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Date: |
September 1, 2026 |
01 |
Title
Sheriff - Ratify Grant Application, Accept the California Board of State and Community Corrections Proposition 64 Cohort 4 Grant Program Funds, Adopt a Resolution, and Establish Appropriations (Districts: All)
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Overview
The California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) administers the Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program to assist local jurisdictions with enforcement, education, public‑health outreach, fire and environmental protection, and other activities related to cannabis regulation. For Cohort 4, the County has been selected to receive $5,899,491 to strengthen enforcement operations, expand youth prevention programs, increase public‑health education related to cannabis and intoxicating hemp products, and improve cannabis‑waste handling and environmental compliance. The San Diego Sheriff’s Office (Sheriff's Office) was notified that the BSCC Board approved and fully funded the County’s proposal on June 25, 2026.
Today’s request is to ratify the application for, and authorize acceptance of grant funds of $5,899,491 for the period of July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2031 from the BSCC Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program, adopt a resolution, authorize the Sheriff to sign all required grant related documents, and establish appropriations of $1,172,234 in the Sheriff’s Office for Fiscal Year 2026-27.
Body
Recommendation by Sheriff:
1) Ratify the submission of an application for the California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program, submitted to BSCC on March 30, 2026, and authorize the Sheriff to accept grant funds awarded under this program.
2) Authorize the Sheriff to accept Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program - Cohort 4 in the amount of $5,899,491, from BSCC for the project period July 1, 2026 - December 31, 2031.
3) Adopt a resolution entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO AUTHORIZING THE SHERIFF TO ACCEPT FUNDS FROM THE CALIFORNIA BOARD OF STATE AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS PROPOSITION 64 PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY GRANT PROGRAM - COHORT 4.
4) Authorize the Sheriff to execute all required grant‑related documents, including amendments, extensions, and revisions that do not materially alter the program or funding level.
5) Establish appropriations of $1,172,234, in the San Diego Sheriff’s Office for Fiscal Year 2026-27, for Salaries & Benefits $977,912, Services & Supplies $130,925 and Capital Assets - Equipment $63,397 based on unanticipated grant revenue from the Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program - Cohort 4. (4 Votes)
6) Waive Board Policy B-29, Fees, Grants, Revenue Contracts - Department Responsibility for Cost Recovery which requires docketing of requests to apply for grant funding so that the Board may act on the request at least 15 days in advance of the date the request must be received by the granting agency.
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Equity Impact Statement
Approving the acceptance of the Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant will enable funding for the San Diego Sheriff's Office (Sheriff's Office) to engage in activities that advance equitable public health, safety, and environmental outcomes. The Sheriff's Office will prioritize data-driven enforcement approaches that focus on large-scale illegal operations rather than low-level infractions. Curbing illicit operations supports San Diego County's legally operated cannabis businesses. These efforts will be conducted while avoiding disproportionate impacts on communities and expanding culturally responsive, multilingual health education on cannabis.
Sustainability Impact Statement
Today's board action supports the County's Sustainability goals of Equity and Justice by ensuring fair access to regulatory guidance for retailers and cultivators, particularly those from underrepresented groups; ensuring that community driven cannabis education reaches all populations in communities, and prioritizing environmental remediation in areas harmed by illegal cultivation, including rural and Tribal lands. The outreach efforts of the San Diego Sheriff's Office will be prioritized in neighborhoods where unlicensed activity is prevalent, helping residents understand legal requirements and consumer protections.
Fiscal Impact
Funds for this request are not included in the Fiscal Year 26-27 Operational Plan for the San Diego Sheriff’s Office. If approved, this request will result in estimated costs and revenue of $1,172,234 in Fiscal Year 2026-27 and costs and revenue of $4,727,257 to be included in future Operational Plans. The acceptance of Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program - Cohort 4 will result in a multi‑year grant for the period of July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2031, totaling $5,899,491 over the grant term. The funding source is the California Board of State and Community Corrections Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program.
The grant is full cost recovery and will fund two full time administrative support positions, overtime for enforcement staff, contracts for outreach and messaging on the effects of cannabis, and one time equipment costs. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
Business Impact Statement
N/A
Advisory Board Statement
N/A
Background
Illicit cannabis activities continue to present significant public‑safety, environmental, and consumer‑protection challenges across San Diego County. Illegal cultivation, manufacturing, and distribution often involve hazardous conditions, deceptive product packaging, unsafe THC concentrations, and interstate shipping networks that evade regulatory oversight. Youth exposure to intoxicating hemp products and online cannabis sales has increased, requiring expanded education and prevention efforts. The San Diego Sheriff’s Office (Sheriff’s Office) addresses illicit cannabis activity through enforcement and compliance operations and promotes public education through youth prevention programs and community outreach.
The California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) administers the Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program to assist local jurisdictions with enforcement, education, public‑health outreach, fire and environmental protection, and other activities related to cannabis regulation. Cohort 4 funds will support the Sheriff's Office in multi‑agency enforcement operations, package‑interdiction investigations, social‑media‑based cannabis sales investigations, high‑risk warrant service, evidence processing, safe cannabis‑waste disposal, cryptocurrency‑based narcotics investigation tools, and critical equipment upgrades. The illicit-cannabis enforcement operations will be coordinated by the Sheriff's Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET).
Over the next five and a half years, the grant funds will also support countywide public‑health messaging, school and youth programming, community academies, multilingual outreach materials, and culturally specific education delivered through partnerships with community organizations. The Sheriff's Office will integrate culturally specific education into existing youth prevention programs, develop dedicated instruction for the Sheriff's Community Academy, and expand program outreach at station events. To ensure accessible and consistent messaging, the Sheriff's Office will provide culturally responsible education-including Spanish‑language sessions-focused on cannabis risks, youth vulnerability, and evolving state regulations. These efforts are tied to measurable outcomes such as increased participation in youth-prevention events, wider distribution of educational materials across diverse neighborhoods, and demonstrated improvements in community knowledge and engagement.
The grant will also fund two administrative support positions to ensure accurate fiscal tracking, procurement management, reporting, and audit readiness throughout the grant term. They will ensure these enforcement and education efforts run effectively, lawfully, and consistently throughout the grant cycle. The grant will fund overtime costs for one (1) sergeant, up to six (6) deputies and one (1) criminal intelligence analyst related to this program. These positions will sunset at the end of the grant term unless future funding is identified.
The Sheriff's Office’s coordinated enforcement, compliance, and community education framework supports safer neighborhoods, reduces cannabis related harms, and ensures transparent and equitable implementation of the Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program.
If approved, today’s request will authorize the Sheriff’s Office to ratify the application for, and approve acceptance of, grant funds of up to $5,899,491 for the period of July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2031, from the BSCC Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program, adopt a resolution to accept the funds, authorize the Sheriff to sign all required grant related documents, establish appropriations of $1,172,234 in the Sheriff’s Office, and waive Board Policy B-29, Fees, Grants, Revenue Contracts - Department Responsibility for Cost Recovery, which requires prior approval of grant applications. A waiver is necessary because the BSCC application deadline of March 30, 2026 occurred prior to the earliest available Board docket date, requiring the Sheriff’s Office to submit the application before Board consideration.
Linkage To the County of San Diego Strategic Plan
Today’s proposed action supports the County of San Diego 2026-2031 Strategic Plan initiatives of Equity (Health), Justice (Safety, Environmental), Empower (Workforce, Innovation), and Community (Engagement, Safety, Quality of Life, Communications, Partnership). This grant will support the San Diego Sheriff's Office in delivering a cohesive enforcement and education strategy that enhances public safety, protects consumers, and reduces cannabis related harms countywide.
Respectfully submitted,
Kelly A. Martinez
Sheriff
Attachment(s)
Attachment A - A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO AUTHORIZING THE SHERIFF TO ACCEPT FUNDS FROM THE CALIFORNIA BOARD OF STATE AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS PROPOSITION 64 PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY GRANT PROGRAM - COHORT 4