Hardly any commercial enterprise escaped the past year unscathed, but the cannabis industry, which celebrated a banner year in 2020, was not one of them. Marijuana sales surpassed a record-shattering $18.3 billion, and five U.S. states passed legislation to legalize recreational cannabis use, propelling the burgeoning industry to unprecedented levels.
As the number of prospective cannabis growers looking to venture into the lucrative business has surged across the country, neighborhoods and communities in Santa Barbara County that are situated near these farms and greenhouses are faced with an unwanted byproduct: the pungent odor of marijuana cultivation.
Steve Mason, the assistant director of Planning and Development for Santa Barbara County, explained that cannabis zoning rules, which regulate the types of odor control systems that are allowed in different areas, also outline the requirements to which each location must adhere.