Cannabis in Wine Country
Sideways’ Santa Barbara Split on Whether Wine and Cannabis Can Co-exist – LPC
The Santa Barbara hills have changed since the movie Sideways debuted in 2004. Today, there’s cannabis in wine country – and not everyone likes it.
“We don’t oppose cannabis,” said Marc Chytilo, an attorney for the Santa Barbara Coalition for Responsible Cannabis. “Categorically, we want to see the county get this right. The process has not worked in this case.”
But the county recently voted yes, cannabis in wine country is a good thing. Busy Bee Organics can grow on 22 acres off Highway 246 near Buellton, gateway to wine country. Citizens worry that cannabis farms will tarnish the scenic vistas of the Santa Rita Hills and the Santa Ynez Valley. So far, that hasn’t been the case.
“You could even say I was leaning against the project,” said Das Williams, who sits on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. “Then I passed by (Busy Bee Organics) without even noticing there was a marijuana operation there. That’s what we want.”
“We’re just grateful to get back to the work of farming,” said Sara Rotman, who owns Busy Bee with her husband, Nate Diaz. Rotman and Diaz planted rows of trees along the highway to hide the operation. Cannabis in wine country still has a ways to go to be fully accepted, it seems. “There’s been an extraordinary amount of scrutiny and review. I’m grateful that the supervisors agreed.”
Does Cannabis in Wine Country Offer More Tourism Opportunities? – LPC
Despite the county’s passing of Busy Bee’s land-use permit, residents remain split on the issue of cannabis in wine country. Odour was another concern raised.
“It substantially undercuts the authority of the planning commission and increases the odour footprint,” Chytilo said.
Not so, said Jon Olgrehn. The agriculturalist who works on organic farms including vineyards called Busy Bee “one of the cleanest operations out there.”
“They have the direct support of their immediate neighbours,” Olgrehn said. “It’s time for us to make decisions based on facts, not fear.”
Ultimately, cannabis in wine country could boost tourism, something that is still building in Canada. It’s growing elsewhere in the United States, too. Illinois cannabis tourism was recently in the news for a resort under consideration in the northern part of the state.
Sideways made the area a tourist destination already. Perhaps the biggest test for cannabis in wine country will be how it affects tourism in the area down the road.
