Marijuana growers in Cebada Canyon say their cultivation sites are legal

Marijuana growers in Cebada Canyon near Lompoc are speaking out against neighbors who claim the canyon is a hub for illegal pot farms run by cartels.

“I know that the vast majority of people who are operating with cannabis in this canyon are completely legal,” explained Karin Hauenstein, who’s been leasing properties to marijuana growers in the canyon for the last three years.

On Wednesday, KCOY 12 spoke to residents in the area who said unlicensed cultivation sites were attracting criminals and creating safety concerns.

“They’re not doing anything to harm their neighbors,” Hauenstein responded.

She said those in the cannabis industry in the canyon are the ones getting harassed by neighbors who simply don’t want this business in their backyards.

“It isn’t against legal or non-legal. It’s just against cannabis,” said Hauenstein.

On Monday, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office confiscated more than $700,000 worth of plants from an illegal marijuana farm in the Cebada Canyon.

A spokesman for the county confirmed neighboring cannabis cultivation sites have expired licenses; others have temporary permits that expire in March 2019.

Residents have also complained about nearby pot farms’ water usage. Hauenstein said water usage can be high during certain times of the year, but overall use is comparable to grape cultivation and harvesting.