By Cara Anderson
IG: @carajojo
The last dispensary in Vista was raided last week; deputies seized 450 lbs of cannabis and cannabis products from The Laughing Leaf on East Vista Way. This is the first time since 2011 that no known dispensaries are operating within Vista’s limits.
Vista has spent millions in pursuing and shutting down unregulated cannabis businesses. Vista City Manager told UT that Vista spends $500-600,ooo per year in efforts to close down dispensaries. In 2017 alone, 46 dispensaries and three grow operations were shut down.
Despite the raids, more than half of Vistans support the opening of cannabis shops in the city. Regulation may be coming, but whether Vista allows medical, recreational, or no cannabis companies is yet to be seen. A citizens initiative gathered enough votes to make it to the ballot come November. The ballot measure, if passed, would allow one medical cannabis dispensary for every 10,000 Vista residents- equating to 11 medical dispensaries.
Vista council is reportedly drafting their own ballot measure which would allow just two medical cannabis dispensaries.
Another group is bidding for a ballot measure that would allow adult use cannabis sales in Vista.
Featured image via SDUT.
