Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors last week voted unanimously to require all cannabis greenhouses be equipped with odor control systems.
The vote comes after the board recently held a community forum on the issue.
“Residents have long voiced concerns about the impact of cannabis odors on daily life, and the Board wants to hear directly from those affected. This is an opportunity for the Board to meet the community in their neighborhood to ensure all voices are heard in this important conversation,” said Chair of the Board of Supervisors Laura Capps.
According to the Santa Barbara Independent, growers now have approximately one year to install “multi-technology carbon filtration” systems, or something similarly designed to absorb the smell of pot before it makes its way out of greenhouse roof vents.
Failing to comply with the new mandate could result in cultivators losing their county business licenses.
While the new rules were cheered by many in the community, cannabis growers have warned that the necessary upgrades could be expensive. They’ve asked the county to consider tax credits to help them pay for cannabis air purification units, or scrubbers, which the report pointed out can cost up to $22,000.
