After hearing that San Luis Obispo County was enacting new laws that restricted where hemp could be planted, local farmers banded together to fight. While they had their day in court, officials decided to rule against the group of farmers, enforcing the new local ordinance.
The Coalition for Agricultural Rights was trying to appeal the new rule that requires a 2,000-foot setback for 400-acre hemp farms. The county court went against the appeal to not enforce the new law while their lawsuit makes its way through the legal system. The coalition also failed to have the ordinance invalidated. They have not made it clear whether they plan to appeal the decision.
“The Hemp Prohibition imposes undue and unnecessary restrictions on an already severely constrained agriculture industry in the County and sets a disturbing precedent for regulatory oversight of farmers’ crop choice and business decisions,” Cal Coast News reported. “These actions threaten the ongoing viability of the agriculture industry within the County, which has served as a cornerstone of the County’s economy and community for decades.”
The ordinance was passed in the county due to concern from citizens about the smell, water usage, and lack of oversight by local officials.
