[OregonBorn]

And speaking of casing places and the Bank of Italy. when I lived in Salinas as a kid I was asked by an Italian lady friend of my mother's to do a weird ass job. I was paid to go to a local movie theater and given enough money to buy two movie tickets. All I had to do was count how many people were there, and write down the count. Then after the movie was over and they cleared the theater, I bought another ticket and did another head count, and I would usually leave, unless the movie was good and I would watch it again. I would give the lady the numbers. This went on for about a month and then that was it. Easiest job that I ever had. She never told me what the movie theater thing was about.

She also told me about where the real money came in from regarding orchards, BofA and the Italian mob. At that time the Italians were selling their fruit orchards to the likes of Intel and Fairchild in the Santa Clara Valley (later dubbed the Silicon Valley). That was where the real money was in orchards and fruit trees back then.

[OregonBorn]

As it is panning out, it seems that the cities and counties in Cali are passing insane annual canopy taxes on growers. Monterey Co.'s $2 a sq ft is low compared to places like the cities of Salinas, Gonzales and Greenfield that are levying taxes of $15 a sq ft of canopy per year. In Watsonville its $20 a sq ft. I also read that Humboldt passed a $1-$3 a sq ft grow canopy tax. So good luck with that!

With these high canopy taxes and the $9.25 an ounce excise tax on grower sold weed, I do not see how growers can make it long term in California. With these and all the sales taxes, they are taxing weed to force much higher prices, and keeping the black market right in the thick of the MJ business there. I calculate that a grow operation the size that I would want taxed at $2 a sq ft with the CA excise tax per ounce would cost me 25% right off the top. Add testing, trim, labor and energy costs, and well as other overhead costs, and you are screwed. So legal weed is not going to be cheap to grow or buy in California. Legal weed is becoming a tax crutch to keep all the municipalities from temporarily going bankrupt from massive debt and overspending. Or plain muni greed. Meanwhile Southern Oregon medical growers are being forced out of legal business in 2018, so I see an opportunity for them simply shifting to supply the California black market with 'cheaper' weed. Medical growers in Cali are in the same boat. Flip to growing rec weed, or supply the black market. Its a cash business either way.

[Davesnothere420]

Originally Posted by GrowingFurthur

I consulted on (3) 180,000 sq. ft. greenhouses in Salinas. They wanted me as a master grower and I turned them down...Moneywise it was a poor choise but ethically I am happy with my decision. The cannabis grown down there is going to all be commercial quality at best. They are going to pump them all full of whatever chemical fertilizers are cheapest to buy in bulk, and the "master growers" are going to be "skilled laborers" at best. IMHO this is not the direction the industry should be going and I fully stand by and support all the small farmers, growers, and business owners out there. Diversity is key.

I also hold a controversial view on medical vs. rec... I think long ago California made medical cannabis a joke. And now that rec is here I think it is important that a new distinction should be made. Many people probably wont like this, but I feel medical grade cannabis should be grown indoors, where strict environmental controls are possible and contaminates can be eliminated. Every other pharmaceutical grade product adheres to very strict clean room standards for production, and I feel Medical Cannabis should not be treated differently. Many patients (and non patients) are immune-compromised, have allergies, or just plain deserve the peace of mind of knowing that what they are putting into their body was made in the safest and cleanest of conditions.
I believe there is a place in the market for everyone because that's how we in this community have treated one another for so many years. I don't want to see that go away when corporate greed comes into play. Community>Industry

couldnt agree more the way they are trying to turn cannabis into the same business they made everrything else in th usa is gonna not be good .

[mikeandnaomi]

Land cost are WAY MORE in Salinas then Nor Cal.

[MedResearcher]

Watched a speech from a consultant who claimed to have been brought in by some of the Salinas farms. He said at least up until this point they had serious issues with mold/mildew. So they had to fresh freeze most of the crops to make into distillate.

The consultant went on to talk about how they will have to sift through genetics to find varieties that they can crop like that without mold/mildew.

Mr^^

[maxmurder]

do you have a link? ^^

[OregonBorn]

I have heard about PM being an issue there, but that is one of the simplest things to prevent and control. Mold is another issue, but only happens if they have bad ventilation and/or condensation.

Seems odd though, as I grew weed for YEARS in the Salinas/Hollister/Gilroy area and never had mold or PM on ANY of my plants, ever.

I cannot find anything on the web about this happening.

[OregonBorn]

Interesting read on Monterey Co. pot growing. Even with the limitations, I do not see how anyplace else in California can compete. Like it or not.

https://www.sacbee.com/news/state/cal...140700623.html

[MedResearcher]

If I stumble on the link I will post it Max. The consultant was Kevin Jordey from Wonderland, it was on youtube. He has a ton of great information, his seminars can be a little slow and long but he drops a ton of good info in between all his stories.

It is a lot easier to grow a little bit of weed without issues, or even more than a little bit spread out or spaced well. Its when you stuff a huge amount of canopy or pounds into a confined space more issues pop up or the issues escalate quicker.

Should be interesting.

Mr^^

[maxmurder]

Ok I know Kevin, going to see him soon he just got in a ton of seeds.
Very knowledgeable guy for sure.
Thanks Mr^^