CDFA ANNOUNCES PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE DRAFT PROGRAM ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (PEIR) FOR CANNABIS CULTIVATION

SACRAMENTO, June 15, 2017 – The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has prepared a Draft Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) outlining potential environmental effects associated with the adoption and implementation of statewide cannabis cultivation regulations. CDFA is developing regulations for statewide medical and adult-use (non-medical) cannabis cultivation licensing, as well as a track-and-trace system. This system will record the movement of cannabis and cannabis products through the supply chain, from cultivation to sale.

The Draft PEIR, released in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), triggers a 45-day public review and comment period to allow agencies and interested parties the opportunity to provide input on the environmental analyses, mitigation measures, and alternatives associated with statewide cannabis cultivation. The Legal Notice for the Draft PEIR is available at calcannabis.cdfa.ca.gov

CDFA has scheduled four public workshops in July to provide the public and regulatory agencies an opportunity to ask questions and submit comments on the draft PEIR. CDFA will serve as the lead agency pursuant to CEQA and will consider public comments regarding the scope and content of the information included in the PEIR.

All of the following Draft PEIR workshops will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Tuesday, July 11 – Weaverville
Weaverville Veterans Memorial Hall
101 Memorial Lane
Weaverville, CA 96093

Thursday, July 13 – Quincy
Plumas County Fairgrounds
204 Fairground Road
Quincy, CA 95971

Tuesday, July 18 – Monterey
Monterey Marriott
350 Calle Principal
Monterey, CA 93940

Thursday, July 20 – San Diego
Hilton Mission Valley
901 Camino del Rio South
San Diego, CA 92108

The formal 45-day public comment period for the CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing Draft PEIR begins on June 15, 2017, and ends on July 31, 2017. Written comments may be sent to:

California Department of Food and Agriculture
Attn: Amber Morris
CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing
Program Environmental Impact Report
1220 N Street, Suite 400
Sacramento, CA 95814

Comments may also be emailed to: calcannabis.peir@cdfa.ca.gov

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