Sonoma County Releases Key Cannabis Program Updates

By Lauren Mendelsohn, Esq.

Sep 16, 2025

Sonoma County, in Northern California, recently published materials related to its revised Cannabis Program, including a final Environmental Impact Report (“EIR”), a draft ordinance, a GIS map, and other items. 

After Many Years, Changes Emerge  

Sonoma County has allowed commercial cannabis since 2016, and the locality began permitting a variety of cannabis uses in 2017. A few years ago, the Board of Supervisors voted to make changes to the original ordinance, and to adopt a full programmatic EIR. This move shifted the process away from the more limited programmatic Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) approach used initially to a full programmatic Environmental Impact Report, which is a more comprehensive process for assessing potential environmental impacts. 

New Cannabis Opportunities in Wine Country 

The new cannabis ordinance would open up some new cannabis business opportunities. That being said, Sonoma County already currently allows most licenses available in California, and is still accepting applications for all allowable uses. Entrepreneurs, cultivators, and other operators may find new pathways to establish or grow their operations as these updates move forward. 

Sonoma County’s latest actions of publishing a final EIR, draft ordinance, and related resources signal potential new openings for cannabis operators in the area. The Sonoma County Planning Commission is holding a meeting on September 17 to discuss the proposed revisions, so be sure to stay tuned for more updates. 

Questions? Vicente LLP Can Help! 

Interested in a cannabis license in Sonoma County, California? Sonoma County (in the heart of “Wine Country” -- we like to think of it as “Wine and Weed Country”!) is the perfect place for you to grow or expand your cannabis operation. Contact Vicente LLP today so we can create a plan for your success!