A Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station raid on a recently permitted smoke shop in Newhall drew the ire Tuesday of the Planning Commission, after members claimed the business had violated the trust it was given with a special permit to operate.
A news report detailing allegations and evidence collected involving the sales of marijuana and psilocybin, an ingredient in psychoactive mushrooms, at Top Notch Smoke Shop was what started the conversation at City Hall during Tuesday’s commission meeting.
The business was in front of the commission as a “test case” in December 2024, seeking a conditional use permit that would allow it to use 50% of its shelf space for tobacco products.
An undercover investigation last year by station deputies, which was based on information from a confidential informant, per court records, led to a raid on the shop, following reports that marijuana, psilocybin and nitrous oxide tanks were being sold there.
“There was a very disturbing story about the smoke shop that we recently … approved a conditional use permit for, essentially, in my view, based on what I read, running afoul of the conditions that we laid out,” said Planning Commissioner Tim Burkhart. “I would like to, if everyone agrees, ask staff if, when the investigation is completed, and when results have been verified by whoever … that this item be agendized for us to discuss the potential revocation of those permits, to make up for this violation of the trust that we put into them.”
Planning Commissioner Lisa Eichman seconded the action, praising Burkhart for a “great comment,” as the other commissioners nodded.
Patrick Leclair, planning manager for the city, said the commission just needs a consensus, but the discussion seemed to have unanimous support.
“Yeah, that was pretty rough to read in the paper,” Eichman said, adding the allegations came as “a slap in the face” to the commissioners.
“It wasn’t even that long ago,” Burkhart said, referring to the approval. He said he wanted to see the outcome of the investigation, but some of “those very things” were among the commission’s concerns, referring to the allegations of illicit sales.
A representative of Top Notch Smoke Shop declined to comment when reached by phone Thursday.
