Where’s the Weed in California Cannabis? Ownership, practice and local governance in Mendocino County

Abstract:

The study of the (de)criminalization of cannabis cultivation, sales and consumption are increasing but little is known about the impacts on remote rural ecosystems in places where access to sanitation services, renewable energy resources and water are limited. In the California North Coast, data suggests that regional agricultural production is arguably dominated by cannabis cultivation. Or rather, this was the case prior to adoption of the Medical and Adult Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA) in 2017. The legislation established a statewide regulatory framework to govern the cultivation, processing, transportation, testing, manufacturing, and distribution of medical and recreational cann­abis. To comply with requirements from multiple agencies, existing cannabis business operators in California’s rural economic context may alter production facilities, which can have unintended effects on land-disturbances and land-use changes. This inquiry seeks to 1) assess how governance has altered decision-making outcomes related to farming and land among cannabis cultivators in Mendocino County; and 2) inspect the state of typologies of cannabis vernacular used by cannabis entities and actors within the published literature. The process will map decision outcomes, the knowledge system, and associated social networks embodying cannabis production in the California North Coast. Results from this work will reveal insights in the role of regulations as a driver of land-use changes in remote rural cannabis production and identify impacts on ecosystem services, sustainable cannabis practice, and land ownership.

Keywords: Cannabis, marijuana, legalization, land use, governance, public policy

Authors: