WHY HUMBOLDT COUNTY WILL SURVIVE MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION

I doubt the first pot pioneers in Humboldt County, referred to as
"back-to-the-landers" during the late 1960s, realized they might
someday sow the seeds for an industry which could financially bail
out the state of California.

In a delightful, ironic twist, those intrepid pioneers who fled the
establishment to seek a simpler way of life must now re-establish
contact with the "man" if they want to survive legalization and
maintain their way of life.

Most fear legalization. They worry their profit margin will shrink so
badly -- from taxes and competition -- they won't be able to make a
living. Some ask if growing for medical marijuana dispensaries will
be enough to keep them in business.

The good news is that growers, law enforcement officials, nonprofits
and city governments are already holding public meetings to work out
what happens here after legalization. One of the first meetings, held
in Garberville (Southern Humboldt) in March, was covered nationwide.

What's After Pot (WAP) founder Anna Hamilton spoke during the
Garberville meeting about the need to save the pot economy and
prepare for legalization. She's attempting to bring local growers
together so they can adapt to paying taxes and becoming part of the
system they ran away from 40 years ago.

In preparation for legalization, a task force headed up by Humboldt
County Supervisor Mark Lovelace was formed to define regulatory
issues surrounding grows.

Medical Marijuana Advisory Panel (HuMMAP) works to organize growers,
businesses and employees of the cannabis industry. They held their
second meeting on May 18 at the Garberville Civic Club.

Humboldt County's famous "killer buds" are already a brand name that
can be utilized to encourage tourism by creating businesses that
appeal to pot smokers.

I suspect we've had tourists coming here for that covert reason ever
since the word slipped out about strains like "Granddaddy Purple" and
others that raised the bar in worldwide cannabis culture.

Some locals feel we could become the Napa Valley of the weed world,
with our exotic strains and innovative growers. Our products would
find their niche in the market because of the demand for quality
among discriminating users.

Competition will come from Mendocino and Trinity counties, which have
their own reputation for quality marijuana. The quality of indoor
cannabis versus outdoor will continue to be a factor. In addition,
there will be massive grows when big business digs into the fertile
marijuana market.

Smart growers are already networking with each other, staying in
contact with organizations like NORML, and preparing to adapt to the
new business model.

I believe Humboldt County will adapt to legalization because its
economy needs pot revenue, and has for decades. There has always been
an unspoken alliance between growers and business owners. It's an
economic factor in keeping the local economy afloat. Jobs have been
scarce, and few pay better than trimmers, since the decline of the
lumber mills and fishing.

We have unique Humboldt blogs that reflect our weed culture, such as
High Like Me, Humboldtage, Humboldt Grow, Humboldt Living, Redheaded
Blackbelt and Sohum Parlance II, that contain information on
everything marijuana from cultivation to local prices.

The news they provide daily often makes it into the mainstream media,
such as Southern Humboldt Kym Kemp's (Redheaded Blackbelt) unique
stories about growers in her community. We already have a grassroots
network of growers, bloggers, merchants, nonprofits and city
officials to meet the challenge of legalization. That proactive
attitude will make the difference between success and failure.

Everyone has to wait until the new rules are laid out. I don't see
that as a roadblock, just the settling in of a new reality. Keep in
mind, marijuana has thrived in Humboldt County for decades. The
culture it's created is woven into the very fabric of our communities.

There's no place in the United States with a longer, more complex
relationship between the public, marijuana growers, law enforcement
and merchants. Legalizing pot is the final destination on a road that
has had many detours since those first "back-to-the-landers" planted
seeds in our fertile soil.

As it stands, independent spirits are common behind the Redwood
Curtain, and their marketing ability will come through when
Californians are legally allowed to partake of pot.