Humboldt County is updating its Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)—a five-year planning document that identifies economic development goals and guides funding priorities for state and federal support.
But the draft version of the CEDS referred to cannabis only as part of “alternative agriculture.” Nowhere did it explicitly name cannabis cultivation or manufacturing as a core economic sector—despite cannabis being Humboldt County’s #1 agricultural commodity by value in recent years.
HCGA submitted formal public comment to ensure the final version of the CEDS tells the truth about our local economy and includes the cannabis sector as a recognized pillar of rural economic development.
What We Said
We understand the County’s need to comply with federal funding limitations, which may restrict the direct use of the word “cannabis” in grant-funded documents. However, that does not excuse ignoring the reality on the ground. Our position is clear:
- Cannabis is not just “alternative” or “emerging”—it’s foundational.
- Licensed operators face more regulation, taxes, and enforcement than any other agricultural sector.
- Humboldt cannabis has generated over $55 million in local tax revenue since 2017, along with thousands of jobs and deep ripple effects through local supply chains.
With proper support, cannabis can again become a cornerstone of Humboldt’s economic revitalization.
What We Asked the County to Do
To align the final CEDS with local economic truth, HCGA urged the County to:
- Explicitly name cannabis in the strategy—not just refer to “alternative agriculture”
- Use local data sources that accurately reflect cannabis activity, including:
- Humboldt County Crop Reports
- Cannabis excise tax and Measure S data
- Cannabis business license records
- The 2023 Cal Poly Humboldt / SSU Economic Impact Study
- Include cannabis in tourism, branding, and “Buy Local” strategies
- Acknowledge the collapse of the legal cannabis economy as one of Humboldt’s most severe rural economic crises
- Support a recovery strategy with grants, technical assistance, regulatory reform, and equitable development access
Why It Matters
Without clear inclusion in the CEDS, licensed cannabis businesses risk being excluded from key policy conversations and funding opportunities for the next five years.
We’ve said it before, and we’ll keep saying it:
Cannabis is not plutonium—it’s a plant. In Humboldt, it’s a plant that has fed families, built businesses, funded environmental restoration, and anchored rural communities for decades.
To learn more about the County’s CEDS process click here. To get involved in shaping the future of Humboldt’s cannabis economy, contact us at hello@hcga.co.