After much back-and-forth on the language and background of a proposed ordinance to allow medical marijuana dispensaries in the county once again, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors “continued” the item until its August 18 meeting.

Fifth District Supervisor Ryan Sundberg was absent, which was but one of many reasons cited for postponing a decision on the ordinance, which would allow medical marijuana (or should we say “cannabis”?) dispensaries to be located in certain commercial and industrial zones, pending a conditional use permit.

First District Supervisor Rex Bohn expressed a desire to set a cap on the number of permits the county might issue, saying he worried about losing local control to a large corporation that might set up dispensaries “on every corner.”

“Then we lose our brand,” he said.

Third District Supervisor Mark Lovelace questioned the requirement for applicants to renew their conditional use permits every year, and he also brought up the debate over the term “marijuana” versus “cannabis,” suggesting they should be clarified as interchangeable in the ordinance.

Staff expressed concern about the time and work involved in potentially reworking the ordinance. County Administrative Officer Phillip Smith-Hanes, for example, urged the board to “be realistic about staff’s capability” to make changes and spend time researching related issues over the next few weeks. “There’s a whole laundry list of things I’ve heard from the board as desirable for further research,” Smith-Hanes said.

But Board Chair Estelle Fennell said “there weren’t that many suggestions” and noted most of the issues brought up were intended as topics of discussion.

Smith-Hanes said it would be helpful if the board declined to set a specific date for bringing the ordinance back to the table, but Fennell voiced concern about it looking like the board was postponing the issue indefinitely. 

“That sounds like something from the deep, dark past,” she quipped. “We don’t act like that these days.”

Ultimately the board voted unanimously (again, with Sundberg absent) to continue the item until its Aug. 18 meeting.