Growers and operators decry licensing delays, bonded costs and aggressive enforcement practices

Growers, processors and long‑time industry participants used their public comments on Feb. 16 to describe a regulatory environment they say is unstable and punitive.

Several speakers said licensing and renewal processing has exceeded the 90‑day window set out in rules: Estella Castro said she has waited two years for a renewal; others reported similar long delays. "When you want your new money... they can call in there and they say, oh, well, we'll hit the green light on what you've been waiting on a year for because we wanna collect more money from you," said Darryl Carnes, who also alleged that the Authority has stacked fines under emergency declarations without adequate notice or opportunity to cure.

Growers objected to bond and COOs (chief operating officer/architectural) requirements and to a 12‑inch plant tag rule they said is arbitrary. Matt Duerer questioned why growers must post bonds higher than other industries; Ron Brown and others said the combined costs have forced longstanding operations to close.

Multiple speakers tied enforcement or fast‑changing rule sets to black‑market activity. "For every single business that had signed up to become legitimate and has been shut down, I believe that it creates 3 to 5 black market businesses," said one commenter, warning that equipment and trained workers migrate back to unregulated sales.

Speakers urged the Authority to improve communication, fix the Cynthia system cited for processing failures and to include industry experts earlier in rule drafting. Barrett Brown closed the registered‑speaker list and reminded the public comment period remained open through 5 PM; no formal enforcement actions were announced at the hearing.