Santa Barbara City Council votes to allow five recreational marijuana dispensaries

Emotions are high in Santa Barbara’s Eastside neighborhood when it comes to a marijuana dispensary set to open any day now on North Milpas Street.

Canopy Health and Wellness Center moved into the area in early 2016. Since then, the owner of the business has revamped the garden and exterior of the building in preparation for opening day.

The new business hasn’t been well received in the neighborhood.

“So here we are telling them not to do drugs or don’t drink, don’t do anything and we put a drug dispensary right in the middle where they’re going to pass everyday. What kind of message is that? Because of this population, that message it hits harder and stronger,” said Bea Molina, Milpas Community Association president.

There are more school aged children living in the Eastside community than in any other part of the city. Many of them attend the two elementary schools which is located just a couple blocks from the dispensary.

“I just think it’s a bad location. I want to protect children and the neighbors,” said Jason Dominguez, Santa Barbara City Councilmember.

Dominguez represents the District One which includes the East Side.

“What council voted to do, over my objection, was to add 5 new permittees. So people can apply for 5 recreational dispensaries and put them anywhere in the city as long as they’re not within 600 feet from a school,” said Dominguez.

City leaders hope to have an ordinance in place to regulate marijuana before state laws goes into effect on January 1.

NewsChannel 3 left a voicemail for Ryan Howe, the owner of Canopy Health and Wellness Center.