‍Press Release:

Cannabis Sales and Events Pose Significant Crime Risk to Sonoma County's Rural Areas

Santa Rosa, CA – September 3, 2024 – As Sonoma County considers updating its Cannabis Ordinance to allow retail cannabis sales and events at rural cultivation sites, public safety concerns have emerged regarding the potential increase in crime these changes could bring.

A recent report, commissioned by the Neighborhood Coalition, highlights that cannabis operations, particularly in rural areas, have been linked to a rise in violent crime, including armed robberies of processing facilities. Recent articles that chronicle the crimes including a burglary ring that targeted cannabis dispensaries. The presence of such operations not only endangers public safety but also strains local law enforcement resources. The California Highway Patrol's Santa Rosa Commander emphasized the danger, stating, "We have certainly seen an increase in violent crime in and around more rural cannabis operations."

The proposed ordinance could potentially transform quiet neighborhoods into hotspots for crime. According to data gathered through Public Records Act (PRA) requests, there have been 3,188 cannabis-related public safety incidents reported across five Bay Area counties and three cities over the past four years. Sonoma County alone accounts for 904 of these incidents, or approximately 1.2 incidents per day.

Despite security measures required by local and state laws, cannabis dispensaries have proven to be magnets for crime. This poses a dangerous environment not only for the operators and law enforcement but also for the general public living near these establishments. The risk is particularly high for rural cultivation sites, where law enforcement response times can range from 30 to 45 minutes.

"Rural mini-dispensaries would be very inviting to criminals and would subject neighborhoods to the types of urban crime being reported to law enforcement," warns the report. The Neighborhood Coalition, which advocates for sustainable and neighborhood-compatible cannabis policies, strongly opposes the proposed ordinance, citing that it would seriously undermine neighborhood compatibility and introduce unnecessary crime.

Moreover, allowing cannabis events at rural sites—up to 104 events per year—could exacerbate the situation. Given that cannabis consumption impairs driving for hours, and with data suggesting that 20% of traffic deaths involve marijuana use, the risks associated with permitting such activities in rural areas should not be considered.

The Neighborhood Coalition urges the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors to reconsider these proposals and instead focuses on protecting the safety and well-being of all residents.

For more information, please contact:

Nancy and Brantly Richardson Communications Director

SonomaNeighborhoodCoalition@gmail.com

https://www.neighborhoodcoalitionsonomacounty.com/