PRESS RELEASE Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors Rules in Favor of Special Interests SANTA BARBARA -- On June 11, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors dropped the ball once again. Ignoring the Planning Commission’s recommendation to amend our Zoning and Land Use code such that they require a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for Cannabis growers, the Board sided with special interests to allow these growers to continue nearly unregulated. The Coalition for Responsible Cannabis continues to believe that CUPs are absolutely necessary for all commercial cannabis cultivation across the County to maintain continued control over this industry and to protect against irresponsible land use in our region. During a lengthy rant, Supervisor Williams falsely stated that everyone who opposes a lack of regulation is “anti-cannabis.” This is categorically false. Mr. Williams wants to blur the lines between common-sense regulation and cannabis prohibition. The people of Santa Barbara County deserve better, and they should get it. Carpinteria resident Paul Ekstrom said, “Supervisor Williams stated that cannabis farms have done ‘everything’ they can do to prevent odors. This is categorically false, as anyone driving on Highway 101 can attest. If they simply sealed the greenhouses, the problems in Carpinteria would be very nearly fixed.” he County Agricultural Commission, Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau and Grower-Shipper Association have T made clear the conflict between Cannabis and traditional crops are very real, and that the effects on the local economy could be significant without any study, information or data and all have joined the Coalition in calling for a CUP. “Cannabis can flourish in the County, but impacts must be studied and permits need to be adequately conditioned. We have seen from experience how weak Land Use Permits are not appropriate for commercial cannabis operations. A Conditional Use Permit is the correct type of permit to give the industry the ability to thrive while respecting the interests of surrounding residents and farmers” explained Marc Chytilo, an attorney involved in many local cannabis projects. “The Supervisors failed to address the core problem – that they have given themselves inadequate legal authority to regulate cannabis. Today, a majority indicated they want it that way.” ### ABOUT SANTA BARBARA COALITION FOR RESPONSIBLE CANNABIS: The Santa Barbara Coalition for Responsible Cannabis is a community-based advocacy and education organization whose objective is to promote sustainable communities. We work progressively for the health and well-being of our county residents, children, traditional agriculture and businesses of Santa Barbara County who have been negatively affected by large scale commercial cannabis cultivation. The Coalition is not a prohibitionist organization and encourages cooperative and neighbor-friendly cannabis businesses. Santa Barbara Coalition for Responsible Cannabis www.SBCountyCoalition.com PO Box 278, Santa Barbara, CA 93102 A California 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
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