Cannabis & Hemp

Ranking fifth among all California counties for legal cannabis growing operations, the county holds a genuine competitive position in an industry that generated over $108 million in combined state excise and cultivation tax revenue by Q4 2019. The recent decision to begin accepting licensing applications from growers and retail outlets is a critical step toward capturing local tax revenue and bringing underground operations into a regulated framework.

The challenge is real and specific: remote forested areas continue to harbor illegal grows that use harsh chemicals, damage wildlife habitat, and create safety risks for residents and visitors. Meanwhile, neighboring counties like Modoc and Siskiyou maintain moratoriums, which isolates the county from potential regional industry partnerships but also positions it as a destination for operators seeking legal pathways in the North State.

For board members, the priority is clear — move fast on licensing infrastructure and enforcement simultaneously. A permissive licensing environment without enforcement capacity simply legitimizes the status quo. The county's small population means even modest cannabis tax revenue can be meaningful for local services, but only if municipal leaders define clear, consistent local policies that attract compliant operators while giving law enforcement the tools to shut down illegal sites.