Santa Cruz County Supervisors vote to move forward with allowing cannabis consumption at certain pot shops

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) -- Santa Cruz County Supervisors have voted to move forward with a new ordinance that would allow cannabis consumption lounges at licensed pot shops. The narrow 3-2 vote in favor of the measure has sparked significant debate within the community, with many raising concerns about safety, particularly regarding the potential for impaired driving.

Supervisors Kimberly De Serpa and Monica Martinez opposed the ordinance, expressing concern over the safety risks.

"There’s a lot of people trying to get up and down that corridor, and it’s very, very dangerous," Kimberly De Serpa district 2 Supervisor said. "So to have people going into a lounge, getting high, and then trying to get out onto Soquel Drive is not a good idea."

"I’m not going to be supporting this because, as a mom, it doesn’t make sense. Just doesn’t make common sense to invite people onto the roads that I traffic every day with my kids, to get impaired and to get back on those roads," Monica Martinez district 5 supervisor said.

The new ordinance would permit cannabis consumption either inside the dispensaries or in an adjacent space. Strict requirements would be in place to ensure safety, including scent-proofing the lounges and complying with California’s Smoke-Free Workplace Rules.

Negative pressure systems would also be installed to prevent cannabis smoke from escaping into the surrounding environment.

Proponents of the measure, , argue that cannabis consumption lounges would create a safer, more controlled environment for users.

"If you are a renter, sometimes you're not even allowed to consume cannabis, whether it’s medical or recreational at your own home," Bryce Berryessa, co-founder of Tree House said. "This creates a framework where people can go to a safe space, get educated on safe consumption, and have a place to socialize together."

Supervisor Manu Koenig pointed out that tourists and locals alike often have limited legal options for consuming cannabis. "If anything, having a designated place where people could consume is going to bring more awareness about the fact that maybe they should take an Uber or ask a friend to drive them," Koenig said.

Public safety officials have raised concerns about the potential for impaired driving.

"A person who may believe they're okay to drive could get more impaired as they continue to drive," Scott Garner from the Scotts Valley Police Department said. "Areas like Scotts Valley and Highway 9 already have high traffic risks, including winding roads, frequent collisions, and limited safe pull-out areas."

While the ordinance is designed with safety in mind, some community members have raised questions about the proximity of pot lounges to schools.

However, dispensary owners like Bryce Berryessa have reassured the public that strict zoning laws are already in place to keep cannabis consumption areas away from school zones.

"We’re not allowed to be within 600 feet of a school," Berryessa said.

Supporters of the ordinance argue that cannabis lounges could provide an economic boost for the area, especially for tourists and renters who often lack a legal place to consume cannabis.

"It’s been a positive boon to the economy, It’s created tax revenue, and I think a lot of tourists who come here know that this is a spot for cannabis," Berryessa said.

The Santa Cruz County Supervisors will hold a second reading and final adoption of the ordinance on March 25th.

_________________________________________________________________________________________Numerous cannabis agenda items will be on Santa Cruz County's Board of Supervisors agenda on March 11 from on-site consumption to preventing underage use.

The first item would be an ordinance allowing cannabis use on-site at retailers. This would either be within the existing building itself or an adjacent space to the retail site.

The item was brought up to the board as early as November 14, 2023, when the Board of Supervisors looked at cannabis cultivation issues leading to community feedback and responses.

A vote would approve a concept allowing consumption before moving forward with a second reading and final adoption on March 25.

Another cannabis ordinance would focus on a farm retail license program allowing for the sale of cannabis at farm produce stands.

The pilot program would be for three years and allow the cannabis farms to be able to sell cannabis at their farms as part of their farm tours for consumption either on-site or at a designated space.

Along with these ordinances, the Board of Supervisors will accept a report on preventing underage cannabis use in Santa Cruz County.

The Board directed the Health Service Agency to create recommendations for the prevention efforts.