Inside Santa Cruz County politics & policy with Lookout correspondent Christopher Neely.
cannabis
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Letter to the editor: We are youth leaders worried about local cannabis policy
In a letter to the editor, members of the Santa Cruz County Friday Night Live Partnership Youth Council urge readers concerned about cannabis lounges to contact their supervisor or attend Tuesday’s supervisors meeting.
Posted inLatest News
Cannabis lounges get initial nod from Santa Cruz County supervisors; final votes still to come
With a 3-2 vote by supervisors Tuesday, Santa Cruz County is moving toward legalizing cannabis consumption lounges, a decision met with both cautious approval and public health concerns. Supporters see a pragmatic step toward regulating an already widespread activity, while critics warn of normalization and secondhand smoke risks.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Cannabis lounges pose a risk to the health of Santa Cruz County youth — the board of supervisors should vote no
We should be concerned about cannabis lounges, writes Nadia Al-Lami, a director of adolescent health in Santa Cruz County who has witnessed the harmful effects of high-potency cannabis on youth, including increased risk of psychosis. On Tuesday, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors is due to consider allowing on-site cannabis consumption lounges, which Al-Lami believes would increase the visibility and accessibility of these products, disproportionately affecting vulnerable teens and communities. She urges the board to reject this proposal and implement stronger regulations to protect our youth.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Let’s take a closer look at the studies on marijuana use – now that it’s legal, we all deserve to know
Victoria Tatum used marijuana for 15 years to calm her anxiety. But she developed asthma and the cannabis interfered with her thinking so she stopped. She tried CBD on her adult son with autism, but without the THC. Now that it is legal, which she supports, she’d like to see more public discussions on the long-term side effects of recreational cannabis use.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz County supervisors advance seismic shifts to cannabis consumption rules
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday told cannabis division staff to draw up an ordinance allowing on-site cannabis lounges. The supervisors are expected to take their first vote on the new rules on Dec. 10. If passed, a second vote would likely come sometime in January, with the lounges becoming legal 30 days later.
Posted inLatest News
After cannabis theft ring bust, Santa Cruz business owner still facing charges
Felony shooting charges against Santa Cruz cannabis dispensary owner Derek Hubbard will move forward despite California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s announcement last week of 22 arrests in the breakup of a major retail cannabis theft operation police say was involved in the incident and a string of other burglaries in Santa Cruz County and beyond. Fellow cannabis retailers remain outraged that Hubbard, whom they see as a victim, is being charged with a crime.
Posted inLatest News
22 charged with retail cannabis thefts that hit Santa Cruz County
A crime ring that had the local cannabis industry on edge has been arrested, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced in a news conference Thursday in Santa Cruz County. The group was responsible for more than $1 million in stolen product from cannabis businesses since August 2023.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Cannabis industry’s sad state prompts changes across Santa Cruz County
Statewide, the cannabis industry has not wafted in quite the economic boom it promised. Now, lawmakers in Santa Cruz County, Watsonville and the city of Santa Cruz are looking at changes to their local rules.
Posted inLatest News
Over school district, parents’ objections, Santa Cruz City Council allows Westside dispensary by 6-1 vote
The Hook Outlet cannabis dispensary, through a partnership with WAMM Phyotherapies, will be able to open at the old Emily’s Bakery location at Mission and Laurel streets following months of community uproar over its proximity to two schools.