Pubdate: Wed, 22 Nov 2017
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2017 Hearst Communications Inc.
Contact: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/submissions/#1
Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388
Authors: Phil Matier and Andy Ross

WIENER HOPES TO HEAD OFF MARIJUANA MEGA-FARMS

State Sen. Scott Wiener, who has adopted the cannabis industry as one
of his major concerns, is taking aim at new state regulations for
recreational marijuana that will allow for big growing operations in
California.

"By not limiting the amount of land that can be cultivated by any one
operation, we are basically inviting mega industrial-scale operations
into the state," the San Francisco Democrat said. "It will squeeze out
the small farmers that have been at the forefront of the industry for
many, many years."

Wiener's anger is directed at rules issued last week by three agencies
- - the Department of Health, Department of Food and Agriculture and the
Bureau of Cannabis Control - that do not limit the number of licenses
a grower can hold or the total acreage one can farm. He said he hopes
to make some changes when the Legislature is back in session next year.

Although there were no limits written into the voter-approved
Proposition 64 that legalized recreational marijuana sales, small
growers had hoped the state would set a cap of five acres per farmer
for the first five years. One of the 2016 initiative's biggest
backers, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, said there would be no "new gold rush"
of corporate cannabis as a result of legalization.

Newsom, who is now running for governor, appears to be fine fow now
with allowing for big growers.

"Legalization is a process unfolding over many years," and regulations
will need "constant re-evaluation," Newsom said in a statement from
Mexico City, where he is talking marijuana issues with trade officials.

But he added, "I'm not ideological about this; I'm watching closely to
ensure that the rules are being applied with tough anti-monopoly
standards that create favorable market conditions for small legal
businesses."
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MAP posted-by: Matt