March 19th 2025 Newsletter - Beta Mycrene hazard to your health

No Joking About the Skunk Smell  - Here’s Why It’s a Health Risk

People living near cannabis cultivation sites often complain about the strong, unpleasant smells from the plants. These odors come from thiols and terpenes, which are natural compounds that produce the putrid smell. One of the main terpenes in cannabis is Beta-Myrcene, which can constitute 50% of the total terpenes in some cannabis strains.

While “natural,” state health authorities classify Beta-Myrcene as a carcinogen under California’s Proposition 65. When people smell cannabis plants, they are breathing in Beta-Myrcene. While hops (used to brew beer), carrots, and other plants also contain some Beta-Myrcene, cannabis has much higher levels—up to 50% compared to as little as 1% in hops—leading to greater exposure.

Breathing in cannabis odors exposes people to much more Beta-Myrcene than eating it. For example, you would need to eat 300 pounds of carrots or drink 1,400 beers daily to get the same Beta-Myrcene exposure as a person living near a cannabis cultivation site.

Living near growing cannabis comes with both short- and long-term risks. Long-term exposure may lead to cancer, while short-term effects include asthma, coughing, eye irritation, headaches, and nausea.

To reduce exposure to a carcinogen, cannabis should be grown indoors, where filters can remove the noxious air pollution. Outdoor cannabis operations cannot prevent the odors from spreading, which can travel as far as a mile depending on the wind. Public health experts, including a former California health officer and professor at the University of California, have confirmed the urgent need to mitigate involuntary exposure to Beta-Myrcene to protect public health.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

If you are concerned about the dangers of exposure to Beta-Myrcene from outdoor cannabis grows, phone the Supervisors switchboard (707-565-2241) and/or email (see addresses below) and tell the Supervisors you want the cannabis ordinance to require cannabis be grown indoors, only.  Your families health is more important than catering to a commercial industry.

1. Become fully aware of the cannabis ordinance changes at the County’s website that impact your property;
2. Visit Neighborhood Coalition Sonoma County to learn more ways you can get involved and help protect your neighborhood
3. Make a donation You can donate online , or you can mail a check to:
   
   Sonoma Neighborhood Coalition
   PO Box 1229
   Sebastopol, CA 95473
   

Our campaign to preserve what we all hold near and dear needs your support. Your tax-deductible donation will fund technical experts and our legal team that are critical to our effort to require the County to protect our environment, children, and the health and safety of our neighborhoods.

The Neighborhood Coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, volunteer-based, dedicated to advocating for proper cannabis and land-use policies that benefit the community. All donations support these efforts.

Thank you for your support and donation.
The Neighborhood Coalition team

Board of Supervisor’s emails
1st District:
Rebecca Hermosillo
Rebecca.Hermosillo@sonoma-county.org
2nd District:
David Rabbitt
David.Rabbitt@sonoma-county.org

3rd District:
Chris Coursey
district3@sonoma-county.org

4th District:
James Gore
District4@sonoma-county.org

5th District:
Lynda Hopkins
Lynda.Hopkins@sonoma-county.org

Please send a copy of your letter to sonomaneighborhoodcoalition@gmail.com

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