Many in Santa Barbara County are
scratching their heads, wondering why the Independent's Cannabis
Corner carries only pro-cannabis content. Even restaurant and wine reviews
offer both the positive and the negative.
We understand that the paper depends
upon advertisers, and cannabis is likely high on the list.
Nevertheless, the recent Ganja
Gift Guide by “Barbara Verde” (who runs a
website promoting cannabis products) reads as product placement, masked as
editorial. It is troubling to learn that Barbara Verde is a fake name. We mention
this because too many critics of the county’s industrial-level cannabis
cultivation have been attacked, both publicly and privately, yet are not
afforded the same privilege of anonymity by your paper.