Contra Costa imposes moratorium on industrial hemp farming operations

Following some complaints from people who live near eastern Contra Costa County industrial hemp grow sites about odor, lights and other factors, the county Board of Supervisors has approved a 45-day moratorium on new hemp planting as regulations governing location and cultivation of industrial hemp are considered.

That moratorium could be extended for as long as another year, but Matt Slattengren, the county’s agriculture commissioner and Weights and Measures director, told the supervisors on Nov. 17 that he hopes the new regulations are in place long before that.