Cannabis Industry Rallies to Overcome Unique Legal Barriers to Recovery From Northern California Fires

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Andre Bourque• Contributor

The cannabis industry has an unusual conundrum--its collective empathy and generosity extends beyond its ability to provide it.

Take the recent, catastrophic fires in Northern California as an example. Industry losses are mounting and the ability for the cannabis community to rally together is strong but has limitations.

The fires"These wildfires, especially in Northern California, are particularly devastating,” said Dr. Joel N. Myers, founder, president and chairman of AccuWeather. “At this time, we estimate the economic impact of the fires is already approaching $70 billion. Based on our forecast the total costs from this disaster on the economy would exceed $85 billion and, if the fires are not contained in the next couple of weeks, the total economic impact could even reach $100 billion.”

Those numbers, however, do not take into account cannabis losses. Just as Sonoma and Napa Counties have a global footprint in wine agriculture, they have a lesser-known, yet high density of cannabis farms in areas as well. These fires have created a ripple effect across the entire local and regional economies, directly impacting at least 2,000 jobs. "We estimate cannabis farmers across the affected area have lost over $40 million in product at farm prices (over $150 million in retail value),” said Daniel D'Ancona, president of California Grow Services, in a written interview.

This had already been an extremely financially burdensome year for California cultivators even before the fires; efforts to move their businesses into the new compliant world claimed most of their cash-flow. California compliance costs are predicted to increase by $125,000 a year for small operations and by $310,000 a year for an average pot business. Chiah Rodriques, the CEO of Mendocino Generations, a collective of organic cannabis farmers in the county remarked, "So many of these people have literally spent their last dollar trying to get permitted."

Now facing an even greater financial hurdle with loss of crops (cannabis businesses don't qualify for crop insurance or federal emergency relief), they need help to make sure their businesses will survive. Farmers moved quickly to save their cannabis crop that didn't burn. Since many of the cultivating structures were burned, several companies and organizations rallied around the community offering support.

• California Grow Services (CGS), for example, offered storage space at their processing center in Ukiah to keep salvaged product out of the smoke for local, compliant farmers. The company is also offering complimentary business consulting, financial consulting and assistance in rebuilding plans, as well as creating a private/public plan to catalyze economic recovery, in part, through contributions from the Community Foundation of Mendocino County (CFMC).
• CannaCraft, Inc., a leading medical cannabis manufacturer, has donated 12,000 square feet of its office space in Santa Rosa to the American Red Cross to use as its Regional Headquarters for Northern California fire relief.  Roughly 200 volunteers from all over the country are expected to occupy the space for a minimum of five weeks.
• Product testing company CW Analytical Laboratories and other labs are working together to establish proper experimentation and testing for contaminated plants.
• Hemp construction provider Hemp Technologies Collective is working with Sonoma County to certify and provide hempcrete to help buildout replacement construction. This move will help protect farmers from a similar fate in the future. On top of hempcrete being fire resistant, it is environmentally friendly and carbon negative. 
• The Singleton Law Firm and the Law Offices of Omar Figueroa offered free assistance with FEMA claims and insurance claims.
• Green Rush Consulting, is providing low cost permitting and licensing application services to farmers who have, for decades, been the backbone of the cannabis industry. The organization has been meeting with state Senator Mike McGuire and other key industry organizations to reach their constituents and drive outreach. 
• Chris Sayegh, owner and head chef of The Herbal Chef,  and Susan Soares, executive director of C.A.R.E., a non-profit organization dedicated to cannabis advocacy, rallies and events, are hosting an “End of Prohibition” New Year’s cannabis pairing dinner and party in Long Beach supporting the Northern California cannabis fire victims (for details and information contact Susan@JustSayCARE.org.
  
  
  

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