Pubdate: Thu, 25 Aug 2016
Source: Ukiah Daily Journal, The (CA)
Copyright: 2016 The Ukiah Daily Journal
Contact: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/feedback
Website: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/581

ASSEMBLYMAN WOOD'S COTTAGE CANNABIS BILL ADVANCES TO GOV. JERRY BROWN

State Assemblyman Jim Wood's Cottage Cannabis Farmers Bill cleared 
one of its last hurdles Wednesday and was sent to Gov. Jerry Brown's 
desk for a final signature, after which it would become law.

Assembly Bill 2516 would establish a new medical marijuana cultivator 
license category for what Wood calls, "microfarmers."

The new license, or specialty cottage cultivator license, would be 
available to farmers with 2,500 square feet or less of total canopy 
size for mixed-light cultivation, up to 25 mature marijuana plants 
for outdoor cultivation, or 500 square feet or less of total canopy 
size for indoor cultivation, per parcel.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture would be tasked 
with issuing licenses to qualified applicants, as well as developing 
the requirements for obtaining licensure.

"We want to ensure that small medical cannabis growers on the North 
Coast can continue to do business as this industry moves forward," 
Wood said in a statement. "It is not fair to require the small 
farmers to adhere to the same standards as larger operations."

Last year, Wood's legislation became part of what's now known as the 
Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act, which officially became 
law Jan. 1.

The intention of the MMRSA was to address environmental, public 
safety and public health issues of the once ungoverned industry in California.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom