California has a drought plan and does not include water for cannabis growers

Summer is a time many growers dread, and cannabis growers are no exception. The brutal and harsh weather conditions make cultivation slow and tiring. This means that most farmers need to make changes to their growing processes, while others rely on external government help. The latter is what many California growers depend on, with programs like the California Drought Plan serving as a buffer for many. However, there is concern in many quarters that cannabis could be exempted from this drought plan. Read on as we examine why cannabis might be banned and what that may mean for cannabis growers in California.

2022 has been a tough first three months for many cannabis growers. The state recorded the lowest rainfall and snowfall in California for the first three months of the year. These results were presented by the State Department of Water Resources and culminated in the second extreme drought in 10 years. The state’s extreme drought is a by-product of climate change, and multiple sectors are affected. This has prompted the state government to seek measures to conserve and replenish water sources in the country.

Water is the biggest constraint during the dry summer, and California’s drought plan is a step by the state to conserve water during this time. Gov. Gavin Newsom is trying to use this plan to compensate farmers for not planting their crops during the dry season. Known as fallow land, this concept helps both the state retain water and the soil replenish nutrients. The plan calls for the state and some of its largest water utilities to propose over $268 million up front for such farmers.

California’s drought plan is part of Gov. Newsom’s $2.9 billion plan to control water quality. The goal of the governor’s plan is a fixed annual freshwater supply for key areas of the state. He hopes to do so while managing and replenishing aquatic habitats, reservoirs and other water bodies. The process of maintenance and recovery is being done through conservative practices like the fallow land initiative in this California drought plan.

California’s drought plan aims to cover an area that is close to two major watersheds. The watersheds originate in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range of Northern California. The plan calls for farmers with water-intensive crops such as alfalfa, rice and nuts to reduce their production. In order to cut their production, these farmers must take up the state government’s idle proposal and be compensated accordingly.

The drought plan is the answer to many farmers’ prayers, but some are not pleased because cannabis is not covered. Michael Katz, chief executive officer of the Mendocino Cannabis Alliance, recently made this known while discussing the plan. He explained that covering some farmers but not cannabis farmers is a double standard. He also mentioned that cannabis growers face a harsh reality where they cannot shut down operations and continue to bear tax burdens during their time. As a result, Katz believes many small independent cannabis businesses will perish as they cannot survive.

In its defense, the state has said through the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) that the policy is still evolving and needs much improvement. Maria Luisa Cesar, spokeswoman for the DCC, explained that the discussion about the policy is still in the early stages. This means that it still has to be determined which sectors the policy will be assigned to. She also reiterated that the department will support the administration in taking care of farmers’ needs during this drought. In her words, “the department will also consider measures to support small farmers in line with their environmental responsibilities.”

The dispute between cannabis farmers and the state does not end there. The Origins Council, which represents about 900 marijuana companies, has said it has urged the state to enact idle policies without acting. The organization’s executive director, Genine Coleman, told MJBizDaily that the group had been requesting access for six months with no response.

While many have identified lying fallow as a way out of this drought in California, some cannabis growers have yet to get on board. This is bound to become an issue when cannabis farmers eventually fall under the California drought plan. Legal expert Patrick Goggin believes that many cannabis growers in California do not yet see set-aside as a necessary option. He explains that this is because the challenge farmers are currently facing is depressed wholesale prices and oversupply.

Another reason some cannabis growers may not be willing to be fallow is that different locations have different conditions. Some areas face other issues that the state’s drought plan cannot address. Trinity County is one of those regions where farmers are more concerned with economic challenges associated with obtaining permits. Adrien Keys, President of the Trinity County Agriculture Alliance, argues that many cannabis growers in the area use single wells for agriculture. This means they are using limited surface water and therefore the drought plan is not the solution to their urgent needs.

It’s evident that much remains to be said about California’s drought plan before it unfolds its full impact. The truth remains that many cannabis growers in California will be offended if the plan doesn’t do them justice. Still, various systems and organizations are already looking at the best way to ensure everyone is adequately cared for during this time.

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