Residents Near Prince Harry’s Home Oppose 24/7 Cannabis Farm

Residents living near the home of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Montecito, California, are expressing significant concerns over a proposed 24/7 cannabis cultivation operation at Valley Crest Farms in nearby Carpinteria. The plan has raised alarm among local residents, who have already been dealing with ongoing issues related to cannabis odors in the area, leading to over 2,500 complaints lodged since 2020 according to the Montecito Journal.

The Santa Barbara news outlet, Siteline, noted that the local Planning and Development Department’s approval of the operational hours change has been met with an appeal from community members. They argue that the potential for round-the-clock cannabis cultivation could exacerbate existing problems with unpleasant odors. The report highlights that Valley Crest is already facing a class-action lawsuit concerning the noxious smells attributed to its operations.

Residents are actively seeking to overturn the decision, urging others to voice their objections through a specific communication channel provided by Siteline. This unrest indicates that the idyllic image of Montecito, where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex reside with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, may be tarnished by the controversies surrounding local cannabis farms.

Studies assessing odor strength have suggested that the level of cannabis detectable in the air may not be as severe as residents claim. Nevertheless, individuals in the Carpinteria Valley, approximately eight miles from Montecito, have described the smell as “intolerable.” One resident shared with the Daily Mail that he initially mistook the odor for something deceased in his home, only to realize he did not have a basement.

In 2023, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Valley Crest at the Santa Barbara Courthouse by the Santa Barbara Coalition for Responsible Cannabis. The plaintiffs assert that the farm, located at 5890 Casitas Pass Road, has been cultivating cannabis weekly for over five years. They seek relief from what they characterize as “awful smells and noxious odors and chemicals” that invade their homes daily. The complaint states that the pervasive stench has diminished property values, driven away tenants, and negatively impacted local businesses, infringing upon the residents’ right to “the quiet use and enjoyment of their property.”

Valley Crest’s legal representatives have dismissed the plaintiffs’ claims as “wildly over-broad.” The case is set for a jury trial on March 5, 2026, unless an out-of-court settlement is reached before that date. As the legal battle unfolds, the community’s response to the ongoing cannabis operations remains a focal point of concern in the region.