CLOSEBuy Photo
Martin Mota clears grass between rows of industrial hemp plants at McGrath Family Farms in Camarillo. (Photo: JUAN CARLO/THE STAR)
The Moorpark City Council Wednesday night adopted an urgent 45-day moratorium banning the cultivation, manufacturing, testing, storing and certain sales of industrial hemp in the city.
The ban, which went into effect immediately, came in response to complaints from dozens of Moorpark residents about strong odors from industrial hemp farms in the neighboring Tierra Rejada Valley in unincorporated Ventura County.
Other hemp news: Fillmore latest city to temporarily ban industrial hemp farming
“No resident of Moorpark should have to live with the odor,” Mayor Janice Parvin said.
The moratorium includes a complete ban of the sales of hemp-derived products designed for human or animal consumption, unless the product is approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration for such use, said Moorpark spokesman Brian Chong.
Hemp-derived products not designed for human or animal consumption such as clothing, rope, bags and shoes are allowed to be sold under the moratorium, up to 5% of a business’ gross sales or 5% of the floor area of the business, he said.
Before the temporary moratorium expires, the City Council could extend it for another 10 months and 15 days at the council’s Jan. 15 meeting.
This story will be updated later Thursday.
Mike Harris covers the East County cities of Moorpark, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks, as well as transportation countywide. You can contact him at mike.harris@vcstar.com or 805-437-0323.
SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM and get all the latest East Count news from Star reporter Mike Harris. Get a digital subscription.
Read or Share this story: https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/moorpark/2019/12/19/moorpark-city-council-adopts-urgent-45-day-industrial-hemp-ban/2643126001/
