Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
SACRAMENTO – On Tuesday, Oct. 17, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted a new statewide policy establishing strict environmental standards for cannabis cultivation in order to protect water flows and water quality in California’s rivers and streams.
Commercial cannabis cultivation is expected to grow significantly and spread to new areas of the state following adult use legalization. If left unregulated, cannabis cultivation could pose serious threats to water quality and fish and wildlife by diverting water or releasing fertilizers, pesticides, and sediments into waterways.
“We are establishing the environmental protection rules of the road needed to deal with the expected expansion of cannabis cultivation statewide,” said State Water Board Chair Felicia Marcus. “Today’s action creates a strict set of rules cannabis cultivators will need to follow in order to protect water quality and quantity. We will work closely with other state agencies to make sure cultivators are aware of these rules and are following them.”
The new Cannabis Cultivation Policy establishes statewide requirements that will be implemented through a water quality permit known as the Cannabis General Order and as conditions for cannabis-related water rights referred to as Cannabis Small Irrigation Use Registrations. The policy protects California’s waters from cannabis-related waste discharges, establishes protections for riparian areas and wetlands, and protects stream flows.
The policy was adopted following a public review process that included three workshops earlier this year to solicit comments and feedback. The draft policy was released in early July, building on existing regulations developed by the North Coast and Central Valley regional water quality control boards. The new statewide policy replaces those regional regulations.
The policy was also developed in consultation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and will be incorporated into all commercial cannabis licenses issued by CDFA under its CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing Program. The policy takes effect upon approval by the Office of Administrative Law, expected sometime late in 2017.
Since 2013, the State Water Board's Office of Enforcement has worked with the North Coast and Central Valley regional water boards and with CDFW to address environmental impacts from cannabis cultivation. The State Water Board will continue its enforcement efforts, closely monitoring compliance with the new statewide policy and taking appropriate enforcement action when needed.
The policy applies to cannabis cultivation and is specifically designed to address Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act, which established the medical cannabis industry, and Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, which legalized recreational cannabis cultivation, and possession and use of limited amounts of cannabis by adults over 21 years of age. The policy does not apply to personal cultivation for recreational use.
For more information, please visit:
State Water Board Cannabis Cultivation Programs
Board Cannabis Cultivation Programs | California State Water Resources Control Board
Subscribe to the Cannabis Cultivators Email List (Under Water Quality)
Email List Subscription Form | California State Water Resources Control Board
Coordinating Agencies:
California Department of Food and Agriculture, CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing
CDFA - CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing
Bureau of Cannabis Control
Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC)
California Department of Public Health, Manufactured Cannabis Safety Branch
Manufactured Cannabis Safety Branch
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Cannabis Program
California Department of Pesticide Regulation
California Department of Pesticide Regulation Home Page
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Author: George Kostyrko
Contact: Contact Us | California State Water Resources Control Board
Website: Welcome to the California State Web Portal
Welcome to the 420 Press Release Forum, created as a service to our readers solely for the dissemination of cannabis and hemp industry related press releases.
It is important for us to state that all press release information published on 420Magazine.com is ONLY based on what companies and individuals (i.e. third parties not associated with 420 Magazine) publish themselves and doesn’t involve any 420 Magazine’s editorial opinion or review. 420 Magazine takes no responsibility for and disclaims the information available in form of press releases across our website.
Some press releases may be confusing at first reading without additional explanation. In such case you should contact the press release author, either the company or the individual listed as the contact on the press release itself, with any additional questions regarding the information presented on their press release.
420 Magazine has zero tolerance towards objectionable and controversial PR materials published on its website. Any PR material found to be involved into a dispute, in one way or another, and is having one or more complaints received at 420 Magazine, against it supported with enough evidences that clearly indicate, in one way or another, it is harmful, even in a remote way, to the interest of 3rd parties is ground for taking the respective press release permanently down, without prior notice.
Commercial cannabis cultivation is expected to grow significantly and spread to new areas of the state following adult use legalization. If left unregulated, cannabis cultivation could pose serious threats to water quality and fish and wildlife by diverting water or releasing fertilizers, pesticides, and sediments into waterways.
“We are establishing the environmental protection rules of the road needed to deal with the expected expansion of cannabis cultivation statewide,” said State Water Board Chair Felicia Marcus. “Today’s action creates a strict set of rules cannabis cultivators will need to follow in order to protect water quality and quantity. We will work closely with other state agencies to make sure cultivators are aware of these rules and are following them.”
The new Cannabis Cultivation Policy establishes statewide requirements that will be implemented through a water quality permit known as the Cannabis General Order and as conditions for cannabis-related water rights referred to as Cannabis Small Irrigation Use Registrations. The policy protects California’s waters from cannabis-related waste discharges, establishes protections for riparian areas and wetlands, and protects stream flows.
The policy was adopted following a public review process that included three workshops earlier this year to solicit comments and feedback. The draft policy was released in early July, building on existing regulations developed by the North Coast and Central Valley regional water quality control boards. The new statewide policy replaces those regional regulations.
The policy was also developed in consultation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and will be incorporated into all commercial cannabis licenses issued by CDFA under its CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing Program. The policy takes effect upon approval by the Office of Administrative Law, expected sometime late in 2017.
Since 2013, the State Water Board's Office of Enforcement has worked with the North Coast and Central Valley regional water boards and with CDFW to address environmental impacts from cannabis cultivation. The State Water Board will continue its enforcement efforts, closely monitoring compliance with the new statewide policy and taking appropriate enforcement action when needed.
The policy applies to cannabis cultivation and is specifically designed to address Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act, which established the medical cannabis industry, and Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, which legalized recreational cannabis cultivation, and possession and use of limited amounts of cannabis by adults over 21 years of age. The policy does not apply to personal cultivation for recreational use.
For more information, please visit:
State Water Board Cannabis Cultivation Programs
Board Cannabis Cultivation Programs | California State Water Resources Control Board
Subscribe to the Cannabis Cultivators Email List (Under Water Quality)
Email List Subscription Form | California State Water Resources Control Board
Coordinating Agencies:
California Department of Food and Agriculture, CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing
CDFA - CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing
Bureau of Cannabis Control
Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC)
California Department of Public Health, Manufactured Cannabis Safety Branch
Manufactured Cannabis Safety Branch
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Cannabis Program
California Department of Pesticide Regulation
California Department of Pesticide Regulation Home Page
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Author: George Kostyrko
Contact: Contact Us | California State Water Resources Control Board
Website: Welcome to the California State Web Portal
Welcome to the 420 Press Release Forum, created as a service to our readers solely for the dissemination of cannabis and hemp industry related press releases.
It is important for us to state that all press release information published on 420Magazine.com is ONLY based on what companies and individuals (i.e. third parties not associated with 420 Magazine) publish themselves and doesn’t involve any 420 Magazine’s editorial opinion or review. 420 Magazine takes no responsibility for and disclaims the information available in form of press releases across our website.
Some press releases may be confusing at first reading without additional explanation. In such case you should contact the press release author, either the company or the individual listed as the contact on the press release itself, with any additional questions regarding the information presented on their press release.
420 Magazine has zero tolerance towards objectionable and controversial PR materials published on its website. Any PR material found to be involved into a dispute, in one way or another, and is having one or more complaints received at 420 Magazine, against it supported with enough evidences that clearly indicate, in one way or another, it is harmful, even in a remote way, to the interest of 3rd parties is ground for taking the respective press release permanently down, without prior notice.
