Officials in a California county voted to extend a temporary ban on industrial hemp farming through the end of the year. Sutter County supervisors said the decision was fueled by public complaints about odor, financial losses, and a death threat made against the county’s agricultural commissioner.
The ban was upheld on a 4-1 vote on Tuesday, with Board of Supervisors Chairman Dan Flores casting the lone vote against the ban.
“A death threat to our ag commissioner? We had to have security for our ag commissioner when she received a death threat,” said Supervisor Mike Ziegenmeyer, who voted to keep the ban. “To me, this crop scares the hell out of me.”
Supervisor Karm Bains, who initially opposed extending the moratorium, reversed his stance after learning about the threat against Agricultural Commissioner Lisa Herbert, allegedly by a person in the hemp business. In a letter to the supervisors in which she recommended continuance of the moratorium, Herbert said the death threat against her “highlights the critical nature of this issue.”
Despite the ban extension, the decision stops short of a permanent prohibition on hemp farming in Sutter County, located in the north-central part of the state. County Administrator Steve Smith confirmed that supervisors might revisit the issue later this year.
Smelly stuff
The county’s struggle with industrial hemp began in 2019, but persistent complaints about strong odors, which resemble marijuana, from residents and schools prompted officials to revisit the crop’s regulatory status.
Most hemp grown in Sutter County is cultivated for CBD, whose flowering plants produce a more pungent smell than hemp grown for fiber or food due to the plant’s production of terpenes — aromatic compounds that give marijuana and hemp plants their distinctive smells.
Four county school superintendents submitted letters to the commission supporting the ban, citing odor issues and the “negative impact on the community.”
“We do not want hemp near our school, in our community, or our county,” wrote Sutter-Union High School District Superintendent Jedsen Nunes.
Financially, the county’s hemp program has been a burden, with losses exceeding $415,000 since its inception, the commissioners were told. The bulk of the losses occurred in the fiscal years ending in 2020 and 2021, with ongoing deficits through last year. The county’s taxpayers absorbed the cost, according to former County Supervisor Mat Conant, who supported the extension of the ban.
Grower pushback
Local hemp growers expressed frustration with the decision, emphasizing the industry’s potential for economic growth and job creation. They highlighted concerns about losing substantial contracts and the livelihoods of dozens of employees tied to hemp cultivation. Some growers defended their compliance with legal requirements and pointed to the industry’s development as an opportunity for the county’s economic advancement.
Sutter County District Attorney Jennifer Dupré highlighted additional concerns about public safety, noting that hemp, easily mistaken for marijuana, often leads to thefts that can result in violence or even death.
Supervisor Jeff Stephens said, “It’s a very small industry, and with the problems associated with it, I just don’t see how it could be worth it. I would like to just see the whole problem go away.”
Despite the ban extension, the decision stops short of a permanent prohibition on hemp farming. Read More
