Meet 20 Sonoma County residents advising lawmakers on cannabis’ future

A group of 20 Sonoma County residents — some well-known, others who’ve rarely (if ever) seen the limelight —  have been chosen to represent a wide swath of interests in the local green rush. 

Working with County Supervisors, the Sonoma County Cannabis Advisory Group was recently formed to provide “a diverse perspective on the impacts of cannabis and cannabis regulations and to provide information and feedback to the County for developing, amending, and funding local cannabis programs and policies.” (See more)

Why should you care? Because whether you’re a frustrated homeowner, a dispensary owner, a concerned parent, grower, business owner, advocate for justice or just canna-curious, hopefully there’s someone in this newly-formed advisory group to represent your interests to lawmakers.

Selected from more than 100 applicants, the group includes a doctor, two lawyers, real estate broker, homeowner associations and traditional agricultural, along with people intimately involved with the cannabis business who can provide context to a general public still sorting out their opinions about what commercial marijuana will look like at the Gateway to the Emerald Triangle. Though laws have already been written at the county level, a quickly changing landscape and state laws will require local lawmakers to stay nimble and flexible.

According to county organizers, applicants were identified by supervisorial district and organized to include voices from neighborhood and community leaders, health and human services providers, and educators along with business interests both inside and outside the cannabis world.  Applications were reviewed by staff and the Ad Hoc Committee, and further input was gathered from the Marijuana Technical Advisory Committee to recommend a group of individuals with a broad range of expertise and mixed geographic.

The group will decide its own agenda, but likely topics will include permitting, land use policies, enforcement, impacts and mitigation programs, tax policy and revenue expenditure. Members may be asked to assist with gathering data and input from their communities, reading research materials, and reviewing and providing feedback on documents. Serving on the committee is a two year uncompensated commitment, meeting monthly.

The group is advisory only, and will serve as a weathervane for the larger community as well as experts on the needs of their individual coalitions. Other county advisory groups for cannabis include the Cannabis Ad Hoc Committee formed by the Board of Supervisors, with Supervisors Susan Gorin and Lynda Hopkins appointed to serve on the committee. The Marijuana Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC), includes representatives from numerous County departments and agencies and their input.

The first meeting of the Sonoma County Cannabis Advisory Group is August 16th from 10:30a.m. to 12:30p.m.

Sonoma County Cannabis Advisory Group Members

Tawnie Logan

Tawnie Logan

Tawnie Logan
Board Chair, Sonoma County Growers Alliance
Representing: Industry/Cultivation
District 4

Alexa Garcia

Alexa Garcia
Owner/CEO, Luma California
Representing: Cultivation
District 4&2

Sam Edwards

Sam Edwards

Samual Edwards
Owner/Operator, Cultura Crop Management
Representing: Cultivation, Manufacturing
District 4

Brandon Levine

Brandon Levine

Brandon Levine

Mercy Wellness
Representing: Dispensary
District 2

Lauren Fraser

Lauren Fraser

Lauren Fraser
Founding Director, Cannabis Distribution Association
President & Co-Founder, River Collective
Representing: District 4

Jay Jensen

Jay Jensen

Jay Jensen
Novavine Grapevine Nursery
Representing: Nursery/traditional agriculture
District 1

Julie Mercer Ingram

Julie Mercer-Ingram
Attorney, Canna Legal / Beck Law
Representing: Legal
District 3

Omar-Figueroa

Omar Figueroa

Omar Figueroa
Principal/Attorney, Law Offices of Omar Figueroa
Representing: Legal
District 5

Arthur Deike

Arthur Deicke
Owner/Manager, Environmental Pollution Solutions LLC (environmental consulting)
Representing: Environmental Consulting
District 5

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Paula Blaydes

Paula Blaydes
Principal/Owner, Blaydes & Associates
Representing: Consulting
District 1

Dave Petersen

Dave Peterson
Keegan & Coppin Company, Inc.
Representing: Real estate
District 3

Terry Garrett

Terry Garrett
Managing Member, Sonoma County GO LOCAL
Representing: Media/local economy
District 3

Erin Lund

Erin Lund
Family Physician, Santa Rosa Community Health Centers
Representing: Health
District 3

Steve Nielsen

Steve Nielsen
School-Court Liaison, Sonoma County Office of Education
Representing: Education
District 3

Julie Terry
Owner/Operator, West County Pride
Representing: Cottage Cultivation
District 5

Katherine Dowdney
Co-owner, Earthen Farms
Representing: Cultivation
District 5

Richard Gunderson
Willowside Homeowners Association
Representing: Neighborhoods
District 4

S Brantly Richardson
Santa Rosa Neighborhood Groups
Representing: Neighborhoods
District 1

Sarah Shrader
Chair, Sonoma County Americans for Safe Access
Representing: Patients
District 5

Shivawn Brady
Director of Operations, Justice Grown
Field Research Assistant, Stanford University
Representing: Consulting
District 1