1 Casey Erlenheim
From: Arwa Asif <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, April 6, 2026 3:12 PM
To: City_Clerk
Subject: Public Comments Agenda Item No. 18
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
To San Pablo City Council:
My name is Arwa, and I am the West Contra Costa County Alcohol Policy Coalition (WCAP) Coordinator.
I am writing to state that opening a dispensary in San Pablo carries a high amount of risk. Dispensaries carry high security requirements, and we already have instances where other dispensaries in Contra Costa County, such as The Artists Tree, have been broken into within the last two years with the intention of theft.
Increasing the risk of crime in a residential area that is not only near a community college but near a middle school that serves a large number of WCCUSD students is irresponsible and unfair. Dispensaries bring more attention to these neighborhoods, and young people will be more at risk for exposure to issues like second-hand smoke. The city needs to also recognize that adding a dispensary to such a high traffic area will not only increase automobile-related congestion and crashes, but it will increase the risk of community members being at the end of these incidents.
There is no reason the city should put our young people at risk for the sake of one business.
I hope you can take community concerns into account when making the decision to consider this appeal.
Sincerely,
--
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Arwa Asif
She/Her
West Contra Costa Alcohol Policy Coalition Coordinator
Bay Area Community Resources
M (510) 559-3077 ext. 94123 E [email protected]
W www.bacr.org
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1220 Morello Ave | Suite 101 | Phone: ( 925) 335-3340 | Fax: ( 925) 335-3311 cchealth.org
April 6, 2026
City of San Pablo City Council
1000 Gateway Ave
San Pablo, CA 94806
Subject: Public Comment on Agenda Item No. 26-105
Dear Mayor and Members of the Council:
My name is Jorge Flores, the Cannabis Prevention Program Manager with Contra Costa Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Services. I previously shared recommendations for best practices grounded in a public health approach for the placement of cannabis dispensaries. Today, I would like to center my comments on community and youth feedback, which I believe are critical to this decision.
Across local schools—particularly middle and high schools—we are seeing concerning rates of cannabis use among youth, most commonly through vaping. School staff and administrators continue to report ongoing challenges in addressing and reducing cannabis use on campuses. At the same time, there are active efforts underway to counter the normalization of vaping among young people through education, prevention, and intervention services.
However, one of the most consistent themes we hear directly from youth is how they are accessing these products. Many report obtaining cannabis indirectly through older peers or individuals who are legally able to purchase from dispensaries. This highlights a key concern:
even when regulations are followed, increased availability and visibility can still contribute to youth access.
Placing a dispensary at 14501 San Pablo Avenue—an area with frequent youth presence—raises significant public health concerns. Increased exposure through storefront visibility, marketing, and proximity can contribute to curiosity, normalization, and ultimately initiation of use among young people. This is especially concerning given national data showing rising trends in youth cannabis use, as well as increases in adverse health outcomes such as cannabis-induced psychosis.
2 The community has invested time and resources into preventing youth substance use and supporting healthy development. Approving this location risks undermining that work.
For these reasons, I respectfully urge the City Council to decline the proposed location for Embarc at this site and instead require the vendor to identify an alternative location that reduces exposure and access to youth.
Thank you for your time and consideration, and for your continued commitment to protecting the health and well-being of young people in the community.
Sincerely,
Jorge Flores
Cannabis Prevention Program Manager
Alcohol and Other Drug Services
Contra Costa Health
1 Casey Erlenheim
From: Cordell Hindler
Sent: Thursday, April 2, 2026 3:26 PM
To: City_Clerk
Subject: Public Comments not on the Agenda
Hello Casey,
I am submitting the following Comments into the Record:
1. for a Future Agenda, the Council should consider preparing a proclamation for Bike to Wherever day for May
2. Also the Council Should Consider having the Public to Participate Remotely
Sincerely
Cordell
1 Casey Erlenheim
From: olivia
Sent: Monday, April 6, 2026 12:16 AM
To: City_Clerk
Subject: PUBLIC COMMENTS AGENDA ITEM #26-105 - NO
We say No!
To our council members, the people do not want a marijuana store in San Pablo.
When we hear the marijuana stores wanting to come to San Pablo, our answer is no.
If it is about revenues matter, our city manager’s office needs to put in better efforts to find revenues, not the quick fix of having marijuana stores.
Respectfully,
Olivia Liou
PUBLIC HEARING AND RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SAN PABLO CONSIDERING AN APPEAL OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION’S DENIAL OF A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW
A RETAIL CANNABIS USE AT AN EXISTING COMMERCIAL BUILDING
LOCATED IN THE MIXED USE CENTER NORTH DISTRICT IN THE SAN PABLO AVENUE SPECIFIC PLAN (SP-2) AT 14501 SAN PABLO
AVENUE, APN: 413-352-017.
Recommendation: Conduct the Public Hearing; Adopt Resolution.
April 6, 2026
City of San Pablo City Council
1000 Gateway Ave
San Pablo, CA 94806
Subject: Public Comment on Agenda Item No. 26-105
Dear Mayor and Members of the Council:
My name is Eyana Rodgers, and I am a Senior Health Educator with Contra Costa Health’s Tobacco and Cannabis Prevention Programs. I would like to offer additional considerations regarding agenda item No. 26-105.
Although the proposed cannabis retail site location complies with current municipal zoning and ordinance requirements, it is important to consider the broader context of the location. As many community members brought forward at the planning commission meeting, the proposed location could have a greater impact on community health and wellness due to its proximity to youth-serving spaces, such as churches (e.g., Word of Faith Church), parks, schools, etc.
According to data from the United States Census Bureau, 25.4% of San Pablo's population is under 18 years old. Research shows that lower teen cannabis use is linked to lower storefront density and restricted retail access. Greater exposure to cannabis presence and messaging can be associated with greater normalization of use, especially amongst youth. This is particularly important to note, given that many students walk through this area, and what we know about the impacts of substance use on developing brains.
I respectfully encourage the Council to consider whether this location is the best fit, given its proximity to youth-oriented spaces such as Helms Elementary, Middle College, and Ed Hernandez Karate, and the local community's opposition. This may include further evaluating current buffer standards and approved land-use spaces, and implementing additional safeguards to better support the best interests of the San Pablo community.
Contra Costa Health’s Tobacco & Cannabis Prevention Programs are readily available to assist as needed. Thank you for your time and consideration of this matter.
Eyana Rodgers
Senior Health Education Specialist, Cannabis Prevention Program Contra Costa Health
2 References:
Kelly C. Young-Wolff, Alex Asera, Alisa A. Padon, Natalie E. Slama, Stacey E. Alexeeff, Rosalie L.
Pacula, Cynthia I. Campbell, Stacy A. Sterling, Derek D. Satre, Yun Lu, Wendy T. Dyer, Monique B.
Does, and Lynn D. Silver:
Association of Local Cannabis Policy and Retail Availability With Cannabis Use and Problematic Cannabis Use Among Adolescents in Northern California American Journal of Public Health 114, S654_S663, https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307787
U.S. Census Bureau, “Age and Sex,” San Pablo, CA,
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sanpablocitycalifornia/AGE295224#AGE295224 1 Casey Erlenheim
From: walter green
Sent: Monday, April 6, 2026 5:18 PM
To: City_Clerk
NO CANNABIS RETAIL STORE NEAR OUR SCHOOLS, CHURCH, HOMES and BUSINESSES!! THIS IS A SLAP IN THE FACE 😳 TO OUR CHILDRENS AND UNSAFE WITH THE CRIMINAL ELLIMENT NEARBY! JUST PLAIN DON'T CARE ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD!! IT'S A BIG NOOOO!! FOR ME!!
1 Casey Erlenheim
From: Sarah Katten
Sent: Monday, April 6, 2026 3:36 PM
To: City_Clerk
Subject: Public Comments Agenda Item No. 18
To San Pablo City Council,
I’m a resident and do not think it’s a good idea to put young people at risk for increased exposure to cannabis and other drugs. Adding a dispensary near a community college AND a middle school does not align with community health values, which the city should prioritize. I urge you to not go ahead with letting this dispensary open in our community.
Sincerely,
Sarah Katten
1 Casey Erlenheim
From: Azhara Parveen
Sent: Monday, April 6, 2026 3:26 PM
To: City_Clerk
Subject: Public Comments Agenda Item No. 18
To San Pablo City Council:
I’m a resident of San Pablo and a parent to a young child. Opening up a dispensary in our neighborhood puts my child at risk for being exposed to drugs extremely early on. Children cannot consent to exposure when they’re out in public, and opening up a dispensary puts them a really compromised situati
on. If you care about the health of our children you
will not go forward with opening this dispensary, which is also right between Helms Middle School and CCC. The city should prioritize the wellness of its young people and not risk it for profit and more pollution.
Sincerel
y,
Azhara Parveen