Santa Barbara County, once a leader in California's legal cannabis industry, is facing a sharp decline in tax revenues from cannabis sales, leading county officials to cut funding for cannabis enforcement. The projected drop in tax revenues, from $15.7 million in 2020-21 to approximately $5.4 million by 2024-25, has prompted a reassignment of county officers away from cannabis enforcement. Instead, leftover funds are being channeled to a nonprofit aiding families impacted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, reflecting a significant shift in priorities as the cannabis boom fades.
In 2020-21, cannabis tax revenues in the county reached an apex of $15.7 million. But by 2024-25, they dipped to nearly a third of that.
Santa Barbara County supervisors reassigned the five county officers away from the cannabis enforcement program, essentially disbanding the dedicated enforcement team.
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