Petition seeks help protecting small cannabis farmers in the Emerald Triangle

The famous emerald triangle of the cannabis industry consists of the lush growing areas in the northern California counties of Mendocino, Humboldt and Trinity – but high taxes and large corporations threaten this community of multigenerational farmers who are passionate about growing high quality weed, not just for profit reasons.

A local Humboldt lawyer and farm owner, Rose Moberly, raises awareness of the plight of the Emerald Triangle by circulating a petition to seek support.

Moberly has an impressive and extensive history in cannabis history. From her roots as an intern for the Colorado Senate as an environmental lobbyist, to climbing the ranks of a trim job, a grow facility, and even a track and trace METRC auditor, she has explored many facets of the cannabis industry. Things really got going two years ago when she was invited to travel to California to educate smallholders about the track and trace system.

Ultimately, that path led her not only to love, but also to her current role as a worker on a second generation farm called Huckleberry Hill Farms. “In short, I fell in love with a certain testator [John Casali]who challenges me to be a better woman every day and I’ve moved out [to Humboldt] over two years ago. “

Photo credit: Ben Neff

Moberly describes Huckleberry Hill Farms “the way you can!” And her passion for advocacy and growing cannabis knows no bounds. However, the smallholders in the Emerald Triangle are facing a dire situation. The tight-knit region of farmers is being challenged by corporations who jumped on the cannabis bandwagon when it became popular in the mainstream without seeking legal or legalization help.

“I think it’s important that people realize where a multi-billion dollar industry is coming from and what they went through with the war on drugs to legalize this amazingly powerful plant,” Moberly told High Times.

More importantly, the shockingly high cultivation taxes required to grow in California make it difficult to operate for all smallholders, not just those who operate in the Emerald Triangle area. If the current heading doesn’t change, it could be over for smallholders everywhere. “All farmers, no matter where they are in the state of California, suffer from over-taxation and oversupply,” she said. “Together we have to communicate with the regulators that if they continue to allow farms without state legalization, they will continue to lower the price. The emphasis on the emerald triangle has to do with protecting a culture that cannot be found anywhere else in the world, not just in California. “

Moberly is confident that some of the best and most unique cannabis strains in the country are being bred in the Emerald Triangle, and if these farmers are forced to cease operations due to exorbitant tax requirements, these strains could also disappear forever. “In addition, the Emerald Triangle is like the Amazon jungle of genetics. I’m sure some of the legacy breeders here hold a unique strain of cannabis that might even have the cure for cancer, autism, epilepsy, etc., ”she said. “If these farms can’t survive today’s climate, some of these strains and strains could potentially be lost forever.”

Moberly said a recent local poll found that 50 to 60 percent of cannabis farms will not survive 2022 if some sort of emergency regime is put in place. Because of this, she decided to take action and start the petition “Save the cannabis farmers of the Emerald Triangle”.

“As a result, farmers who sold flower products for $ 1,400 a pound last year are now forced to sell their products for $ 300 a pound to pay their bills,” she wrote on the petition page. “Because of the state’s fixed dollar tax, these farmers are required to pay a 53 percent cultivation tax of $ 161.28; while the remaining leaf product, which some farmers had to offload at just $ 15 per pound, is charging $ 48 per pound for state taxes. At this price they are subject to a tax rate of 320 percent! “

With enough signatures, she will send a letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom and the state legislatures to represent the case on behalf of California farmers everywhere. In the meantime, you can support the cause by visiting the petition here.

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