Residents Rally Against 24/7 Cannabis Farm Near Prince Harry’s Home

Residents near Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s home in Montecito, California, are expressing significant concern over plans for a 24/7 cannabis cultivation farm at Valley Crest Farms in Carpinteria. Santa Barbara County authorities are facing increasing pressure to address the issue, having received over 2,500 complaints about excessive cannabis odors since 2020, as reported by the local outlet, the Montecito Journal.

Local news outlet Siteline highlighted the surprise among residents regarding a proposed change to the operational hours of Valley Crest Farms, which would allow cannabis cultivation and processing around the clock. The director of the Planning and Development Department has approved this change, but it is now under appeal by concerned residents. They emphasize their alarm at the prospect of a continuous cannabis operation in their neighborhood, particularly as Valley Crest is already facing a class-action lawsuit regarding the strong odors it generates.

Residents are actively working to overturn this decision, urging their neighbors to voice objections through specified channels. The situation has drawn attention not only due to the proposed changes but also because Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who relocated to the United States four years ago, live nearby in a home valued at approximately £11 million with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

Despite studies suggesting that the cannabis odor levels in the local air are minimal, residents in the Carpinteria Valley, a small seaside town about eight miles from Montecito, describe the smell as “intolerable.” One resident recounted an experience where he mistook the smell for something dead in his basement—only to realize he did not have one, as reported by the Daily Mail.

The class-action lawsuit against Valley Crest was filed in 2023 by the Santa Barbara Coalition for Responsible Cannabis. The plaintiffs claim that the odors have diminished their property values, driven away tenants, and negatively impacted their businesses. They seek relief from what they call “awful smells and noxious odors” that invade their homes daily.

In response, Valley Crest’s legal team has criticized the plaintiffs’ claims as “wildly over-broad.” A jury trial is scheduled for March 5, 2026, unless the matter is resolved beforehand. As the residents of Carpinteria and the Montecito area continue to voice their concerns, the outcome could have lasting implications for cannabis cultivation in the region and the quality of life for those living nearby.