The latest Nevada County Grand Jury report is urging a “fast track” to legalizing cannabis operations. The Jury says the county is currently converting only two to three-percent of an estimated 35-hundred to four-thousand illegal grows into permitted operators. Foreman Dave Anderson says compliance efforts are only complaint-driven, due to a lack of staffing and resources. And that’s meant a much more modest growth in permitting and tax revenue than was originally hoped for, when the county passed its ordinance two years ago…

click to listen to Dave Anderson

Anderson says the the permitting process needs to be streamlined more and fees need to be lowered…

click to listen to Dave Anderson

Chief among the Grand Jury’s findings is to suggest a stronger role in illegal cannabis enforcement by the Sheriff’s Department. It says there’s currently only a small team of unarmed county compliance employees responding to complaints. Increased fines are also urged. The county recently lifted the 25-thousand dollar cap.