More Trouble in Santa Barbara’s Cannabis World
Elections, Proposals, and Hemp All Heat Up as Supes Consider Amending Ordinance
As Santa Barbara’s cannabis wars threaten to get even more cantankerous, a new campus group calling itself Free S.B. has begun demanding that the county’s cannabis revenues be used to fund “college affordability programs” for UCSB students. This new organization — which boasts a polished website, freesb.org — was started by Tom Steel, a recent UCSB graduate and campus activist, who stated he was moved to action by the food insecurity he experienced while an undergraduate. Steel, who did not return numerous requests for interviews by deadline, is hoping to boost student attendance at the County Board of Supervisors meeting on July 9 in Santa Maria, when supervisors will be exploring proposed amendments to the county’s increasingly controversial cannabis ordinance.
To date, the county is on track to reap $6 million in cannabis tax revenues. Of that, $2.7 million has been earmarked for enforcement purposes. Free S.B.’s statements allude to $25 million in cannabis taxes.
Third District Supervisor Joan Hartmann, whose district includes Isla Vista and who is up for reelection next year, said she doubts supervisors could legally grant Free S.B.’s demands even if they wanted to. “I don’t believe we could take money from our general fund and give it to higher education,” Hartmann said. “I suspect the group is entirely supported by the cannabis industry,” and if so, she continued, it would be “a cynical ploy” on their part. “I think this is … a way to get at me,” Hartmann said, “and that makes me really angry.”
