BACKGROUND
On April 18, 2023, staff provided a cannabis program update. Staff was asked to return to the Board annually and provide an update on the illegal cannabis enforcement program.

In March 2016, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors adopted the Marijuana Cultivation Ordinance, which allowed cannabis cultivation in Yolo County, with an approved license.
Later, in September 2021, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors adopted the Cannabis Land Use Ordinance (CLUO), which required stricter compliance requirements as well as a Conditional Use Permit.

While the initial cannabis program was quite robust, it has more recently been trending downward due to many industry challenges. One significant challenge is competition with the illegal cannabis market. The illegal market poses a significant challenge to legal businesses, as it can offer lower prices and avoid the taxes and regulations that legal businesses must comply with. It also causes an over-supply of cannabis product, driving prices down, which causes further challenges to the legal market. Illegal cannabis is being imported into California from other states and countries. It is also grown illegally throughout California, including Yolo County.

ILLEGAL ABATEMENT ADMINISTRATIVE CIVIL PENALTY PROGRAM

In early 2023, the Yolo County Cannabis Unit completed development of its illegal abatement administrative civil penalty program. The program focuses on identifying locations of an illegal cannabis cultivation site, issuing a civil inspection warrant to the property owner and imposing hefty daily fines for allowing an illegal cannabis operation on their property. Fines include $10,000/day for the presence of illegal cannabis and $1,000/day/violation for any violation of the Yolo County Code.

Cannabis Unit staff are relying on anonymous tips, aerial satellite imagery and help from Yolo County's Building Division to locate illegal cannabis grows. Once a site has been identified, Cannabis Unit staff obtain an inspection warrant signed by a Yolo County Judge authorizing access to the property. When serving the inspection warrant Cannabis Unit staff lead a Task Force consisting of Cannabis Unit staff, Yolo County Sheriff’s Deputies, Yolo County Building Inspectors and Yolo County Code Enforcement Officers. County Counsel is also a key partner in the program and is instrumental in reviewing legal documents and providing guidance throughout the process.

Staff have been successful in abating three illegal cannabis sites since the program began earlier this year (one in Guinda, one in Winters, and one in the unincorporated Northwest corner of Yolo County).