Are Ag Odor and Noise So Different?

At the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors, I
have recounted the story that upon
arriving at our vineyard, one of the grandkids while getting out of the car asked: “Granddad, why does the
vineyard smell like pepperoni?” The smell
was of course cannabis. Whether it was from a legal grow, bad actor, or homeowner’s backyard stash was
unknown.

It seems ironic that the proposed winery ordinance, for an
industry that sells smell, had an odor
abatement requirement. Surprisingly, the cannabis ordinance had no odor abatement requirement for an
industry that everyone agrees can stink.

The Planning Commission is holding marathon workshops to
craft recommendations for amendments to the
cannabis ordinance. At the session on February 5, a suggestion was made for a requirement that cannabis odor
stop at the property line. While this may sound good,
it is a dangerous precedent for farmers.