Dear Mayor and Members of the City Council,
I am wri�ng as a local community member in favor in responsible economic development in San Pablo to express our support for approving a cannabis dispensary in the City of San Pablo.
San Pablo residents have already shown strong support for cannabis legaliza�on. In 2016, more than 60% of San Pablo voters supported Proposi�on 64, which legalized adult-use cannabis in California. That vote reflected a clear recogni�on that cannabis should be brought out of the illegal market and into a regulated, accountable, and community-benefi�ng framework.
A well-run dispensary can provide real benefits to San Pablo.
First, this project will create good union jobs for local workers. At a �me when many working families are struggling with the cost of living, San Pablo is already welcoming businesses like this, another union dispensary, Embarc, was just recently approved by the City Council in April.
Second, a responsible dispensary will bring strong safety and security standards. Licensed cannabis businesses operate under strict state and local regula�ons, including security plans, surveillance, age verifica�on, inventory tracking, and compliance requirements. A regulated dispensary is far safer and more accountable than the unregulated cannabis market.
Third, this project will help strengthen the City’s tax base. Cannabis businesses can generate new local revenue that can support essen�al city services, including public safety, youth programs, parks, street improvements, code enforcement, and other community priori�es. San Pablo should not miss the opportunity to capture responsible revenue that can be reinvested directly into the community.
We also believe STIIIZY has the poten�al to be a strong community partner in San Pablo. STIIIZY has already done this in mul�ple communi�es in the East Bay, including the ci�es of El Cerrito, Oakland, Concord, and Pacheco just to name a few.
Approving a responsible cannabis dispensary is consistent with the will of San Pablo voters, supports good union jobs, strengthens local revenue, and brings cannabis sales into a safe and regulated environment.
For these reasons, I respec�ully urge the San Pablo City Council to support this project and move it forward.
Sincerely,
Makala Freeman
Worker, S�iizy Benicia