San Andreas, CA…Calaveras County will be preparing an Environmental Impact Report for the proposed new medical cannabis ordinance. The ordinance will permit and regulate cannabis cultivation in the county and provide for commercial activities associate with medical cannabis. A Notice of Preparation, used to scope the issues that the EIR should consider, has been issued and comments are due by May 6, 2016.

On February 16, 2016 the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors provided direction to County staff regarding preparation of an ordinance regulating the cultivation and commerce associated with medical cannabis, consistent with the provisions of the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act. Calaveras County has an existing ordinance regulating medical cannabis dispensaries, but does not have a regulatory framework for cultivation or other cannabis-related activities. The Board of Supervisors recognized that there are numerous growers currently operating in the County and that there would be a benefit in permitting and regulating this industry, especially given the new state laws legalizing commercial cultivation and commerce of medical cannabis. In addition, the County plans to permit and regulate the other commercial activities associated with medical cannabis, including distributing, manufacturing, and transporting. A copy of the draft ordinance is available on the Planning Department’s website, http://planning.calaverasgov.us/.

The County has determined that there may be significant environmental effects to air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, geology and soils, hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, public services, traffic, and utilities and service systems as a result of the adoption of the ordinance. The County intends to prepare a program EIR to address these issues and ensure consideration of cumulative impacts and provide the County with program-wide mitigation measures.

The ordinance will cover all unincorporated land within Calaveras County. Responses to the notice are due within 30 days of receipt of the notice, but no later than Friday, May 6, 2016. Comments should provide the County with specific detail about the scope and content of the environmental information that should be in the EIR. For more information contact Peter Maurer, Planning Director, at (209) 754-6394 or at pmaurer@co.calaveras.ca.us.