Residents decry persistent odor from indoor cannabis facility; council agrees to place moratorium on next agenda

Dozens of residents told the Cathedral City City Council on Jan. 8 that daily odor releases from a newly opened indoor cannabis cultivation facility on Ramon Road are making it difficult to breathe outdoors, are harming property values and are reaching neighboring cities. Several residents asked the council to take immediate action.

The speakers said the smell is frequent and intense and cited health effects, disrupted outdoor life and drops in property value. "I can't go out on my patio without smelling that," said Carol Lowery, a resident of Desert Sands Mobile Home Park. "We are suffering." Greg Astley, who said he represents about 1,100 residents at the park, said residents need a timeline from the city about enforcement and mitigation steps: "We don't know if it's gonna go on for a year, two years, or a month." Dean Stepkoski, who said he installed an air monitor at the resort, told the council the device is already recording elevated readings and urged officials to use the city's permit authority to require compliance: "You have the right to shut them down."

Why this…