Cannabis Archives

Protesters Gather in the Thousands for “No Kings” Rallies in Carpinteria and Santa Barbara

October 19, 2025 5:40 pm Tracy Lehr

CENTRAL COAST, Calif. (KEYT) – Thousands of people attended "No Kings" protests up and down the Central Coast and around the nation on… Continue Reading

U.S. Citizen Detained During ICE Raid Responds to DHS Accusations

October 1, 2025 6:23 pm Tracy Lehr

VENTURA, Calif. (KEYT) - A U.S. citizen and Army veteran detained during the Glass House cannabis farm ICE raid in July is responding to a Homeland… Continue Reading

U.S. Citizen’s ICE Arrest Case Could Reach Supreme Court

September 9, 2025 8:34 pm Tracy Lehr

VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – Aerial video during an ICE raid could be called into evidence. George Retes can be seen standing next to his… Continue Reading

Freed Veteran says he got caught between protesters and ICE agents on his way to work

July 16, 2025 7:34 pm Tracy Lehr

CAMARILLO, Calif. – On July 10th, a disabled Army veteran and security guard said he got caught in the middle of protesters and ICE agents at Glass… Continue Reading

‘Green Rush’ Fades: Santa Barbara Cannabis Revenues Go Up in Smoke, Grand Jury Says

June 20, 2025 6:44 pm Ryder Christ

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. — Santa Barbara County’s once-high hopes for cannabis tax revenue are going up in smoke, with a new Grand Jury report… Continue Reading

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

Proposed California Bill aims to give tax relief to cannabis retailers in hopes of strengthening legal pot industry

March 25, 2025 6:30 pm Mina Wahab

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. — California’s cannabis industry has hit a few potholes. Public Health Institute Senior Advisor, Dr. Lynn Silver,… 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

Carpinteria homeowners’ class action lawsuit against cannabis grower gets legal green light

March 5, 2025 12:46 pm Andrew Gillies, Tracy Lehr

CARPINTERIA, Calif. — A Santa Barbara County Superior Court judge has certified a class-action lawsuit against a Carpinteria-based cannabis grower,… 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

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

Over twenty people arrested in connection with multiple cannabis burglaries in nine California counties including San Luis Obispo

September 9, 2024 5:27 pm Andrew Gillies

The California Department of Justice arrested and charged 22 people in connection with at least 15 thefts from cannabis-related businesses including… 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