Melinda Burns is a freelance reporter based in Santa Barbara, California.
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
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
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?
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’
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
After a state audit, Santa Barbara County will tweak cannabis licensing. Small changes such as “blind scoring” will enhance fairness, officials… Continue Reading