Mendocino County’s Economic Development Division will hold a meeting next week to discuss how small cannabis growers can compete in a market overwhelmed by large-scale growers and falling prices.
Thursday’s meeting at the Willits City Hall Community Center will invite growers, dispensary employees and other community members to identify the issues they face in the cannabis industry. Representatives from county departments, including economic development, planning and building services, and the cannabis department, will attend.
“We want to demonstrate that there is a partnership, that our local government is looking to be part of solutions and listen to people,” said Steve Amato, president of the Mendocino Cannabis Alliance, a nonprofit organization that supports and helps increase local cannabis businesses. “We want to determine what is obtainable and maybe work towards peeling back some of the red tape that other industries haven’t incurred.”
Amato said more community input is needed for elected officials to understand what the industry requires to continue operating.
“At this meeting, I am hoping we can start a better relationship to move forward,” he said. “Rather than the cannabis people feeling like the government is out to get them, we want to work more on a partnership. We want to build that bridge.”
The meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the community center, 111 E. Commercial St.
A virtual option is available for those who want to attend remotely. However, virtual attendance is for observation only, and questions will not be allowed.
This story originally appeared in The Mendocino Voice.