Santa Barbara Independent, June 19, 2019

What set Monday night’s testimonials apart was the strong showing by growers and members of the industry, many of whom have kept low profiles for fear of being discharged by their federally regulated banks. Numerous members of the Van Wingerden and Brand families showed and testified on behalf of a crop they embraced only after international trade decimated their cut-flower business. In contrast to what they used to grow, they argued, cannabis used no pesticides, less energy, and less water. They needed fewer trucks and could pay their workers better. And when it came to area nonprofits, no other donors, they pointed out, were as consistent or as generous.

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Santa Barbara Independent, May 1, 2019

Legal cannabis farming replaces unprofitable crops, creates new jobs, and funds the enforcement against illegal operators, preserving the land for generations of farmers.

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Leafly, March 4, 2019

Industry experts “expect cannabis jobs in the Golden State to increase by 21% in 2019. In raw numbers, that means 10,261 jobs with good salaries, benefits, and opportunity for advancement are waiting to be filled.” This would be an increase on top of the 66,951 jobs already supported by cannabis in California, in what is currently a $2.47 billion industry.  

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Washington Post, October 14, 2018

Despite its small footprint on the region’s agricultural land, cannabis cultivation is reinvigorating the regional economy. These local farmers, many of who have been practicing #agriculture in the community across generations, are predicted to send an annual $25 million in fees and revenue back to Santa Barbara County. This tax revenue “will go toward enforcing the cannabis law,” keeping the community safe from illegal growth, with additional funds earmarked for other vital public services.

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