In the early days of legalized weed production in California, Santa Barbara County led the charge with a nascent but robust cannabis growing industry — a new feather in the cap of one of California’s agricultural epicenters. But in recent years, like many other places in California where the cannabis business has taken a turn, the boom times have given way to bust.
Now, Santa Barbara County officials are looking for ways to shift spending in response to swiftly declining cannabis tax revenues. And one of the first things on the chopping block is the funds allocated to law enforcement.
And, in a twist, a big chunk of remaining cannabis tax funds has been redirected away from law enforcement and to a local nonprofit group that helps families cope with fallout from Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and deportations…