POLITICS

Hemp issue to be aired at Moorpark meeting of Ventura County supervisors

A presentation on the newly legalized but strong-smelling hemp crops being planted in Ventura County is planned Tuesday before the Ventura County Board of Supervisors in Moorpark.

Supervisor Bob Huber, who represents Moorpark and Simi Valley, said he asked for the item to be placed on the board's agenda because a number of his constituents have complained about the smell. "I thought it should be publicly discussed," he said.

Well over 50 people have complained to Huber's office in telephone calls and emails over the past couple months, most of them from the Moorpark area, said Joel Angeles, Huber's chief of staff. The smell is most pronounced in the early morning and just before sundown, he said.

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"During the late summer, people like to eat outside and it made it impossible," he said.

Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner Ed Williams plans to deliver the presentation on the crop at 7:30 p.m. at the board meeting at the Moorpark Community Center, 799 Moorpark Ave. No action by the board is proposed.

The board scheduled the meeting in Moorpark before the recent controversy over hemp arose, following a pattern of occasionally meeting in cities outside the county government's headquarters in Ventura. The meeting is set at 6 p.m., and will include discussion of routine business items and recognition of the Free Clinic of Simi Valley.

Juana Garcia inspects industrial hemp flowers for insects at McGrath Family Farms in Camarillo.

More than 4,100 acres in Ventura have been registered for commercial production of hemp since Congress legalized the crop late last year. Williams had predicted that the crop could bring at least $100 million in estimated gross value for growers this year. 

The Board of Supervisors has jurisdiction over the unincorporated areas where much of the hemp is being grown, but has not enacted any land-use regulations to date. 

The Ojai City Council has prohibited growing of industrial hemp within city limits while the Thousand Oaks City Council has enacted a moratorium on new hemp businesses until September 2020. The Camarillo City Council considered a moratorium but narrowly voted it down.

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In Moorpark, a homeowners group has cited the possibility of legal action over the skunk-like odor.

"The city and county must stop this public nuisance,"  says a letter that attorney Michael W. Rabkin sent to county and Moorpark city officials on behalf of the Serenata Community Homeowners Association.

The association is comprised of residents of 534 homes located north of Tierra Rejada Road. The group is demanding that the county stop issuing permits to grow hemp near residential areas and/or that the city of Moorpark pass a moratorium until the odor issues can be addressed.

Williams said he will be talking about the legal basis for the growing of hemp, existing regulations and the amount of local production. He also plans to share information about a working group that was convened to develop exemplary ways to manage the crop and respond to some of the complaints.

But Williams said he doesn't know how he can stop the crop from smelling.

"The odor is what it is," he said.

Kathleen Wilson covers the Ventura County government, including the county health system, politics and social services. Reach her at kathleen.wilson@vcstar.com or 805-437-0271.