County marijuana committee opposes outdoor commercial cultivation.

UPDATE: On Sept. 13, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors voted to delay action and revisit commercial outdoor cultivation ordinance after Nov. 8—when voters decide on the county's cannabis tax. 

Monterey County has been up in smoke about placing limitations and regulations on outdoor cultivation of medical marijuana. Currently, licensed growers can cultivate outside for personal use while commercial growers are limited to indoor operations.

The Monterey County Board of Supervisors established an ad hoc committee to address medical marijuana policy, and the committee released recommendations to the board on Sept. 8, recommending the Board of Supervisors prohibit commercial outdoor cultivation. That would mean keeping existing regulations in place.

The issue has been lingering since July 12, when the Monterey County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to approve an ordinance allowing the cultivation of and sale of medical marijuana, in indoor greenhouse environments only. They agreed at that time to revisit outdoor cultivation in the fall.

At the July 12 meeting, members of the public voiced their concern about outdoor commercial grows, citing reasons such as cannabis crops replacing food production, pose security threats and negative impacts to water and natural landscapes.

Options include: allowing cultivation in specific county areas, issuing permits on a case-by-case basis and grandfathering in existing operations.

While current regulations will stay in place for now, the ad hoc committee's report does acknowledge Measure Y, the county's cannabis tax on November’s ballot, could change the outdoor cultivation issue.

The Board of Supervisors will vote on Sept. 13 on whether to uphold its current commercial medical marijuana policies regarding outdoor growing.