Air Quality Officials Respond to Odor Complaints from Cannabis Sites in Cathedral City

There’s new information this morning on ongoing air quality concerns in Cathedral City.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District says it is actively investigating complaints from residents about strong odors linked to nearby cannabis facilities.

Since the start of the year, the agency has received nearly 100 complaints from about a dozen residents reporting cannabis and chemical-like smells. Inspectors say they have responded to every report, conducting 26 field investigations so far.

During those visits, officials evaluated potential odor sources but say they have not identified any toxic chemical emissions coming from the facilities at this time.

The agency has also been working with city leaders and is currently inspecting more than 40 cultivation and processing sites across the area.

Residents have raised concerns about chemicals used in cannabis extraction and whether they could be released into the air. City officials say the facilities are designed to safely contain and recycle those materials without impacting the surrounding environment.

The update comes as Riverside County continues to rank among the most polluted regions in the country, keeping air quality a top concern for many in the community.