Last Wednesday, County Supervisor Das Williams gathered cannabis growers and their neighbors in his living room. The Thomas Fire was roaring just miles away, and much of Carpinteria was under evacuation orders. They were there to talk pot, particularly the skunky smells.
As California prepares to allow recreational marijuana sales next year, Carpinteria has emerged as the epicenter of Central Coast pot. According to the county’s self-reported registry, 52 Carpinteria operators are growing cannabis on 200 acres.
Though the county supervisors enacted a ban on any new cannabis grows two years ago, it is common knowledge the plants have become more prevalent in the rustic beach town. In fact, hundreds of acres of emptied and dilapidated greenhouses once home to the dying cut flower industry have transformed into valuable real estate. Greenhouses are perfect for growing cannabis.