Plumas County Cannabis – Is It Legal & Where To Buy 2024

Is Cannabis Cultivation Legal in Plumas County?

Cannabis is legal in California. It has been legal in the state for adults aged 21 years and above to grow, process, possess and consume since 2016. This was when the Control, Regulate, and Tax Adult Use of Cannabis Act was enacted after it passed a ballot initiative. In 2018, to establish a framework to regulate commercial cannabis activities in the state, the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA) was passed. Despite cannabis commerce being legalized at the state level, cannabis legislation also enabled local authorities to regulate cannabis commerce in their jurisdictions. This empowered local authorities to decide whether to allow or prohibit commercial cannabis activities in their jurisdictions and even to apply additional taxes. As such, individuals and entities that wish to cultivate cannabis for commercial purposes in a location must be permitted by the local authorities, as well as state authorities, to do so. All commercial cannabis activities in California were consolidated under the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) in 2021. Previously, the California Department of Food And Agriculture (CDFA) was authorized to regulate all commercial cannabis cultivation operations in the state. Almost half of all the counties in California prohibit cannabis commerce in some shape or form and several County Boards ban commercial cannabis cultivation outright.

The Plumas County Board of Supervisors does not permit the cultivation of cannabis for commercial purposes in locations under its jurisdiction. Following the legalization of recreational cannabis in the state, the County Board issued ordinance no. 17-1108 in 2017, which imposed a temporary moratorium on cannabis cultivation. Consequently, residents of the county were prohibited from cultivating cannabis commercially in the unincorporated areas of Plumas County. The moratorium was to last 22 months and 15 days, after which it was to be of no further force. The County Board issued ordinance no. 19-1119 in 2019, following the expiration of the previous cannabis cultivation ordinance. This ordinance established a permanent ban on the commercial cultivation of cannabis in unincorporated areas of Plumas County.

Despite over 52% of the residents of Plumas County supporting recreational cannabis legalization, commercial cultivation of cannabis is banned in unincorporated areas of the county. However, residents of the County can cultivate cannabis in unincorporated areas in the county for personal use in accordance with the provisions of the Adult-Use Cannabis law. Cannabis plants must be grown indoors or within an enclosed and secured accessory structure. Cannabis plants must not be visible from any public right-of-way or in the front of the parcel where the plants are being cultivated. All state and local health and safety codes must be strictly adhered to by the person cultivating the cannabis plants.

Is Cannabis Manufacturing Legal in Plumas County?

The Control, Regulate, and Tax Adult Use of Cannabis Act made it legal for licensed entities to manufacture cannabis-infused products in California. It also enabled eligible adults to purchase and possess cannabis-infused products for personal consumption. The Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act established the framework for commercial cannabis activities in the state, including the manufacture of cannabis-infused products. Local authorities in California are empowered, by cannabis legislation in the state, to define cannabis policy in their jurisdictions. This puts the decision on whether to enable or prohibit the commercial manufacture of cannabis products in the hands of the County Board of Supervisors.

The manufacture of cannabis-infused products for commercial uses is prohibited in the unincorporated areas of Pluma County. The County Board of Supervisors issued a final ordinance in 2019 that permanently banned commercial cannabis activities in the unincorporated areas of the county. Cannabis commerce is illegal in Pluma County, despite a majority of county residents (52.2%) supporting the legalization of recreational cannabis. Incorporated cities and towns in California are also able to dictate cannabis policy on commercial activities in their jurisdictions.

Is Cannabis Retail Legal in Plumas County?

The Control, Regulate, and Tax Adult Use of Cannabis Act legalized the retail of cannabis and cannabis-infused products in California. Eligible adults are able to purchase cannabis products from storefront shops and delivery services duly licensed by state and local authorities. The protocols for the licensing and regulation of cannabis retail stores were established by the Medicinal And Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act. The control for approving cannabis retail shops in a jurisdiction was afforded to the local authorities in that jurisdiction.

The Pluma County Board of Supervisors issued ordinance no. 19-1119 to effectively prohibit all commercial cannabis activities, including the retail of cannabis and cannabis products. As such, it is illegal to engage in the retail of cannabis or cannabis products in the unincorporated areas of Pluma County. This is in spite of the fact that over 52% of Pluma County residents voted to legalize recreational cannabis with Proposition 64. Incorporated cities and towns in Pluma County may determine their own commercial cannabis policies, as afforded by California cannabis laws.

Is Cannabis Delivery Legal in Plumas County?

California cannabis legislation makes it legal to deliver cannabis to "any jurisdiction" in the state. The Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation Act (MAUCRSA) allows persons residing in communities that prohibit commercial cannabis activities to receive cannabis deliveries from licensed delivery services. The Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) has promulgated regulations permitting the delivery of cannabis products statewide by licensed delivery services. Consequently, any licensed delivery service in California can legally deliver cannabis and cannabis products to locations in Pluma County. As a direct consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the cannabis industry in California was categorized as essential by Governor Newsom in March 2020. This afforded the cannabis sector with special workforce dispensations that enable cannabis deliveries statewide.

How to Get Medical Marijuana Card in Plumas County

Californians voted to legalize marijuana for medical use in 1996 when voters approved the Compassionate Use Act (CUA). With this, qualified patients were able to legally use marijuana as a treatment for debilitating medical conditions. The Identification Card program was established by Senate Bill 420 in 2003, which amended some of the provisions in the CUA to create a patient registry. This enabled law enforcement agents to easily identify patients ad caregivers that were eligible to possess legal quantities of marijuana. The Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act repealed and replaced existing medical cannabis laws in the state and established the framework for commercial cannabis activities. Qualified patients in Pluma County can apply for medical marijuana identification cards to enable them to be recognized as participants in the state medical marijuana program.

To qualify to receive a medical marijuana identification card (MMIC) in Pluma County, the patient must be diagnosed with any of the following medical conditions;

• HIV/AIDS
• Anorexia
• Arthritis
• Chronic pain
• Glaucoma
• Cancer
• Cachexia, or wasting syndrome
• Migraine
• Seizures
• Severe nausea
• Persistent muscle spasms, like those caused by Multiple Sclerosis
• Any chronic or persistent medical condition that causes limitations to the patient's ability to perform any major life activity

Patients must obtain written certifications verifying their medical conditions and recommending medicinal cannabis as an alternative treatment from their physicians. Eligible physicians may either be Medical Doctors(M.D.) or Doctors of Osteopathy (D.O) duly licensed in California.

To register as a participant in the medical marijuana program in Pluma County, the patient or caregiver must submit the following documents;

• A completed medical marijuana identification card application form (english|spanish)
• A written recommendation (english|spanish) from a licensed physician
• A copy of a government-issued photo ID
• Evidence of the patient's residency in Pluma County
• A valid Medi-Cal or County Medical Services Program (CMSP) card, if the patient is a current beneficiary of either program.
• Applicable registration fees

Medical marijuana identification cards cost $50 in Sierra County and Medi-Cal recipients receive a 50% discount, while CMSP recipients receive fee waivers.

Applications for medical marijuana identification cards in Pluma County can only be submitted on appointment. Patients should call the Pluma County Public Health Agency on (530) 283-6330 to book their appointments to submit their applications. Medical cannabis cards in Pluma County cost $50; beneficiaries of Medi-Cal get a 50% discount and the beneficiaries of CMSP have their fees waived. After booking their appointments, patients should submit their applications at:

Public Health Agency,

270 County Hospital Road,

Suite 111

Quincy, CA 95971

If a primary caregiver is required by the patient, the designated caregiver should complete the appropriate section of the application form. The caregiver will also be required to provide a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID and proof of California residency. Primary caregivers for medical cannabis patients in Pluma County must be at least 18 years old. MMICs are valid for one year and must be renewed annually for patients to retain their statutory rights.

Applications for medical marijuana identification cards must be processed by the Agency within 30 days of receipt. Processing of applications will involve the verification of the patients' documentation including the physician's recommendations. The Agency will also contact the recommending physicians' professional boards to verify their statuses. Applications that are approved by the Agency are forwarded to the State Medicinal Cannabis Program for the ID cards to be processed. Approved patients can pick up their MMICs at the Public Health Agency office or arrange to have the ID cards sent to them by mail. Applications for medical marijuana identification cards in Pluma County that are denied by the Public Health Agency can be appealed. To appeal a decision to the State Medicinal Cannabis Program, complete and submit a denial appeal form (english|spanish) within 30 days of receiving the denial notification.

How Has Cannabis Legalization Impacted the Economy of Plumas County?

The California Department of Tax and Fees Administration (CDTFA) compiles figures on the total taxable cannabis sales for counties in the state. The Pluma County Board of Supervisors prohibits all forms of commercial cannabis activities in unincorporated areas of the county. California cannabis laws enable incorporated cities and towns to dictate their own policies on commercial cannabis activities. However, Portola the only incorporated city in the county also prohibits cannabis commerce in its jurisdiction.

The CDTFA does not have any figures for the total taxable cannabis sales for Pluma County.

The Effects of Cannabis Legalization on Crime Rates in Plumas County

Arrest rates for marijuana-related crimes dropped in numerous counties in California, following the legalization of recreational cannabis. While several of the reports that showed drops in crime rates originated from counties that had enabled cannabis commerce, this was not always the case. It is legal for eligible adults to cultivate and possess cannabis for personal use, but commercial cannabis business operations are prohibited in unincorporated areas of Pluma County. The cultivation of cannabis for commercial purposes in the unincorporated areas of Pluma County has been declared a public nuisance.

The Pluma County Sheriff's Office reported a total of 16 marijuana-related arrests in 2016, preceding the legalization of recreational marijuana. 7 of these arrests were for possession and 9 for sales/manufacturing. Following the legalization of recreational cannabis, marijuana-related arrests reported by the Sheriff's Office dropped to 6 (-62.5%) in 2017 and 3 (-50%) in 2018. However, the Pluma County Sheriff's Office reported 11 total marijuana-related arrests in 2019, representing an over 200% rise in arrests for that year. Marijuana-related arrests by the Pluma County Sheriff's Office fell to 1, in 2020, representing a 90% decrease from the previous year. The Pluma County Sheriff's Office compiles arrest statistics for the county as part of the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program.