Pubdate: Sun, 23 May 2010
Source: Times-Standard (Eureka, CA)
Copyright: 2010 Times-Standard
Contact: http://www.times-standard.com/writeus
Website: http://www.times-standard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1051
Author: Dave Stancliff
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Humboldt+County
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)

WHY HUMBOLDT COUNTY WILL SURVIVE MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION

I doubt the first pot pioneers in Humboldt County, referred to as 
"back-to-the-landers" during the late 1960s, realized they might 
someday sow the seeds for an industry which could financially bail 
out the state of California.

In a delightful, ironic twist, those intrepid pioneers who fled the 
establishment to seek a simpler way of life must now re-establish 
contact with the "man" if they want to survive legalization and 
maintain their way of life.

Most fear legalization. They worry their profit margin will shrink so 
badly -- from taxes and competition -- they won't be able to make a 
living. Some ask if growing for medical marijuana dispensaries will 
be enough to keep them in business.

The good news is that growers, law enforcement officials, nonprofits 
and city governments are already holding public meetings to work out 
what happens here after legalization. One of the first meetings, held 
in Garberville (Southern Humboldt) in March, was covered nationwide.

What's After Pot (WAP) founder Anna Hamilton spoke during the 
Garberville meeting about the need to save the pot economy and 
prepare for legalization. She's attempting to bring local growers 
together so they can adapt to paying taxes and becoming part of the 
system they ran away from 40 years ago.

In preparation for legalization, a task force headed up by Humboldt 
County Supervisor Mark Lovelace was formed to define regulatory 
issues surrounding grows.

Medical Marijuana Advisory Panel (HuMMAP) works to organize growers, 
businesses and employees of the cannabis industry. They held their 
second meeting on May 18 at the Garberville Civic Club.

Humboldt County's famous "killer buds" are already a brand name that 
can be utilized to encourage tourism by creating businesses that 
appeal to pot smokers.

I suspect we've had tourists coming here for that covert reason ever 
since the word slipped out about strains like "Granddaddy Purple" and 
others that raised the bar in worldwide cannabis culture.

Some locals feel we could become the Napa Valley of the weed world, 
with our exotic strains and innovative growers. Our products would 
find their niche in the market because of the demand for quality 
among discriminating users.

Competition will come from Mendocino and Trinity counties, which have 
their own reputation for quality marijuana. The quality of indoor 
cannabis versus outdoor will continue to be a factor. In addition, 
there will be massive grows when big business digs into the fertile 
marijuana market.

Smart growers are already networking with each other, staying in 
contact with organizations like NORML, and preparing to adapt to the 
new business model.

I believe Humboldt County will adapt to legalization because its 
economy needs pot revenue, and has for decades. There has always been 
an unspoken alliance between growers and business owners. It's an 
economic factor in keeping the local economy afloat. Jobs have been 
scarce, and few pay better than trimmers, since the decline of the 
lumber mills and fishing.

We have unique Humboldt blogs that reflect our weed culture, such as 
High Like Me, Humboldtage, Humboldt Grow, Humboldt Living, Redheaded 
Blackbelt and Sohum Parlance II, that contain information on 
everything marijuana from cultivation to local prices.

The news they provide daily often makes it into the mainstream media, 
such as Southern Humboldt Kym Kemp's (Redheaded Blackbelt) unique 
stories about growers in her community. We already have a grassroots 
network of growers, bloggers, merchants, nonprofits and city 
officials to meet the challenge of legalization. That proactive 
attitude will make the difference between success and failure.

Everyone has to wait until the new rules are laid out. I don't see 
that as a roadblock, just the settling in of a new reality. Keep in 
mind, marijuana has thrived in Humboldt County for decades. The 
culture it's created is woven into the very fabric of our communities.

There's no place in the United States with a longer, more complex 
relationship between the public, marijuana growers, law enforcement 
and merchants. Legalizing pot is the final destination on a road that 
has had many detours since those first "back-to-the-landers" planted 
seeds in our fertile soil.

As it stands, independent spirits are common behind the Redwood 
Curtain, and their marketing ability will come through when 
Californians are legally allowed to partake of pot.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake