Learn about Cannabis farming in Santa Barbara County comparing farmed acreage of commodity crops, 2018 Crop Revenues and Cannabis Tax Revenues, and the economic impacts of Cannabis in Santa Barbara County.

1. Together We Thrive
https://goodfarmersgreatneighbors.com/

2. Santa Barbara County 2019 Agricultural Permits: https://cosantabarbara.app.box.com/s/jdt95fy7gst3g8649l9t3ukrorr5xeh9/file/431631975105
Santa Barbara County Cannabis Acreage Allowance: http://cannabis.countyofsb.org/asset.c/147
Strawberries
12%
Wine Grapes
15%
Broccoli
5%
Avocados
5%
Cattle
(Pastureland/Rangeland)
36%
Forage Hay
26%
Cannabis
1%
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY AGRICULTURAL ACREAGE
2019 TOTAL REGISTERED: 801,487 ACRES

3. 2018 Agricultural Production Report, County of Santa Barbara. https://countyofsb.org/uploadedFiles/agcomm/Content/Other/crops/2018.pdf
2018 Commodity Revenues
$478,506,788
Strawberries
$121,307,213
Wine Grapes
$80,306,603
Broccoli
$52,617,303
Avocados
$50,578,750
Cattle
Coming in 2019
Cannabis

4. In Santa Barbara County the cannabis tax rates are based on gross receipts with rates of 1% on
nurseries and distributors, 3% on manufacturers, 4% on cultivators and 6% on retailers and
microbusinesses. The FY 18-19 projected tax revenue was $5,7million; $6.8 million was collected.
https://www.countyofsb.org/uploadedFiles/auditor/content/FY2018_19CAFR.pdf
https://www.independent.com/2019/04/12/counting-cannabis-in-santa-barbara/
https://santamariatimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/santa-barbara-county-cannabis-tax-revenue-up-in-fourth-quarter/article_6b96fb8c-8961-526a-833c-53b816bb79e0.html#1
1,300,000
1,800,000
1,400,000
2,300,000
-
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr
Santa Barbara County Cannabis Tax Revenue 2018-19

5. To date, Cannabis Tax Revenue has been budgeted for:
Law enforcement budget of $2.8m
against illegal cannabis operations, with
13 full-time team members
Cannabis tax financial audit
https://www.countyofsb.org/uploadedFiles/auditor/content/FY2018_19CAFR.pdf
https://santamariatimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/santa-barbara-county-supervisors-adopt-budget-after-allocating-m-in/article_bcc23189-b9f8-58ef-b4eb-891186dc4704.html
Santa Barbara County libraries
Recreation Master Plan
Alternative Commuting Consumer Choice Energy
Animal Services Facility

6. The Cannabis industry is building Santa Barbara County’s economy.
In July 2019, UC Santa Barbara released a preliminary economic forecast on the estimated impacts of the
cannabis industry in Santa Barbara County based on 156 legally cultivated acres.
Direct Growth in 2018 Indirect Growth in 2018
Average annual wages: $65,000 Local goods and services + output:
$291.8 million
4,889 direct jobs, including 2,500 directly
in cannabis
1,123 indirect and induced jobs
At the time the assessment was released only 30% of land licensed for cannabis cultivation was being
actively farmed. The numbers above are expected to rise significantly.
https://efp.ucsb.edu/Cannabis/implan_InitialAssessment.pdf

7. Regulatory Agencies Overseeing Santa Barbara County’s Cannabis Industry
Ag Commission
Business License Unit
Cannabis Law Enforcement
Environmental Health
Planning and Development
Sustainability Committee
CalCannabis
Cultivation Licensing

8. Fostering a Local, Sustainable Economy