Laserfiche WebLink
"Pot Luck": Santa Ana's Monopoly on Licensed Retail Adult -Use Cannabis in Orange County <br />• Parks and Recreation <br />Anti -Drug Education Program <br />Fitness Courts <br />Goat Encounter at Santa Ana Zoo <br />Santa Anita Park Soccer Field Renovation <br />Splash pads for six City parks <br />Third Party youth programs <br />Traveling Zoo Exhibit <br />Year -Round Aquatics <br />Youth and Teen Excursion <br />Youth Programs and Services <br />Zoo and You Program <br />• Community Development Agency youth paid internships <br />• Contribution to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival Defense Fund <br />The OCGJ, through its investigation of the use of Cannabis Public Benefit funds, concluded that <br />the youth of Santa Ana have benefited greatly and will continue to benefit as a result of the <br />decision to license Retail Adult -Use Cannabis dispensaries in the City. <br />Communication <br />During the investigation of the Retail Adult -Use sale of cannabis in Santa Ana, the OCGJ noted <br />that there are several independent City departments involved in the licensing and regulation <br />process. While the expertise of each department may be required to ensure compliance with all <br />City ordinances and to process all necessary documents and fees, multiple points of contact can <br />make it difficult to obtain information when needed. <br />COMMENDATIONS <br />The City of Santa Ana received more than $20 million in revenue during the first three years of <br />licensed Retail Adult -Use Cannabis sales. Santa Ana was the first city in Orange County to begin <br />licensing for these dispensaries and has remained the only city for several years, giving it a <br />"monopoly" on Retail Adult -Use Cannabis business in Orange County. <br />The City of Santa Ana saw a significant drop in the number of illegal/unlicensed cannabis shops <br />as the number of licensed dispensaries increased. This reduction in illegal/unlicensed shops has <br />improved community safety for both consumers and residents. <br />FINDINGS <br />In accordance with California Penal Code Sections 933 and 933.05, the 2020-21 Grand Jury <br />requires responses from each agency affected by the findings presented in this section. The <br />responses are to be submitted to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court. <br />Based on its investigation described here, the 2020-21 Orange County Grand Jury has arrived at <br />the following principal findings: <br />2020-2021 Orange County Grand Jury Page 7 <br />City Council 28 — 11 9/7/2021 <br />