LAKE COUNTY >> With the election just a month away, local medical marijuana growers and advocates are making a push to advertise the merits of Measure C, the county’s tax initiative to supplement the revisions to its commercial cultivation laws.
Spearheaded by medical cannabis consultant Michael Green, the Yes on Measure C Campaign has begun to raise funds and collect endorsements. Its goal is to raise $6,000 for advertisements and events. However they only have a little more than a week to do so. Otherwise, they will have to scrap the plan.
“Honestly, time is very short,” Green said. “If we’re going to have any type of advertising we need to get some money next week.”
So far, he’s created a website, LakeMeasureC.org, where supporters can contribute money and sign up to be an endorser. Two businesses — Konocti Farms and Rancho De La Fuente — and eight people have attributed their names, according to the site. Some of the residents are members of the Lake County Growers Association, which is also endorsing the measure.
The measure would charge between $1 and $3 per square foot of grow area. Green presented several reasons why growers should support the proposed tax. The primary reason is the tax would legitimize the local medical marijuana industry.
“I think growers are interested in contributing to their community,” he said. “Measure C will place a reasonable local tax in place, incentivizing the growth of the cannabis industry.”
He even encourages anti-marijuana advocates to support the measure since the revenues are planned to help the Lake County Sheriff’s Office crackdown on illegal growing.
“Everybody should be pro-regulation now,” the Lakeport resident added. “The county already incurs a great cost in regulating illegal cultivation.”
There is no real polling data to predict whether or not the measure will pass on the Nov. 8 Election Day. But considering the productive dialogue the county government and its residents have had in the last few months, Green remains optimistic.
“There have been a lot of battles in years past. I believe people are getting over the hump …” he said. “The county has done its homework … I think there’s a winning formula for both.”
