By Donna Westfall – October 27, 2017 – Did you know that there was a December 2014 memo by the U.S. Justice Department that declared sovereign nations would not be prosecuted for growing pot on tribal land in states that had already legalized the drug?
Did you know that in 2014, a small Indian tribe in San Diego County closed their gambling business buried under $50 million in debt and converted their former casino into a high-tech medical marijuana operation?
Recently, based on an anonymous source, the water usage in the Bertsch-Oceanview area increased by 100,000 gallons in September 2017. Some residents in the area are saying that the tribe has gone into the pot growing business with 40,000-50,000 plants. Now that it’s harvest time, water usage has declined substantially. Are those residents correct? If yes, will this affect the water ratepayers?
Emails have been sent out to Dale Miller, Tribal Chairman of Elk Valley Rancheria along with one to Eric Wier, Public Works Director for the City of Crescent City, and one to 5th District Supervisor, Bob Berkowitz for confirmation.
Monday night, October 30th at 5:30 pm at the Lighthouse Church, located at 2455 Oliver Avenue, Crescent City; there will be a meeting of the Bertsch-Oceanview Water District. It is open to the public.
Lock em’ up!
It is relatively common knowledge that the rancheria has been growing for a while. It is indoor cultivation with several harvests a year independent of season. A sudden increase in water use could indicate an expansion or mistakes with irrigation. Power use information is generally available to the public. Members of the Del Norte Growers Association are hoping the tribe will participate in developing county regulations as the impacts of cultivation affect the entire community. If the tribe wants to engage in California’s legal cannabis market then they must have county approval before the state will issue a license. Sovereign status will not apply unless all the product stays on the reservation.