For two years, Jason Campbell has been legally growing commercial marijuana on his quarter acre plot on his property near Valley Springs in Calaveras County.
“Little over 80 right now, it’s pretty nice," said Campbell, as he looked over his plants in one of his four greenhouses.
Now, he faces a shutdown of his grows in 90 days as the ban kicks in.
“You just stay positive and keep everything in order and just keep on keeping on," said Campbell.
Campbell has 200 plants right now, but has had over 500 plants at his peak of cultivation. A year ago, he says, his cannabis could sell for up to $1800 a pound, but now says its dropped to $1000 as more growers flood the market.
“I’m not rich by any means, you know. It’s hard work. I’m our here doing the majority of it. My wife helps out. I have one employee," said Campbell.
There are 200 permitted cannabis grows with another 177 in the process.
“I’d say I’m in the same boat as most farmers and it’s a six figure investment to try to make a legitimate go at it in this industry," said Murphys grower Burch Shufeldt, who says he's grown marijuana for 15 years.
Shufeldt is shut down for the winter, but now faces a shut down for good.
“I mean it’s terrifying. I have a family to support. I have a two-year-old. I have lived here for 15 years in the county," he said. "It feels like the board of supervisors just spat in my face."
Through a series of legal challenges, growers are hoping they can stop the ban before the June 7th deadline. If not, commercial growers will face felony cultivation charges, penalties, jail time and crop seizures.
Jason Campbell says if he’s forced to, he will abandon his grows, and instead go into farming honey and berries.
“I would love to continue to cultivate cannabis for my own medical needs and to help other patients, too," said Campbell.