Waiting for governor

Have you had a chance to look into Assembly Bills 266 and 243 yet? What do you think?

—Eric

As of last Friday afternoon, Gov. Jerry Brown had yet to sign the bills. He has until October 11 to sign. However, many cities and jurisdictions are acting in anticipation of these bills passing. Humboldt County is working on a plan to regulate large scale grows. Long Beach is coming up with a new medical marijuana plan based on these new rules.

Looking at the bills more closely, it would seem that the government is giving people time to get their shit together: The bills don’t take effect until January 2016. The businesses that can prove they’ve been open for a while will receive priority in the line for licenses. There’s also some other stuff in there that goes all the way until 2023. Read the bills at http://tinyurl.com/read243 and at http://tinyurl.com/read266. One of the coolest things in the bills is that they will create geographical appellations for growing regions. If you thought weed from Humboldt or Mendocino County was popular now, just wait. Humboldt County is the Napa Valley of weed. That appellation will carry weight. We will see if the governor signs the bill.

Do you think the recent fires will affect the outdoor cannabis crop this year?

—Smokie DeBaar

First, I would like to take the time to send thoughts and prayers and condolences to all of the victims of these devastating wildfires in California and Oregon. May everyone stay safe and receive the help they need in these tough times. I have a friend that lost a 50-acre farm, and I have heard of plenty of farms in Placer, Lake and Butte counties that have been either destroyed by fire or contaminated by the planes dropping fire retardant all over everywhere. Linda Lepp, Eddy Lepp’s ex-wife, lost everything in the Lake County Fire. (Eddy is serving 10 years in federal prison for cannabis cultivation. The judge herself called Eddy’s sentence unjust, but said her hands were tied by the law.) Linda has set up a Gofundme (www.gofundme.com/ku4394pw) to raise some money for rent and clothes. Please help her if you can.

That being said, I don’t think the fall harvest will be super small. Hundreds of farms all over the state are still going strong. Humboldt and Mendocino should have some great flowers, and I expect Fresno County (despite the county’s ridiculous ban) to have great weed this year too. Small digression: High Times magazine is throwing a medical cannabis cup in Lemoore (it’s between Coalinga and Visalia, just next to Hanford) this coming Halloween weekend. I think it will be a great time. And it will be fun to see a big time cannabis event outside of the larger metropolitan areas. Back to the subject: I don’t expect prices to spike, but I don’t think pounds will be crazy-cheap either. Have a happy harvest, everyone!