Santa Cruz medical marijuana measures call for industry regulation

Medical marijuana is growing all over Santa Cruz County and now voters will have a chance to pass regulations to keep cultivation under control.

Measures in both unincorporated areas of the county and in the city of Santa Cruz are on the Nov. 4 ballot. On Monday, NewsChannel 5 found out why they’re both targeted at managing the pot industry that’s booming with some negative side affects.

Medical marijuana collectives said these plants bring in a lot of money and now they’re baking the county and city’s efforts to create some boundaries for those who grow.

“Unfortunately it’s reached the point where the demand is such that the cultivation has gotten out of control and not in alignment with the citizens of Santa Cruz County and our environment,” said Khalil Moutawakkil with the Association of Standardized Cannabis.

Khalil Moutawakkil said medical marijuana is in such high demand, he makes it sound almost like a Gold Rush at any cost.

“Erosion of the hillsides, water being pulled from rivers and streams affecting steelhead runs, diesel generators running all night, we had a number of fires this summer as well. And it’s time that we stand up for the community and make sure that this type of environmental degradation doesn’t happen,” Moutawakkil said.

The county said both measures would tax medical marijuana sales, creating a revenue source to enforce land use regulations on those who choose not to follow the law. Locally made products just like caramel popcorn, cookies and chocolate would all be taxed at 7 percent to help regulate the medicinal marijuana industry.

Supervisor John Leopold said the county is currently dealing with 80 complaints of illegal grows. If medical marijuana is taxed, Leopold said it could bring in almost a million dollars a year to potentially shut them down until they comply.

“What we’ve seen in the rural areas in the San Lorenzo Valley and the Aptos Hills is there’s a lot of illegal grows going on and they’re in remote places, where it takes a lot of work to shut down the operations and they have harmed the environment,” Leopold said.

Leopold said law enforcement will only be called out, if there’s a need for criminal activity.

Both Santa Cruz county’s Measure K and the city of Santa Cruz’ Measure L, call for a maximum tax rate of 10 percent and would become effective Jan. 1.