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Board adopts pilot program allowing retail cannabis sales at farms and limited consumption lounges with new safeguards
Summary
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors approved a three‑year pilot program to allow retail cannabis sales at qualifying farm sites and to permit regulated on‑site consumption in licensed lounges, while directing staff to craft enforcement and education measures to limit safety risks.
Santa Cruz County supervisors approved a three‑year pilot program authorizing retail cannabis sales at qualifying farm sites and moving forward with a framework to permit regulated on‑site consumption in licensed cannabis lounges, with conditions aimed at reducing public safety risks.
The Board voted to advance the ordinance after extended public comment and internal debate on how to balance support for the local cannabis economy with concerns about impaired driving, youth exposure and public health. The final actions include requiring reservation systems for certain farm sales, directing the Cannabis Licensing Office to develop enforceable policies that could include license suspension or revocation if on‑site consumption is found to lead to impaired‑driving harm, and asking county staff to seek funding for a server‑training…
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