Cathedral City Extends Cannabis Moratorium, But Residents Demand Action on Odor Issue

Cathedral City officials voted to extend a moratorium on new cannabis businesses, but residents argue the decision does nothing to address their real concern—the strong odor from an existing facility that has sparked ongoing complaints.

During a recent council meeting, Mayor Nancy Ross announced the extension, which blocks new cannabis licenses, conditional use permits, and expansions of existing businesses. While some see this as progress, others believe it’s merely a distraction from the real issue.

On The Roggin Report, Fred Roggin likened the situation to a past medical experience, saying, “If somebody doesn’t want to fix your problem, they’ll try to get you to focus on something else.” He and his guests, Doug and Jamie Baker, criticized the city’s handling of the situation.

Doug called the city’s inaction a potential legal liability, predicting lawsuits if officials continue to ignore resident complaints. “If one or two of those council members lived near that plant, this would be resolved already,” he added.

Jamie was even more direct, arguing that the council’s approach is outdated and ineffective. “This mentality is crooked, self-serving, and inefficient,” she said.

Despite the moratorium on new businesses, Cathedral City residents say they want immediate solutions to the ongoing odor issue. With growing frustration, some are considering legal action, making it clear that the problem isn’t going away anytime soon.

For more Roggin Report stories, head over to NBCPalmSprings.com.