SONOMA COUNTY POLICY

On October 16, 2018, the County updated the Cannabis Ordinance which went into effect on November 15, 2018.

• Part 1 had a limited scope focused on neighborhood compatibility issues and aligning the Ordinance with state law where appropriate.
• Part 2 will include a more thorough review of neighborhood compatibility and other implementation efforts that require robust outreach and staff analysis.
• UPDATE: The County has decided to move forward with an EIR for a new ordinance, which is expected to be finished in 2024. Learn more about that process here.

Adopted Ordinances and Other Important Links

• Sonoma County Cannabis Program (Main Page)
• Sonoma County Cannabis Tax Rates
• Sonoma County Cannabis EIR Information
• Sonoma County Cannabis Ordinances
• Final Cannabis Ordinance with Attachments (Ord 6245) (PDF: 3.0 MB)
• Final Cannabis Land Use Table (PDF: 71 kB)
• Resolution of the Board of Supervisors 18-0442 (PDF: 2.2 MB)
• Cannabis Health Ordinance (Ord 6240) (PDF: 1.8 MB)
• Cannabis Tax Ordinance
• Sonoma County Penalty Calculation Sheet

EIR Process

Sonoma County is currently in the middle of a multi-year EIR process that will ultimately result in a new comprehensive cannabis ordinance. We are engaging with the County and the planning consulting firm preparing the EIR to ensure that voices of local operators are listened to, and to prevent the new ordinance from being more restrictive than the current one.  

Learn more about the EIR process here.

CALIFORNIA STATE POLICY

• October 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 37.  In 2020, CA will permit state deductions for cannabis companies that file their taxes as sole proprietors or partnerships.
• January 2019 –The final cannabis regulations that were published by California’s three cannabis licensing agencies (the Bureau of Cannabis Control, the Department of Food & Agriculture, and the Department of Public Health)  in December 2018.
• January 2019-Senator McGuire and Assembly member Wood introduced: SB-67 Cannabis: marketing, appellations of origin: county, city, or city and county of origin.
• The 2018 Farm Bill allows broad hemp cultivation; allows the transfer of hemp-derived products across state lines for commercial or other purposes, and no restrictions on the sale, transport, or possession of hemp-derived products, so long as those items are produced in a manner consistent with the law.
• California joined the programs and on November 16, 2017 released emergency regulations, the Medical and Adult Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA).
• The California  passed a bill in June 2017 that integrated MCRSA with AUMA to create the Medicinal and Adult‐Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA). Under MAUCRSA, a single regulatory system governs the medical and adult use cannabis industry in California.
• Citizens of California passed Prop 64 to include Adult Use cannabis marketplace, of which Sonoma County voted 59% in favor.
• California passed legislation in 2016 to establish Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MCRSA).

State Links:

• Department of Cannabis Control
• California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA)
• MAUCRSA
• Additional Links