Residents of a progressive city in Missouri have been inundating local officials with grievances about an omnipresent and pungent cannabis aroma permeating their neighbourhoods. In Rock Hill, Missouri, a compact municipality with approximately 4,700 inhabitants within the St Louis metropolitan region, reports concerning the distinctive smell of marijuana surged dramatically during the latter half of 2025.
A Significant Surge in Citizen Complaints
The city administration logged a notable total of 99 formal complaints regarding the offensive odour between April and December of last year. Rock Hill's city administrator, Garrett Schlett, confirmed to local media that this figure marks a substantial increase compared to preceding years, indicating a growing local issue.
The Source of the Stench
The origin of the controversial smell has been traced to a 60,000 square foot warehouse operated by cannabis company Proper Brands, located on the city's Industrial Court. This facility, which opened in 2021, is dedicated to cultivating marijuana plants and manufacturing a diverse range of cannabis products. Missouri's legal landscape shifted significantly with medical marijuana legalisation in 2018, followed by the approval of recreational use in late 2022, setting the stage for such commercial operations.
According to Proper Brands CEO John Pennington, the powerful odour generated inside the warehouse can escape and become carried by wind currents whenever employees enter or exit the building. This airborne transport mechanism allows the scent to travel considerable distances, with Schlett noting that he and other city staff can occasionally detect it at city hall, situated roughly half a mile from the facility.
Widespread Community Impact
The city administrator further reported receiving complaints from residents in condominiums on McKnight Road and from visitors to Tilles Park, located approximately 0.5 miles and 1.5 miles from the warehouse respectively. Long-term resident Nancy O’Reilly, who has lived in one of the affected condos for over eight years, described the smell as resembling "skunk weed" and noted its increasing frequency.
"It can be really thick on some nights, depending on the way the wind is," O'Reilly stated, adding that the odour persisted throughout the summer, affecting poolside leisure. She also expressed concern that her realtor indicated the pervasive smell is negatively impacting local property values.
Regulatory Framework and Compliance Questions
Rock Hill's municipal code contains explicit provisions regarding odour containment for marijuana facilities, mandating that all such operations "shall be equipped with odor control filtration and ventilation systems to prevent odors of marijuana from leaving the premises." The regulations further stipulate that "No odor shall be detectable by a person with a normal sense of smell at any point outside the property boundary of the facility."
In response to the mounting complaints, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has initiated an investigation to determine whether Proper Brands is adhering to state marijuana regulations. Department spokesperson Lisa Cox confirmed this regulatory scrutiny is underway.
Company Response and Mitigation Efforts
CEO Pennington emphasised that the odour presents no adverse health effects, while acknowledging that complete elimination is unlikely due to the nature of the operation. "We'll never have the elimination of the odor. It's just the nature of it," he remarked, while asserting that the company's practices are "very compliant and very safe."
Proper Brands has implemented several measures to address the issue, including:
- Installation of an air filtration system within the warehouse
- Placement of carbon air filters and air scrubbers around the building perimeter
- Employment of environmental engineers and hygienists to recommend air quality improvements
Pennington stated these efforts exceed state regulatory requirements. Historically, when complaints were forwarded to the company, they would replace air filters, providing temporary relief. Representatives from Proper Brands presented their odour mitigation strategies to the city's Board of Aldermen in May.
Persisting Problems and Divergent Perspectives
Despite these measures, residents report that the strength and frequency of the smell have intensified over the past year. Jennifer Fraley, a bartender and manager at Trainwreck Saloon located near the warehouse, observed that the odour is most noticeable in morning hours and during humid conditions.
However, Fraley noted that many customers, particularly younger patrons who smoke marijuana, do not appear bothered by the scent. This generational divide highlights the complex social dimensions of legal cannabis operations in residential areas.
Ongoing Municipal Action
The volume of complaints recently prompted city officials to establish a dedicated email address specifically for odour reports, requesting that residents detail the location and time of each detection. Rock Hill authorities have scheduled another meeting with Proper Brands representatives for early February before the Board of Aldermen to discuss the persistent odour issue and explore additional corrective steps the company might undertake.
This ongoing situation in Rock Hill illustrates the practical challenges communities face following cannabis legalisation, balancing commercial enterprise with residential quality of life concerns in an evolving regulatory landscape.
