Melinda Burns, Author at News Channel 3-12

Vintner vs. Cannabis Grower: Feuding Neighbors in Wine Country

June 19, 2025 10:34 am Melinda Burns

BUELLTON, Calif. – A class action lawsuit with broad implications for outdoor cannabis growers and their neighbors is approaching a pivotal moment,… Continue Reading

County Sheriff’s Cannabis Enforcement Team Is Disbanded: Shrinking revenues, fewer raids lead supervisors to shift funds elsewhere

June 18, 2025 4:04 pm Melinda Burns

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – The team of four county Sheriff’s deputies and a sergeant that busted dozens of illegal pot operations and confiscated… Continue Reading

Reality Check: County Supes Cut $1.4 million in Cannabis-Related Costs

June 4, 2025 12:13 pm Melinda Burns

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – In a significant course correction this week, the county Board of Supervisors cut $1.4 million from its cannabis… Continue Reading

Island Breeze, Bane of the Polo Condos, Is Shut Down — But for How Long?

March 12, 2025 11:00 am Melinda Burns

CARPINTERIA, Calif. – The property owners at Island Breeze Farms, a controversial cannabis greenhouse operation across from the Polo Condos, are… Continue Reading

‘Landmark’ Ruling Certifies a Class Action Against Valley Crest for ‘Nuisance Odor’

March 6, 2025 12:14 pm Melinda Burns

CARPINTERIA, Calif. – In a case that could have broad implications for commercial cannabis growers, Superior Court Judge Thomas Anderle ruled on… Continue Reading

Upping the Ante: Planners Support Tough Odor Controls for All Cannabis Greenhouse

February 20, 2025 4:30 pm Melinda Burns

CARPINTERIA, Calif. – In a 5-0 vote on Wednesday, the county Planning Commission endorsed the most consequential changes to the county’s cannabis… Continue Reading

Another Delay For Graham Farrar’s Cannabis Processing Building

February 10, 2025 12:26 pm Melinda Burns

CARPINTERIA, Calif. – One of the most contentious projects in the Carpinteria Valley — a proposed 25,400 square-foot processing building for a… Continue Reading

Fine-Tuning Strict Odor Controls for Cannabis Greenhouses

January 30, 2025 4:16 pm Melinda Burns

CARPINTERIA, Calif. – Working on a fast track, the county Planning Commission on Wednesday tentatively endorsed a county Board of Supervisors… Continue Reading

The Downward Trend in Cannabis Tax Revenues

January 27, 2025 1:35 pm Melinda Burns

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – A disappointing first quarter for fiscal year 2024-25 garnered only $1.3 million in cannabis tax revenues for the… Continue Reading

Roy Lee and the American Dream

January 21, 2025 11:01 am Melinda Burns

CARPINTERIA, Calif - It’s a tale of two Americas. Vowing to make good on a top campaign promise that whipped his followers into an anti-immigrant… Continue Reading

The Coming Crackdown on Greenhouse Cannabis

January 15, 2025 11:39 am Melinda Burns

CARPINTERIA, Calif.– In a dramatic course correction on Tuesday, the new county Board of Supervisors set in motion a requirement for the use of… Continue Reading

County Supervisors Open a “New Chapter” on Cannabis Industry Regulation

January 13, 2025 11:19 am Melinda Burns

CARPINTERIA, Calif. - Wasting no time in the New Year, two members of the new county Board of Supervisors have scheduled a hearing for next Tuesday… Continue Reading

County Planners Reject the Island Breeze Cannabis Project

November 18, 2024 11:32 am Melinda Burns

CARPINTERIA, Calif. – Island Breeze Farms, a small greenhouse pot operation across Foothill Road from the Polo Condos at the western end of the… Continue Reading

The Island Breeze Cannabis Project Stumbles Again

October 11, 2024 1:24 pm Melinda Burns

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif- In an unusual move, the county Planning Commission signaled this week that it may deny a zoning permit for a cannabis… Continue Reading

Draining Groundwater and Pocketbooks in the Cuyama Valley

July 2, 2024 1:18 pm Melinda Burns

A water rights lawsuit by giant carrot corporations, well into its third year, is driving up legal fees and gumming up the plans for sustainability,… Continue Reading

Island Breeze Farms goes back to the drawing board

June 27, 2024 9:21 am Melinda Burns

The cannabis operation next to the Polo Condos in the Carpinteria Valley must install carbon scrubbers for odor control, county planning commission… Continue Reading

Cannabis tax reform limps to an uncertain finish line; “It’s so frickin’ complicated,” a county supervisor says

June 17, 2024 12:11 pm Melinda Burns

As the county supervisors prepare to vote next week whether to propose a cannabis tax increase for the November ballot, they are facing a dilemma… Continue Reading

Lompoc Cannabis Lab will pay $1.3 million penalty for air pollution

June 7, 2024 1:33 pm Melinda Burns

Lompoc Cannabis Lab will pay $1.3 million penalty for air pollution – the operator will install a state-of-the-art clean-air technology, setting a… Continue Reading

County CEO: Cannabis tax revenues are falling short — again

June 6, 2024 6:00 am Melinda Burns

County CEO: Cannabis tax revenues are falling short — again. Four pot shops in unincorporated areas were expected to open but didn’t, officials… Continue Reading

After a state audit, Santa Barbara County will tweak cannabis licensing

April 26, 2024 6:00 pm Melinda Burns

After a state audit, Santa Barbara County will tweak cannabis licensing. Small changes such as “blind scoring” will enhance fairness, officials… Continue Reading