County Cannabis Failures

I just want to express my support for the class
action suit that has been filed in Carpinteria against growers there. None
of us living in beautiful Carpinteria Valley is opposed to the growth of
cannabis, But the current systems used to control the odor are simply not
effective, especially within the short distances between growers and
residences. So this suit is not intended as an individual suit but rather one
seeking relief for a class of people; all of us in Carpinteria Valley. That’s
important to remember.

What’s
more, the purpose of the suit is primarily to call attention to the failure of county
officials to put in place an appropriate set of regulations governing the
ramp-up of this new industry. The unrestricted licensing of legal
non-conforming grows which are now operating without the constraints of county
ordinances is what’s causing the problem. Those ordinances are generally good, if
enforced! They could be strengthened by clarifying that “best available
odor control technology” is closed greenhouses with carbon filtration. Yes,
that’s expensive, but these growers stand to gain a great deal!

There
is of course also the medical issue. Doctors in town (e.g., Judy Dean, MD) have
gone on record to state that the impact of VOCs on asthma and other health
issues is evident.