• Carson Now on Facebook
  • Follow Carson Now on Twitter
  • Follow Carson Now by RSS
  • Follow Carson Now by Email

Carson City supervisors allow hemp cultivation indoors, block outdoor agricultural cultivation amid lawsuit

The Carson City Board of Supervisors voted to create a new ordinance relating to hemp cultivation within city limits on Thursday, allowing for indoor cultivation within certain zoning districts, effectively blocking outdoor agricultural cultivation.

Carson City has been involved in a $15 million lawsuit since 2019 after they denied a hemp cultivation project in the Buzzy Ranch area, despite an agreement between the city and the Jarrard Family Trust that allows the Jarrards to use a portion of the space for agricultural and ranching uses.

The Jarrards sold the property to Carson City in 2010 to be used as an Open Space property due its large presence of wetlands and wildlife. However, the Jarrards required, as part of the sale, that they be allowed to use a portion of the property for agricultural uses.

The Jarrard Trust leased the property to Tahoe Hemp on June 6, 2019 to cultivate hemp, a non-psychoactive relative of cannabis.

Carson City blocked the lease, claiming that the cultivation of hemp was not specifically listed as authorized uses of the property, and was sued for $15 million in January of 2020 in response.

On April 17, the Carson City District Court rejected a motion made by the city to dismiss the case based on an argument that there is not a valid lease with the trust and therefore lacks standing to use the property. They also argued that growing hemp does not fall under agricultural uses because at the time of the agreement, hemp was not a legal agricultural product.

The courts found that there is a valid contract and lease between the Jarrard Trust and Tahoe Hemp, and that there was no stipulation of what is and is not an agricultural product at the time of the sale.

In May 2020, a moratorium on hemp growing in Carson City was passed, which temporarily halted any applications for hemp projects for six months.

On Thursday, Oct. 15, the Carson City Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance on first reading to allow Hemp Cultivation Facilities within city limits, so long as they keep operations inside with odor controls in place.

The ordinance also allows the presence of Hemp Cultivation Facilities within Limited Industrial (LI) Districts, Agricultural (A) Districts, and Conservation Reserves (CR).

LI Districts also includes Bottling Plants/Brewery Facilities, Grinding and Sharpening of Tools, and Assembly, Fabricating and Manufacturing of Products and Materials.

A Districts include uses such as agricultural use, cattle raising, crop production, and more.

CR Districts include uses such as agricultural use, fire protection facility, flood control facility, parks, residential, and more.

Mayor Elect and Supervisor Lori Bagwell asked that the District Attorney’s Office add a conforming opportunity to include provisions that there are no vested property rights, and that the issued business license is a revokable privilege.

Top Stories

... or see all stories

Hello fellow anglers. Depending on where you were for the opening day season, the waters were high on the rivers and some lakes still had not iced out yet. But yet the strangest thing about it was. There were about half of the expected anglers that ventured out. I noticed the campgrounds were only half full.

Check out the free Senior Health Fair from 8 am to 12 noon this Thursday, May 9 at Casino Fandango Grand Ballroom in Carson City.

More than 70 vendors, a record number, will share valuable information about their programs and services. Participate in raffle drawings, interact with service dogs, donate blood, and have quick access to important vaccines. Pick up our fifth edition of the Senior Celebration magazine and a Community Resource Guide.

Following a capacity community turnout in March, Grassroots Yoga Center is offering its second Self-Care Wellness Fair Saturday, May 18. The center is located at 195 E. Winnie Lane.

Students at Fritsch Elementary School in Carson City were swinging for success with their participation in the San Francisco Giants Junior Giants initiative. The free, non-competitive and innovative baseball program for boys and girls ages 5-13, focuses on education, health and bullying prevention, providing a holistic approach to community sports.

Nevada Humane Society, Carson City branch's Pet of the Week is Valkerye, a one-year-old shepherd mix who still has a big puppy heart. She enjoys playing with children as she is used to living with them.

Sierra Nevada ENT, a trusted provider of clinical and surgical care since 1995, is excited to announce its transition to Carson Tahoe Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), effective May 14, 2024. This expansion reflects our continued commitment to growth, innovation, a holistic care approach, and our dedication to delivering high-quality, state of the art patient-centered care to our community.

CONNECTIONS Gathering in May with special guest Mark Collie

CONNECTIONS Central announced that musician, actor, and philanthropist Mark Collie will be the guest storyteller at the May 16th CONNECTIONS gathering at the Brewery Arts Center in Carson City. CONNECTIONS Central is a new organization that uses the power of storytelling to promote stronger, happier and healthier relationships that enrich lives and build community.

Food Bank of Northern Nevada is asking for the community’s support on Saturday, May 11 as it joins the National Association of Letter Carriers for the Stamp Out Hunger food drive.

Each year, the Carson City Sheriff’s Office hosts an open house event as a way to connect families, deputies, non-profits and more. This year the event takes place Saturday, May 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Tickets are now on sale for the second annual Mane Event, a fundraiser for Between Horses and Humans, a youth-oriented nonprofit serving Douglas County and the Lake Tahoe area that teaches kids life skills through horsemanship. The Mane Event is Saturday, June 1, from 2-5 p.m. at Cowork Tahoe, 3079 Harrison Ave. in South Lake Tahoe.

CARSON CITY — In response to the ongoing Medicaid eligibility redetermination process that resumed in April 2023, Nevada Health Link is extending the Special Enrollment Period through November 30, 2024, for those who no longer qualify for Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

The call for country and Olympic team unity has Stephen Curry lacing up his basketball shoes for Paris and setting his golf clubs aside this July, foregoing his title defense at the American Century Championship, the celebrity golf tournament at Lake Tahoe.

A 36-year-old Yerington resident died, one person was injured and three escaped from a house fire Monday night in Yerington, according to the Lyon County Sheriff's Office.

Looking for a place to take your little ones this week? Look no further! Here is a list of family-friendly (and fun!) activities and events happening this week around Carson City.

A gang fight at an apartment complex last month resulted in the arrest of 14 juveniles and adults, according to the Carson City Sheriff's Office.

Carson City Sheriff's Office Uniformed Reserves and Partnership Carson City collected approximately 410 pounds of prescription drugs in the Prescription Drug Take Back held last month in Carson City.

Mark Twain Days Festival returns this Friday through Sunday, May 10-12, with a bevy of events lined up for the second year of the festival, which is held in honor of Mark Twain, our region’s most famous writer.

Partnership Carson City has launched “Rediscovering Your Mental Health Series,” a five-week program aimed at promoting mental wellness during Mental Health Awareness Month this May. Each week, participants will have the opportunity to learn new skills and techniques to enhance their mental well-being and foster a healthy community.

The Battle Born Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution is a women's volunteer service organization, promoting Patriotism, Education, and Historic Preservation.

Photo courtesy of David and Gayle Woodruff

Carson City Historical Society hosts local authors and historians David and Gayle Woodruff, who will present a Chautauqua on "Snowshoe Thompson: Superhero of the Sierra" from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 11 in the Carriage House behind the Foreman-Roberts Historic House located at 1207 Carson Street, Carson City, during Mark Twain Days.

Join us at the Territorial Enterprise Mark Twain Museum located at 53 South C Street for an event filled with fun and excitement for the three days of "Mark Twain Days" in Virginia City, Nevada.

On the morning of Saturday, May 11, volunteers will fan out across the Truckee River watershed to collect and test water samples from creeks, streams, smaller lakes, and Lake Tahoe itself to take a “snapshot” of water quality at a single moment in time for this important source of drinking water and outdoor recreation.

The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners will hold a special meeting May 20 that will include the final adoption of the County Budget Fiscal Year 2024-25.

A 44-year-old man was arrested Saturday for suspicion of unlawful occupancy of real property and violation of a suspended sentence, according to a Carson City Sheriff's Office booking report. The man was occupying the home of a deceased person without permission.

The Nevada Artists Association Art Gallery in Carson City presents the "Just the Right Size" show with 130 entries by 31 local Nevada artists.

UPDATE 3:11 PM: The fire in the 1400 block of Monte Rosa Drive was contained to the garage and was knocked down quickly, according to CCFD Battalion Chief Jon Pedrini. The fire did not extend to the main structure. No one was home and there were no injuries. The cause is under investigation.
***
UPDATE 12:37PM: Carson City firefighters knocked down the fire and are beginning to clear the scene.
***
Carson City Fire Department and sheriff's deputies were called late Monday morning to a structure fire in the 1400 block of Monte Rosa Drive.

For years, advocates have called upon presidential administrations to reclassify marijuana or deschedule it entirely from the DEA’s list of controlled substances.

UPDATE: The roadways have reopened.
***
Firefighters in Yerington and the Lyon County Sheriff's Office are on scene Monday morning of a semi truck rollover on Aiazzi Lane and Miller Road in Yerington. The entire area is closed to all traffic.

It's time again for the biggest one-day food drive in the country, the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive happening Saturday, May 11. This event is vital for helping food banks to provide food during the summer months.

Polka Dot Powerhouse, Carson City Chapter, invites you to be a guest at our May monthly business luncheon. Come meet Carson City's most dynamic, positive, action forward women to connect for business and friendship. Join us for collaboration, celebration, and fun! Special raffle prizes for all guests.