Photo by Jesse Dodd
This spring Mad River Alliance (MRA) and the Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC) planned, organized, and produced a series of six Cannabis Farmer’s Compliance Workshops in the Eel, Mattole, Trinity, Mad and Humboldt Bay watersheds. The workshops informed the public of the steps necessary to achieve legal status under newly mandated state, regional and local medical marijuana laws, and provided educational resources to implement management practices that will help mitigate existing damages and protect environmental resources. Each of the 475 + participants took part in a day long course and walked away with a handbook full of detailed information and resources designed to guide them down the path of successful regulatory compliance.
EPIC and MRA tackled this project because we believe that if we work together to help local people make the transition from an unregulated, quasi-legal cannabis industry to a regulated and legal one—we will protect our fish and forests, families and small farms.
The success of this campaign is not due to any one person or group, but rather the strength in collaboration. This powerful group includes: MRA, EPIC, Humboldt Green, California Growers Association, Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, Humboldt County Planning & Building Department & Supervisors, High Tide Permaculture and Pacific Watershed Associates. These community partners made the workshop series successful.
Additionally, we’d like to give a special thank you to our supporters: Biovortex, California Growers Association, Dazey’s Supply, David Simpson and Jane Lapiner, Dirty Business Analytics, Ed Denson Attorney, Emerald Family Farms, Emerald Magazine, Ford 20 Insurance, Gallegos Law Firm, Gangier, Graphic Heart Design, High Tide Permaculture, HMBDLT, Honeydew Farms, Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District, Humboldt Green, Humboldt Sun Growers Guild, Janssen Malloy Law Firm, Kathleen Bryson Law, KMUD, Lost Coast Communications, Mattole Restoration Council, Mattole Sustainable Farmers Guild, North Coast Horticulture Supply, Omsberg Preston Engineers, Pacific Watershed Association, Paul Hagen Attorney, Royal Gold, Samara Restoration, Trim Scene Solutions, Verdant Bridge Enterprise, and Wonderland Nursery.
The 2016 Cannabis Farmers’ Workshop Series was inspired by the “Growing Green in 2014 Workshop” led by Mad River Alliance, and by the “Northern California Farmers Guide to Best Management Practices” produced by the Trees Foundation. This year’s Cannabis Farmers’ Compliance Workshop began with a partnership between the Mad River Alliance and Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District. The Water District took the opportunity, for the first time ever, to partner with a nonprofit to co-produce a Compliance Workbook and a Workshop in the Mad River watershed. To expand the impact of the project, Mad River Alliance contacted Steve Gieder of Humboldt Green, who was instrumental to the 2014 Growing Green workshop, and partnered with EPIC to produce a total of six Cannabis Farmers’ Workshops in five watersheds! EPIC’s Executive Director, Natalynne DeLapp, took on the task of leading the sections on the Humboldt County ordinance, laying out the workbook, and coordinating with state agencies and community members to realize our vision.
EPIC and MRA are grateful that we were able to produce the Cannabis Farmers’ Handbook & Workshop—thank you to everyone who attended, supported, volunteered, and participated!
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