis and the State Water Board will host a free online cannabis permitting workshop on July 22 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., according to a CDFW press release. “The free workshop is ideal for new and existing commercial cannabis cultivators and consultants,” the press release states. […]
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Humboldt County’s ‘Cannabis Planning Program’ Lacks Fiscal Transparency, Grand Jury Reports
Four years after recreational cannabis was legalized in California, the Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury has a released report entitled “A Growing Concern.” The report focuses on the Planning and Building Department’s record keeping and cash handling procedures for the cannabis industry. “There is a notable lack of in-depth reporting of revenues and expenditures that […]
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County Urges Cannabis Employers to Encourage Staff to Get Free COVID-19 Tests
The Humboldt County Joint Information Center has released a handy information sheet for the cannabis industry during the COVID-19 Crisis. In it, they suggest employers encourage staff to participate in free COVID testing. The center also notes that employees who carpool with others should “always wear a mask and keep windows open to improve vehicle ventilation […]