Buckle up, Bay Area cannabis enthusiasts – Mendocino County just dropped a cannabis bombshell that’s got local growers and environmental activists throwing down in an epic showdown.

Last week, the county Board of Supervisors essentially said “grow big or go home” by voting to allow cannabis cultivators to expand their farms to a whopping 20,000 square feet per parcel. Talk about a green rush!

The Great Cannabis Debate

The controversy boils down to a legal technicality that had growers scratching their heads for years. Previously, cultivators were limited to 10,000 square feet of commercial cannabis per parcel. Now, with a strategic license swap, they can effectively double their growing space.

Eco-Warriors vs. Cannabis Entrepreneurs

Environmentalists like Kate Marianchild are NOT here for this expansion. She warns that doubling cannabis farm sizes could devastate local ecosystems, destroying native plants and disrupting delicate wildlife food webs. “Every single native plant we have is precious,” she argues, throwing some serious botanical shade.

Money Talks

On the flip side, cannabis industry advocates like Steve Amato from the Mendocino Cannabis Alliance argue that restricting growth could tank local tax revenues and crush small businesses. With a 3-2 board vote, it looks like economic interests are winning this round.

So, Bay Area cannabis fans, get ready for some seriously supersized weed farms in Mendocino. Just don’t be surprised if the local butterfly population files a formal complaint.