Mayor and Members of the San Pablo City Council
City of San Pablo
13831 San Pablo Avenue
San Pablo, CA 94806
Re: Community Support for a Responsible Cannabis Dispensary in San Pablo
Dear Mayor and Members of the City Council,
I am writing as a local community member to express my support for approving a cannabis dispensary in San Pablo as part of responsible economic development.
San Pablo residents have already shown strong support for cannabis legalization. In 2016, more than 60% of San Pablo voters supported Proposition 64, which legalized adult-use cannabis in California. That vote reflected a clear recognition that cannabis should be brought out of the illegal market and into a regulated, accountable, and community-benefiting framework.
A well-run dispensary can bring meaningful benefits to San Pablo.
First, this project will create good union jobs for local workers. At a time when many working families are struggling with the cost of living, that matters. San Pablo is already moving in this direction: the City Council approved another union dispensary, Embarc, in April.
Second, a responsible dispensary will bring strong safety and security standards. Licensed cannabis businesses operate under strict state and local regulations, including security plans, surveillance, age verification, 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 essential city services, including public safety, youth programs, parks, street improvements, code enforcement, and other community priorities. 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 potential to be a strong community partner in San Pablo. STIIIZY has already done this in multiple communities in the East Bay, including the cities 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 respectfully urge the San Pablo City Council to support this project and move it forward.
Sincerely,
(Edith P)