Mendocino County has long been the heart of California's cannabis culture—the Emerald Triangle's legacy of small, family-run farms that sustained rural communities for generations. Since Proposition 64 legalized adult use in 2016, however, many local growers feel squeezed out by Sacramento's heavy-handed regulations and taxes, pushing legitimate operations toward collapse while the black market thrives.

The Regulatory Squeeze

We don't blame heritage farmers for choosing the illicit market—overregulation and high costs have made compliance unsustainable for many mom-and-pop operations. Ideally, cannabis would be treated like any other commodity crop: grown freely without burdensome permits or taxes, respecting property rights and local traditions. But as long as big money dominates—whether corporate legal interests or underground cartels—that vision remains out of reach.

Opposing the Extremes

What we oppose are the abuses at the extremes: cartel-run mega illegal grows that poison our land with banned toxic chemicals, divert streams, and create environmental dump zones, as seen in repeated 2025-2026 raids eradicating tens of thousands of plants. We view oversized corporate "white market" mega-operations with the same distaste—industrial-scale setups that disrespect the plant, degrade the soil and water, and undercut the heritage farmer.

Unfulfilled Promises

Early on, some local politicians championed cannabis legalization with promises of booming tax revenues to fund roads, schools, and services. Yet questions persist about allocation priorities, with debates over tracking spending and revenues often flowing to general funds rather than directly addressing rural impacts.

A Path Forward

Positive steps, like the county's 40% cultivation tax cut (2025-2026) and ordinance expansions allowing up to 20,000 square feet on qualifying parcels, show progress. But true sovereignty requires more: greater county-level control to craft rules fitting our terrain and traditions, lower barriers for small growers, and protections against both cartel incursions and corporate consolidation.

Mendocino growers deserve a system that honors sustainable, family-scale farming—not one rigged for the big players. It's time to put rural Mendocino first.

Share your experiences in the comments.