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Senator McGuire and Assemblymember Wood host Southern Humboldt County Community Forum on Medical Marijuana

For immediate release:

Sacramento, CA – Assemblymember Jim Wood and Senator Mike McGuire, authors of the recently signed Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act, will host a Forum to provide residents with an opportunity to hear how the new statewide regulations and license program will roll out over the next two years and how those new statewide rules will  interact with the proposed Medical Marijuana ordinance being discussed in Humboldt County.

Representatives from state agencies tasked with writing and carrying out the rules and regulations will be on hand at the Forum along with County of Humboldt department heads who are point on the proposed local ordinance.

“This interactive forum will give residents a chance to hear directly from the state agencies, county officials and members of the medical marijuana industry how these new statewide rules and regulations will work for the North Coast,” Senator Mike McGuire said. “Voters passed Proposition 215 nearly twenty years ago and the promised regulations from the legislature weren’t advanced until last year.  There are many changes in the works and we want to be sure the State is working proactively with residents over the next several months to ensure all are prepared and in the loop.”

Senator McGuire and Assemblymember Wood worked together to pass the strongest medical marijuana legislation package in the nation in 2015. The new laws cover every aspect of the commercial medical marijuana industry including: environmental protection and water regulations, law enforcement, licensing, public health related to edibles and product testing, marketing, labeling, taxing, transporting, zoning, local control and re-sale (and more). The bills also created the Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation under the Department of Consumer Affairs.

“The medical cannabis industry is a big part of the economy, history, and culture of Humboldt County,” Assemblymember Jim Wood said. “Getting laws on the books that allow the industry to be a part of the larger business community was just the first step, making sure they are implemented fairly and in a way that is understood by business owners will be crucial. There were a lot of changes made last year and Senator McGuire and I want to make sure everyone has a chance to have their questions answered.”

The forum will be co-hosted by Humboldt County Supervisor Estelle Fennel and an impressive list of panelists from state agencies, the County of Humboldt and industry experts who will be on hand to discuss the implementation of medical marijuana regulations. Panelists include state representatives from the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Department of Food & Agriculture, the Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board. From Humboldt County, panelists will represent the Planning Department, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Agriculture Commissioner’s office.

Here are the forum details:

What: Southern Humboldt County Community Forum on Medical Marijuana
When: Friday, January 29, 2016
Time: 4 to 7 p.m.
Location: Mateel Community Center, 59 Rusk Lane, Redway

SAVE ROOM: Treats and refreshments will be available for all attendees.

More information, including the list of panelists, will be distributed next week.