SPARC cannabis project receives county OK

By Melissa Dowling

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a project use permit for cannabis farming and cultivation on a portion of the former Gordenker Turkey Farms property in Glen Ellen during its Jan. 26 meeting. “This is the perfect... read more

"This is the perfect location for cannabis cultivation and processing"

"...the operation’s partners, including Erich Pearson and Sean Kelley, are not only 'organized,' 'clean,' and 'professional' farmers, but also good neighbors. Several [speakers during the January 26th hearing] recalled how the applicants helped rescue nearby homes when the Nuns Fire devastated the area—including the Gordenker ranch itself—in October 2017."

"I view our use permit as a first of many steps in Sonoma Valley. We hope to work with the local government to create public access on the property, in the form of a retail sales store, a dispensary for products that we grow, or maybe a farm stand. We’ve built a lake on the property. We’re looking forward to exploring the opportunity of glamping and on-site overnight access overnight access on the backside of the property. We’re looking forward to making a more of a hospitality centered experience around the farm"

2020: A year like no other in Sonoma

Cannabis controversy

By Christian Kallen

Several other topics that have persisted throughout the year were introduced in January, especially Sonoma’s long-standing effort to permit a cannabis dispensary inside city limits. “City Puts Out Call for Dispensary Operators” was the Jan. 7... read more

Sonoma council to grant cannabis license. Right?

A meeting of Sonoma City Council on Monday, December 14, 6 p.m. may (at last) clear the way for a retail cannabis outlet. See the agenda and find out how to view the meeting remotely, at CivicWeb Portal. In August, the city awarded its exclusive... read more

"In August, the city awarded its exclusive cannabis retail license to SPARC, a company that currently operates locations in Santa Rosa and Sebastopol, and three in San Francisco. It plans to open at 19315 Sonoma Highway, the site of several Mexican restaurants over the years, sometime next year."

City Council moves forward with pot dispensary

By Jason Walsh

Sonoma officials on Monday gave the green light for the city’s first-ever commercial cannabis business. The city council voted 4-0-1 at its Dec. 14 meeting to grant a conditional certificate to Santa Rosa-based Sparc, enabling the cannabis company... read more

"The city council voted 4-0-1 at its Dec. 14 meeting to grant a conditional certificate to Santa Rosa-based Sparc, enabling the cannabis company to potentially open its planned dispensary at 19315 Sonoma Highway in 2021."

"According to Sonoma Planning Director David Storer, the next step is for Sparc to apply to the Sonoma Planning Commission for a use permit for its Sonoma Highway location and, if it receives that, Sparc would then apply to the city manager for the commercial cannabis license."

Sonoma City Council to revisit cannabis dispensary license

By Christian Kallen

A pot shop, granny units, vacation rentals and a potential legal settlement are on the upcoming Sonoma City Council agenda, making for a busy and packed final council meeting of the year, Dec. 14 at 6 p.m. It will be the council’s final meeting of... read more

"A resolution awarding a conditional certificate to Sparc cannabis dispensary to obtain a commercial cannabis business license and develop a proposed retail storefront on Sonoma Highway returns to the council, after having failed in a 2-2 vote on Oct. 5."

Sonoma City Council to revisit dispensary licensing

By Jason Walsh

Cannabis is rising from the ashes in Sonoma. That much was clear at the end of the Sonoma City Council meeting on Nov. 16, when council members voted to bring back a pair of controversial cannabis matters for consideration at a future meeting. The... read more

Marijuana Measure Divides

By Jonah Raskin

In August 2020, after years of dickering, the city of Sonoma finally voted to allow SPARC—which has a marijuana farm in Glen Ellen and dispensaries in Santa Rosa and Cotati—to open a weed shop on Highway 12. SPARC seemed to be home free, but in... read more

Voters to decide on taxing cannabis business in Sonoma’s Measure X, Solano’s measures C and V, Napa’s Measure T

By Susan Wood

Two Solano County cities are joining the cities of Sonoma and Yountville on Election Day in the pursuit of happiness for citizens and a possible pot of gold for local government from cannabis. Like other cities and counties across the state before... read more

Sonoma County cannabis growers concerned about smoke taint after wildfires

By Wayne Freedman

SONOMA COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) — Harvest time in Sonoma County. We’ve already heard about the grapes, and concerns about how smoke taint from fires will eliminate some vintages, but here’s something new. “That’s ash... read more

"The wine industry is flattening out. Sonoma County can use all the tourism it can get because of the fires. So, we're hoping to do that."