Just a short time ago the northern end of Lompoc was saturated with the foul odor associated with cannabis cultivation and processing.

We were hit by the stink from the east by a fair-sized grow out on Highway 246 that blew in when the wind was from the east, and a processing plant on the far west of Central Avenue when the wind was from the west.

For months we couldn’t open windows to take advantage of natural ventilation or exercise outdoors during the day. The odors found their way into our home even when the windows and doors were tightly closed.

Our utility costs associated with operating in-home air filtering and ventilation systems to improve indoor air quality increased significantly. And it was hard to sleep when odors crept into our home.

Complaining to the county about the stink of the grow on Highway 246 didn’t help; the Air Pollution Control District (APCD) said it didn’t have any authority since it wasn’t a manufacturing process and besides, agricultural operations were exempt from nuisance regulations.

Complaining to the city of Lompoc about the odor from the west didn’t seem to work either.

Eventually, the grow operation surrendered their license, and the site is abandoned. Well almost — they left piles of their equipment behind, and now the site is just a tangled mess of weeds and hoop frames.

Just like other operations that shut down abruptly, they just disappeared quicker than when they showed up.
 
This year the city seems to have things under control. Early in the season there were odors, but after complaints the odors went away and haven’t returned.

I still see workers’ vehicles parked at the processing facility, so I assume they are still in operation.

When cannabis growing and use was first approved by voters many in the community warned the city and county approval authorities about the potential for harsh odors coming from these operations.

They were ignored, and in other areas of the county, most notably Carpinteria, the odors from greenhouses that once grew flowers are still a major nuisance.

Many decades ago, there was a sugar beet processing facility west of Santa Maria, and when the harvest was in full swing there was a strong odor blowing from the west into the city for several weeks each year.

In Gilroy, California, at certain times of the year you can smell the strong odor of garlic as you speed by on Highway 101. I can only imagine what it’s like trying to live with that smell 24/7 until they finish processing the crop.

I am thankful to the city of Lompoc and the cannabis facility owner for getting a handle on the processing odor issue.

I hope another grower doesn’t show up and restart the now abandoned grow site east of the city, or the county doesn’t license other grow operations that will allow those foul odors to drift into town.

Now we can take advantage of the cool evening breezes, take our walks and sleep soundly all night long.
 
The answer of course for the Ccannabis odors emitting from grow operations is to limit permitted locations to at least 10 miles from the nearest homes.

There are several “clusters” of homes in the unincorporated areas of the county as well as county areas that abut the incorporated cities.

But this would take a bold action by the Board of Supervisors, and so far, they have chosen to side with cannabis growers, many of whom do not even live in this county, instead of the folks who elected them.