Independent news coverage of Humboldt County and the Emerald Triangle. https://californiabud.com en-us Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:58:07 GMT Copyright 2026 California Bud editor@californiabud.com (California Bud) editor@californiabud.com (California Bud) 60 https://californiabud.com/category/local-government/2026/04/woodland-hills-couple-stabbed-by-son-lapd-seeks-suspect/ https://californiabud.com/category/local-government/2026/04/woodland-hills-couple-stabbed-by-son-lapd-seeks-suspect/ Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:33:54 GMT LAPD is searching for a man who allegedly stabbed both of his parents at their Woodland Hills home. The suspect fled before officers arrived. California Bud Staff Local Government https://californiabud.com/category/opinion/2026/04/gen-z-voters-want-more-from-californias-2026-governor-race/ https://californiabud.com/category/opinion/2026/04/gen-z-voters-want-more-from-californias-2026-governor-race/ Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:28:27 GMT Gen Z Californians say gubernatorial candidates are playing it safe on policy while young voters face housing, health, and economic crises. Ray Petrovic Opinion https://californiabud.com/category/local-government/2026/04/palisades-fire-victim-runs-for-california-insurance/ https://californiabud.com/category/local-government/2026/04/palisades-fire-victim-runs-for-california-insurance/ Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:14:38 GMT Merritt Farren lost his home in the Palisades fire and is now running for California Insurance Commissioner to reform the state's broken claims system. Jesse Marsh Local Government https://californiabud.com/category/local-government/2026/04/california-man-charged-under-anti-truancy-law-for-ice/ https://californiabud.com/category/local-government/2026/04/california-man-charged-under-anti-truancy-law-for-ice/ Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:00:52 GMT Clovis police referred charges against Alfred Aldrete for escorting student protesters at an anti-ICE walkout. The DA's office declined to prosecute. Ray Petrovic Local Government https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/pennsylvania-governor-pushes-hard-for-cannabis-legalization/ https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/pennsylvania-governor-pushes-hard-for-cannabis-legalization/ Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:28:18 GMT Gov. Josh Shapiro is pressuring Pennsylvania legislators to pass marijuana legalization, citing lost tax revenue to neighboring states with legal markets. Jesse Marsh Cannabis Industry https://californiabud.com/category/local-government/2026/04/maryland-psychedelics-task-force-extended-through-2027/ https://californiabud.com/category/local-government/2026/04/maryland-psychedelics-task-force-extended-through-2027/ Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:14:32 GMT Maryland's SB 336 heads to Gov. Wes Moore after an overwhelming 109-24 House vote, extending the psychedelics task force through December 2027. Dani Woodward Local Government https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/3-d-printed-marijuana-breathalyzer-can-detect-thc-roadside/ https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/3-d-printed-marijuana-breathalyzer-can-detect-thc-roadside/ Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:46 GMT A VCU study funded by the DOJ reveals a 3-D printed, inhaler-like device that detects THC in breath samples without a secondary lab. Kira Tanaka Cannabis Industry https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/texas-hemp-businesses-sue-over-thca-flower-ban-rules/ https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/texas-hemp-businesses-sue-over-thca-flower-ban-rules/ Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:28:19 GMT Texas hemp businesses filed suit against state agencies, claiming new rules redefining legal hemp products exceeded regulatory authority and threaten the THCA market. Leo Sandoval Cannabis Industry https://californiabud.com/category/local-government/2026/04/calmatters-emmy-nomination-for-immigration-documentary/ https://californiabud.com/category/local-government/2026/04/calmatters-emmy-nomination-for-immigration-documentary/ Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:14:29 GMT CalMatters, Evident Media and Bellingcat earned a 2026 Emmy nomination for 'Operation Return to Sender,' investigating federal immigration enforcement operations. Ray Petrovic Local Government https://californiabud.com/category/local-government/2026/04/pa-governor-pushes-marijuana-legalization-for-13b-revenue/ https://californiabud.com/category/local-government/2026/04/pa-governor-pushes-marijuana-legalization-for-13b-revenue/ Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:00:44 GMT Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is pressuring lawmakers to legalize marijuana, projecting $1.3 billion in revenue over five years for education and public safety. Jesse Marsh Local Government https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/louisiana-bill-would-allow-medical-marijuana-in-hospitals/ https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/louisiana-bill-would-allow-medical-marijuana-in-hospitals/ Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:28:27 GMT Louisiana's Senate committee approved SB 270, allowing terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis in hospitals via non-combustible products. Tomas Reyes Cannabis Industry https://californiabud.com/category/environment/2026/04/california-salmon-restoration-stalls-after-funding-runs-out/ https://californiabud.com/category/environment/2026/04/california-salmon-restoration-stalls-after-funding-runs-out/ Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:14:37 GMT California's partnership with the Winnemem Wintu Tribe to restore endangered Chinook salmon to the McCloud River is collapsing as state funding disappears. Jesse Marsh Environment https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/missouri-passes-bill-to-ban-intoxicating-hemp-thc-products/ https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/missouri-passes-bill-to-ban-intoxicating-hemp-thc-products/ Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:00:49 GMT Missouri lawmakers sent a bill to Gov. Mike Kehoe banning intoxicating hemp THC products from bars, stores, and smoke shops starting November 12. Kira Tanaka Cannabis Industry https://californiabud.com/category/local-government/2026/04/two-republicans-battle-for-california-governor-in-2026/ https://californiabud.com/category/local-government/2026/04/two-republicans-battle-for-california-governor-in-2026/ Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:28:41 GMT Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco share one path to the California governorship: splitting Republican primary votes nearly evenly to freeze Democrats out of November. Ray Petrovic Local Government https://californiabud.com/category/local-government/2026/04/federal-judge-border-patrol-raids-in-california-violated/ https://californiabud.com/category/local-government/2026/04/federal-judge-border-patrol-raids-in-california-violated/ Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:14:52 GMT A federal judge ruled Border Patrol agents in California's Central Valley continued unlawful stops after being ordered to halt, siding with United Farm Workers. Jesse Marsh Local Government https://californiabud.com/category/local-government/2026/04/trump-budget-proposes-keeping-medical-marijuana-protections/ https://californiabud.com/category/local-government/2026/04/trump-budget-proposes-keeping-medical-marijuana-protections/ Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:01:09 GMT Trump's FY2027 budget marks a shift, proposing to keep the rider shielding state medical marijuana programs from DOJ interference for the first time. Dani Woodward Local Government https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/hawaii-senate-pushes-congress-to-federally-legalize/ https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/hawaii-senate-pushes-congress-to-federally-legalize/ Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:17:14 GMT Hawaii's Senate advanced resolutions urging Congress to deschedule cannabis, expunge conviction records, and fix banking barriers for legal dispensaries. Noor Hassani Cannabis Industry https://californiabud.com/category/local-government/2026/04/california-governors-race-a-democratic-standoff/ https://californiabud.com/category/local-government/2026/04/california-governors-race-a-democratic-standoff/ Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:08:56 GMT Three Democrats stuck near 10% each with five weeks to California's June primary. No one's gaining ground, and no one's dropping out. Ray Petrovic Local Government https://californiabud.com/category/environment/2026/04/yuba-river-disaster-a-warning-for-rivers-everywhere/ https://californiabud.com/category/environment/2026/04/yuba-river-disaster-a-warning-for-rivers-everywhere/ Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:38 GMT A ruptured penstock at the New Colgate Powerhouse killed thousands of Chinook salmon. Experts warn it's a preview of failures at aging hydropower facilities. Jesse Marsh Environment https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/new-attorney-general-could-stall-cannabis-rescheduling/ https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/new-attorney-general-could-stall-cannabis-rescheduling/ Sun, 05 Apr 2026 00:17:17 GMT A potential AG swap from Bondi to Zeldin adds uncertainty to cannabis rescheduling, with major tax implications for operators under IRC 280E. Maya Flores Cannabis Industry https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/fbi-memo-agents-can-invest-in-hemp-but-not-marijuana/ https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/fbi-memo-agents-can-invest-in-hemp-but-not-marijuana/ Sun, 05 Apr 2026 00:08:57 GMT A newly declassified 2022 FBI memo reveals agents can invest in hemp companies freely but are banned from any marijuana involvement, even in legal states. Kira Tanaka Cannabis Industry https://californiabud.com/category/local-government/2026/04/nc-governor-pushes-marijuana-legalization-after-new-report/ https://californiabud.com/category/local-government/2026/04/nc-governor-pushes-marijuana-legalization-after-new-report/ Sun, 05 Apr 2026 00:00:38 GMT Governor Josh Stein backs a new advisory council report calling North Carolina's unregulated cannabis market dangerous and urging a legal framework. Leo Sandoval Local Government https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/hemp-products-now-eligible-as-medicare-advantage-benefits/ https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/hemp-products-now-eligible-as-medicare-advantage-benefits/ Sat, 04 Apr 2026 00:17:03 GMT CMS finalized a rule allowing hemp seed products as covered benefits under Medicare Advantage's SSBCI program for chronically ill enrollees. Maya Flores Cannabis Industry https://californiabud.com/category/local-government/2026/04/judge-rules-border-patrol-violated-order-in-california/ https://californiabud.com/category/local-government/2026/04/judge-rules-border-patrol-violated-order-in-california/ Sat, 04 Apr 2026 00:08:46 GMT A federal judge found Border Patrol agents continued illegal stops in California's Central Valley, violating a court order barring detentions without cause. Jesse Marsh Local Government https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis/2026/04/maryland-bill-protects-firefighters-who-use-medical/ https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis/2026/04/maryland-bill-protects-firefighters-who-use-medical/ Sat, 04 Apr 2026 00:00:37 GMT Maryland's HB 797 passed 100-31, shielding firefighters and EMTs from job discipline for off-duty medical marijuana use if they hold a valid patient card. Ray Petrovic Cannabis https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/ma-cannabis-businesses-sue-to-block-legalization-rollback/ https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/ma-cannabis-businesses-sue-to-block-legalization-rollback/ Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:17:38 GMT Massachusetts cannabis businesses filed suit to block a ballot initiative that would repeal the state's recreational marijuana law before November voters. Ray Petrovic Cannabis Industry https://californiabud.com/category/local-government/2026/04/dc-mayor-proposes-thc-drink-partnerships-for-cannabis-and/ https://californiabud.com/category/local-government/2026/04/dc-mayor-proposes-thc-drink-partnerships-for-cannabis-and/ Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:09:23 GMT DC Mayor Muriel Bowser's 2026 proposal would let breweries and medical cannabis companies collaborate to produce and sell THC-infused beverages. Dani Woodward Local Government https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/zeldin-as-ag-could-stall-cannabis-rescheduling-efforts/ https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/zeldin-as-ag-could-stall-cannabis-rescheduling-efforts/ Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:00:41 GMT Trump's reported consideration of Lee Zeldin as Attorney General raises concerns for cannabis rescheduling advocates awaiting Schedule III status. Kira Tanaka Cannabis Industry https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/virginia-posts-cannabis-regulatory-jobs-amid-sales-bill/ https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/virginia-posts-cannabis-regulatory-jobs-amid-sales-bill/ Thu, 02 Apr 2026 16:00:37 GMT Virginia's Cannabis Control Authority posted nearly a dozen regulatory job openings as Gov. Spanberger nears her April 13 deadline to act on adult-use sales legislation. Tomas Reyes Cannabis Industry https://californiabud.com/category/opinion/2026/04/virginia-governor-can-save-hemp-market-from-6-month-gap/ https://californiabud.com/category/opinion/2026/04/virginia-governor-can-save-hemp-market-from-6-month-gap/ Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:10:04 GMT Governor Spanberger has until April 13 to act on SB 542, which would cap hemp THC at 2mg and shut down Virginia's hemp retail market until January 2027. Jesse Marsh Opinion https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/missouri-senate-passes-ban-on-intoxicating-hemp-thc-products/ https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/missouri-senate-passes-ban-on-intoxicating-hemp-thc-products/ Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:00:42 GMT Missouri's Senate passed a bill limiting hemp THC products to 0.4mg per container and restricting sales to licensed marijuana dispensaries. Jesse Morales Cannabis Industry https://californiabud.com/category/opinion/2026/04/elizabeth-holmes-sentence-reduction-drug-war-hypocrisy/ https://californiabud.com/category/opinion/2026/04/elizabeth-holmes-sentence-reduction-drug-war-hypocrisy/ Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:00:00 GMT A billionaire fraudster just got a year knocked off for good behavior. Meanwhile, people in this county have done longer stretches for growing a plant that's been legal here since 2016. Jesse Marsh Opinion https://californiabud.com/category/crime/2026/04/two-arrested-in-sohum-after-deputies-find-indoor-operation/ https://californiabud.com/category/crime/2026/04/two-arrested-in-sohum-after-deputies-find-indoor-operation/ Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:00:00 GMT Two men were arrested Friday after Humboldt County deputies executing a search warrant discovered approximately 8,000 cannabis plants in a large-scale indoor grow operation near Alderpoint. Ray Petrovic Crime https://californiabud.com/category/community/2026/04/garberville-summer-arts-fair-gets-new-home-after-thirty-years/ https://californiabud.com/category/community/2026/04/garberville-summer-arts-fair-gets-new-home-after-thirty-years/ Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:00:00 GMT The Garberville Summer Arts Fair is leaving the town square after three decades and relocating to the Benbow grounds, a move that organizers say will double vendor capacity and end the annual parking nightmare. Dani Woodward Community https://californiabud.com/category/environment/2026/04/new-remediation-standards-for-legacy-grow-sites-draw-mixed-reactions/ https://californiabud.com/category/environment/2026/04/new-remediation-standards-for-legacy-grow-sites-draw-mixed-reactions/ Wed, 01 Apr 2026 15:00:00 GMT New state standards for cleaning up abandoned and legacy cannabis grow sites in Humboldt County have land trusts praising the requirements and growers calling them unrealistic and unfunded. Tomas Reyes Environment https://californiabud.com/category/the-plant/2026/04/emerald-cup-winners-show-trend-toward-landrace-and-heritage-genetics/ https://californiabud.com/category/the-plant/2026/04/emerald-cup-winners-show-trend-toward-landrace-and-heritage-genetics/ Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:00:00 GMT This year's Emerald Cup results reveal a clear shift: judges and consumers are gravitating toward landrace revivals and heritage crosses over the high-THC exotics that dominated recent competitions. Kira Tanaka The Plant https://californiabud.com/category/opinion/2026/04/appellation-promise-means-nothing-if-small-farms-dont-survive/ https://californiabud.com/category/opinion/2026/04/appellation-promise-means-nothing-if-small-farms-dont-survive/ Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:00:00 GMT California's cannabis appellation program was built for Humboldt growers. But the farms it was designed to protect are disappearing faster than the regulations can save them. Jesse Marsh Opinion https://californiabud.com/category/business/2026/04/eureka-tourism-board-reports-strongest-first-quarter-since-2019/ https://californiabud.com/category/business/2026/04/eureka-tourism-board-reports-strongest-first-quarter-since-2019/ Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT Hotel occupancy, visitor spending, and event bookings in Eureka all exceeded pre-pandemic levels in Q1 2026, according to new data from the Humboldt County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Maya Flores Business https://californiabud.com/category/crime/2026/04/camp-eradicates-twelve-thousand-plants-from-national-forest/ https://californiabud.com/category/crime/2026/04/camp-eradicates-twelve-thousand-plants-from-national-forest/ Wed, 01 Apr 2026 11:00:00 GMT A multi-agency CAMP operation removed approximately 12,000 cannabis plants and 4 tons of infrastructure from an illegal grow site deep in the Six Rivers National Forest west of Willow Creek. Ray Petrovic Crime https://californiabud.com/category/community/2026/04/arcata-farmers-market-opens-season-with-record-vendor-turnout/ https://californiabud.com/category/community/2026/04/arcata-farmers-market-opens-season-with-record-vendor-turnout/ Wed, 01 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT The Arcata Farmers Market kicked off its 2026 season Saturday with 87 registered vendors, the most in the market's 46-year history, as crowds filled the plaza by mid-morning. Dani Woodward Community https://californiabud.com/category/environment/2026/04/eel-river-flows-hit-critical-threshold-as-irrigation-season-begins/ https://californiabud.com/category/environment/2026/04/eel-river-flows-hit-critical-threshold-as-irrigation-season-begins/ Wed, 01 Apr 2026 09:00:00 GMT Flow gauges on the South Fork Eel are reading 142 cubic feet per second, just above the 130 cfs emergency threshold, and the growing season has barely started. Tomas Reyes Environment https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/dcc-enforcement-actions-up-forty-percent-in-first-quarter/ https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/dcc-enforcement-actions-up-forty-percent-in-first-quarter/ Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:00:00 GMT The Department of Cannabis Control issued 312 enforcement actions in Q1 2026, a 40 percent increase over the same period last year, with Humboldt County accounting for the largest share. Kira Tanaka Cannabis Industry https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/wholesale-prices-hit-new-low-as-oversupply-crushes-small-farm-margins/ https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/04/wholesale-prices-hit-new-low-as-oversupply-crushes-small-farm-margins/ Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:00:00 GMT Outdoor pounds are moving at $380 on the wholesale market, the lowest figure in the legal era. Legacy farms across southern Humboldt say the numbers no longer pencil out. Kira Tanaka Cannabis Industry https://californiabud.com/category/local-government/2026/04/board-considers-opening-restricted-watershed-areas/ https://californiabud.com/category/local-government/2026/04/board-considers-opening-restricted-watershed-areas/ Wed, 01 Apr 2026 06:00:00 GMT Humboldt supervisors will vote next week on a proposal to open restricted watershed zones to permitted cannabis cultivation, a move that has split environmental groups and legacy growers. Jesse Marsh Local Government https://californiabud.com/category/environment/2026/03/cal-fire-maps-new-high-risk-zones-along-mattole-corridor/ https://californiabud.com/category/environment/2026/03/cal-fire-maps-new-high-risk-zones-along-mattole-corridor/ Sat, 28 Mar 2026 08:00:00 GMT Cal Fire's updated fire hazard severity zone maps reclassify 14,200 acres along the Mattole corridor from moderate to high or very high risk, with significant implications for building permits and property insurance. Tomas Reyes Environment https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/03/dcc-opens-public-comment-period-on-cultivation-regulations-overhaul/ https://californiabud.com/category/cannabis-industry/2026/03/dcc-opens-public-comment-period-on-cultivation-regulations-overhaul/ Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT The Department of Cannabis Control opened a 45-day public comment period on proposed changes to cultivation regulations, including revisions to canopy limits, environmental requirements, and the controversial large-license provisions. Kira Tanaka Cannabis Industry https://californiabud.com/category/business/2026/03/fishing-fleet-revenue-down-eighteen-percent-year-over-year/ https://californiabud.com/category/business/2026/03/fishing-fleet-revenue-down-eighteen-percent-year-over-year/ Tue, 24 Mar 2026 09:00:00 GMT Commercial fishing revenue out of Humboldt County harbors fell 18% in 2025, driven by a shortened crab season, salmon closures, and rising fuel costs that squeezed margins across the fleet. Maya Flores Business https://californiabud.com/category/crime/2026/03/armed-robbery-at-eureka-gas-station-suspect-at-large/ https://californiabud.com/category/crime/2026/03/armed-robbery-at-eureka-gas-station-suspect-at-large/ Sun, 22 Mar 2026 07:00:00 GMT Eureka Police are searching for a suspect who robbed a Broadway gas station at knifepoint Saturday evening, the third commercial robbery in the city this quarter. Ray Petrovic Crime https://californiabud.com/category/community/2026/03/mateel-community-center-celebrates-fifty-years-with-reggae-fundraiser/ https://californiabud.com/category/community/2026/03/mateel-community-center-celebrates-fifty-years-with-reggae-fundraiser/ Fri, 20 Mar 2026 11:00:00 GMT The Mateel Community Center marked its fiftieth anniversary Saturday with a reggae fundraiser that packed the hall and brought out three generations of Southern Humboldt residents. Dani Woodward Community https://californiabud.com/category/environment/2026/03/coho-salmon-spotted-in-prairie-creek-for-first-time-in-decade/ https://californiabud.com/category/environment/2026/03/coho-salmon-spotted-in-prairie-creek-for-first-time-in-decade/ Wed, 18 Mar 2026 08:00:00 GMT CDFW biologists have confirmed the presence of coho salmon in Prairie Creek near Orick for the first time since 2016, a milestone for North Coast watershed restoration efforts. Tomas Reyes Environment