Sonoma County Industrial Hemp Ordinance
On January 6, 2020 at 10:00 a.m., the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will conduct a public hearing of a proposed ordinance amending Chapter 1 (General Provisions), Chapter 26 (Zoning Code), and Chapter 37 (Industrial Hemp Ordinance). A moratorium on the cultivation of industrial hemp was established by this Board on April 2, 2019, which will sunset on April 30, 2020.
Today’s Fact: 8 Days Until Hemp Meeting on Monday, January 6th
DAY 8. MANUFACTURING PROCESSES FOR HEMP
The vast majority of CBD from industrial hemp is used in the oil-extracted form. Unlike THC cannabis, little is smoked as bud.
Extraction of CBD oil requires manufacturing processes using specialized machinery, either with high heat and pressure (supercritical) CO2 or with the solvent 200 proof ethanol with subsequent heat distillation. Ethanol is highly flammable. Equipment to make these oil extraction procedures efficient for large scale use is pricy ($200,000-to over $500,000), and requires a well-ventilated and tightly controlled lab environment and technically-skilled operators. The industry predicts that centralized large-scale extraction facilities will become the norm due to economies of scale in conjunction with continuing downward price pressure on CBD.
Extraction of CBD oil is a manufacturing process belonging in industrial zones. It cannot be likened to the processing of grapes into wine.
The THC cannabis ordinance bans more volatile solvents and restricts all oil-extraction operations (manufacturing) to industrial zones. Much larger-scale operations are likely for industrial hemp.
Equipment options for CBD extraction:
Day 9. MORE ABOUT THOSE BEST MANAGMENT PRACTICES (BMP’s) FOR HEMP
The Ag Commissioner MAY adopt, amend or rescind required best management practices. Section 37-6A of the Draft Hemp ordinance/ Required BMP’s
Parallel language on Recommended BMP’s in Section 37-6B of the Draft Hemp ordinance.
Even if the BMP’s are mandatory the Ag Commissioner can revise or rescind them at will.
Bottom line: BMP’s are totally up to the Ag Commissioner