The Solvang City Council wants additional information from law enforcement officers before deciding whether to ease its rules to allow the sale of adult-use cannabis at a yet-to-open medical dispensary.

On Monday night, council members voted 3-2 to table the topic until hearing from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Cannabis Compliance Team. Councilman Robert Clarke and Councilwoman Claudia Orona voted against the delay.

In 2018, the city adopted rules to allow a medical cannabis dispensary in Solvang, but Megan’s Organics Market asked the council to allow the shop to also sell to adults for recreational use.

“I am concerned … if there is any indication, any data that suggests a move to adult use imposes more services or more incidents for the sheriff’s department. I’d like to understand if there’s more pressure that comes with that,” Councilwoman Elizabeth Orona said. 

Solvang contracts with the Sheriff’s Office to operate as the city’s police department.

Sheriff’s Lt. Mark Valencia, who serves as Solvang’s police chief, suggested that the City Council should hear from the Cannabis Compliance Team. 

“Yes, there will be an increase of demand for sheriff’s department resources in addressing another dispensary,” Valencia said. 

Councilman David Brown said he didn’t want to waste staff time or cost to make the proposed changes when the Cannabis Compliance Team’s presentation might lead the council to reject revising the rules.

The Solvang dispensary will be the second in the broader Santa Ynez Valley. Six miles east of Solvang, Santa Barbara County has permitted an adult use dispensary to open in Santa Ynez.

Cannabis shops in the Santa Ynez Valley are new, but Lompoc has had more than a dozen for a few years. 

Law enforcement officers have seen increases in driving under the influence of cannabis and juvenile crimes along with increased contacts at schools in Vandenberg Village and Santa Ynez, with marijuana reportedly indirectly obtained from dispensaries, according to Valencia.

“I always find it interesting that people will bring up health and safety issues with cannabis, but they never bring any of that up whenever another wine tasting room or another bar (opens). This is not a matter of cannabis being available in our community,” Councilwoman Claudia Orona said, adding that it’s widely available. “To me this is a question are we tapping into the that revenue or not.”

Councilman Robert Clarke said he isn’t a big fan of cannabis, but recognized that voters approved legalizing cannabis.

“I have zero problem with this because it will bring a lot of dollars to Solvang, and that’s the only reason I’m behind this,” Clarke said. 

“It’s not clear how much tax revenue we’re really talking about,”  Councilwoman Elizabeth Orona added. 

Megan’s Organics Market, which has a permit to open the Solvang medical dispensary, has requested permission to include adult use cannabis.

The firm continues to work on obtaining a building permit to make improvements to the storefront at 1210 Mission Drive, according to Megan Souza, founder, owner and chief executive officer of MOM.

“There would be no difference in the products carried or sold. There will be no change to the proposed layout, design, security or general operations of the store,” Nick Andre, also from MOM, said. “It would only change who’s eligible to walk in the door and purchase cannabis.”

State law restricts the amount of cannabis purchased by adult use buyers compared with those with medical marijuana cards. 

“With more eligible customers, the tax revenue would be significantly higher to the City of Solvang,” Andre said. 

Adult use purchases occur in Solvang with delivery services, but those taxes remain in the communities where the dispensary is based. 

City Attorney Dave Fleishman said that amending city regulations would require a zone change, which would go to the Solvang Planning Commission for consideration. 

“This is not an overnight process. This is going to require additional input,” Fleishman said.