Moving to Sonoma County

[JohnG]

I may have a job opportunity in Sonoma County. I will be relocating from the SE USA. My wife has MS and I want to move to a more friendly state. I have done a lot of research on the area and I found what I believe to be the current cultivation regs.

Is it realistic to be able to grow 100 sq ft of cannabis in your fenced in backyard if you live in a neighborhood without getting ripped off?

I cannot afford acreage so I will be buying a house in town and I would like to grow outside if possible.

Any other local knowledge about the area is appreciated as this will be a big change for us if it happens.

 

[facestabber]

Outdoors you will get ripped off unless you're in a secluded location. Keep it inside to be safe, outdoor weed isn't that good anyway.

 

[Payaso]

Besides the expense of living in California, you may find this state to be a tad more friendly about growing medicine than others...

But realize that greed is rampant. Folks do get ripped off from backyard gardens. Usually the day or night before you are going to harvest... rippers are heartless and will get you to do all the work creating a grow, bringing it to fruition, then stealing it from you. Only way around that is to grow indoors or build a very tall, very secure fence and fill your grow with snarling dogs and actually sleep in the garden past harvest... and then they might still invade your home and steal it just after you trim it all for them!

And with guns being so outrageously easy to buy, the rippers are gonna be packing heat, so be careful!

Other counties in California being less densely populated might be a better bet for you. Closer you get to the Bay Area or LA/SD the higher the crime rates, the higher the rental rates/housing costs, and this state is already very crowded with growers...

IMHO the opportunities are more golden in other states... States that have just legalized for instance...

 

[Skip]

The Feds along with local leos busted a huge number of grows last year in Sonoma. They were spotted from the air. The increasing use of drones means more busts may be coming.

Best to keep it guerilla type grow.

 

[BM-504]

Drones..wtf... 5 clicks on google earth and they don't even have to put the donut down.

Good luck on your job hunt .... outdoor grow in town = rip city.

BM

 

[joe guy]

If ur Gona be in the city than check anaimal control laws before filling it with dogs, heard of someone long before Cali was med but he had 5 dogs 3 lil rats and 2 block head pity's the neighbors had no clue of the grow in the back yard but when anaimal control showed up because ur only allowed 2 dogs unless u hold a kennel licence or permit what ever they called it but saw he suspious plants when checking for dog count over the fence... So be careful outdoors even if ur in timbucktoo rippers will find away...

 

[JohnG]

Thanks for the info everybody. That is pretty much what I thought would be the case. Indoors it will be.

 

[budelight]

Good Luck!

 

[megayields]

Thanks for the info everybody. That is pretty much what I thought would be the case. Indoors it will be.

Bring LOT'S of cash...my indoor grow is only 3200kw + fans - de-huey etc...PG&E alone is over $1K per month....welcome to Cali!

 

[farmari]

Good luck JohnG, I hope you love it. I don't know about it being a good place for a grower but it's great as a smoker... or I suppose a non smoker for that matter ... wish I was out there myself.

 

[JohnG]

Thanks all. Don't know if its going to happen but I hope it will. A med friendly state and better weather will help the wife's MS symptoms. I miss growing so even a small legal indoor grow for personal medical reasons would be nice.

 

[joe guy]

Thanks all. Don't know if its going to happen but I hope it will. A med friendly state and better weather will help the wife's MS symptoms. I miss growing so even a small legal indoor grow for personal medical reasons would be nice.

Bro if u both got ur recs with the proper training and a good nutrient regimen u could grow excess of two heavy medicators(if that's even a word lol) but if it goes thru the job take it I love this state wouldn't live any where else

 

[megayields]

I go with Joe above, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else..it's stupid expensive to live in the area and I used to live VERY close to Sonoma and worked in Petaluma so I know the area well. It stunningly beautiful, hot in the summer and can get bone chilling cold in the winter (for Cali), the wines are just off the hook if you enjoy a good glass of vino and food OMG.......you can eat your way all around town and see several 3-4 star restaurants.

Good luck, as much as I hate to see peeps come here unprepared, I totally understand the attraction!

 

[BrownThumb]

I am a former Sonoma County resident, lived there for many years in the 70's and 80's. Santa Rosa was where I was at for a lot of that time and I can tell you there are a ton of growers in that area. Some blocks, literally everyone grows. However, yes you will get ripped if you grow outside in a town, it's just a matter of time. So, can you grow 100 sf indoors, or will you be one of the people that can afford land that is off the beaten trail? That is the question. To think you can get away w/ growing even a few plants without fear of being ripped off in CA is folly. Take that to the bank. Little kids know what it is here, especially in areas where growing is common and therein lies a big part of the rip-off issue. People know what it looks and smells like. Few are clever enough to grow outdoors undetected in suburban areas. You can split the stock and grow it like ivy... Doesn't mean it's safe, but less people look for vines on the ground. That also means you give up vertical space which sucks when you're under the big bulb. Yeah, indoors, remote location or become a master of guerrilla techniques to where you can hide your grow in plain sight.

 

[JohnG]

joe: I didn't think about both of us getting recs. I guess that doubles the sq ftg?

mega: yea, its crazy expensive. A good friend of mine lives near Santa Cruz. He is retired and could live anywhere but that is where he wants to live after living in ten states and four countries. The wine country is my favorite place in the country other than Maui.

bt: thanks for the advice. I grew stealth years ago and it worked pretty good until they started flowering and smelling. I cannot afford land so I will be doing the indoor thing.

 

[joe guy]

Yes sir with 2 recs u could have 6 in flower for you and 12 in veg for your wife and be in total compliance
With just one we are allowed 6 mature or 12 veg
And I believe u can have as many recs as u want from friends if they don't grow just have to stay under 100
But that's crazy amount of plants and way more than u would need
But have heard of guys runnin that many legally ...

 

[Loose Cannon]

Bay Area has a great quality of life and wine country is spectacular.
Never considered living anywhere but Nor-Cal if in the States and never messed w/ outdoor.
My electric runs 850 - 950 and produces 1.5lbs every 2 weeks with 4500w perpetual.
Never short on smoke.
Did have an incident at a friends in Sacramento recently:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daiHQvJcgkI

 

[JohnG]

joe; I found this online. Is this still the reg?

Sonoma Co.
Guidelines permit 3 lbs for possession; maximum 100 square feet cultivation area with 30 plants or fewer (approved Sept 2006). In 2011, the BOS has commissioned a study to recommend options for cultivation regulations.

On Tuesday, December 11, 2012, the BOS considered and rejected a motion to repeal the county's medical marijuana ordinance, reverting to state cultivation guidelines.

 

[theJointedOne]

fwiw there are no real limits on anything in CA. I suggest you read the text of Prop 215, its only a couple paragraphs. And its that short for a reason...not some lawyer contrived bs, its simple and too the point. Are there any limits written in prop 215? no

A state voted in proposition can only be amended by a state vote, which has not happened. SB420 is just a path but not the only road to take, its not the law. Key case is People vs. Kelley. Easy to find and easy to read.

 

[joe guy]

I've never grown outdoor so I'm not sure if there is a diffrence
With indoor or not but I've heard that the limit was 6 mature or 12
Immature. And 8 oz of dry product.
But who is to say what mature and immature are?
So I've just always stuck to those guide lines to be safe...