ABELL, Md. – Immediately following the uproar caused during a public hearing for a proposed cannabis zoning amendment on July 26, a well-known St. Mary’s County cannabis growing facility that is under construction passed a Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) inspection with “no violations observed.”
In the report from MDE dated July 27, the agency delivered a routine inspection of construction activity and sediment erosion on the property.
Similar concerns were brought up by neighbors and Seventh District residents just one day prior during the zoning ordinance hearing.
This inspection was labeled on the report as a visual “routine NOI inspection,” to ensure compliance is being met on the property.
The cannabis industry in Maryland is heavily regulated by multiple statewide agencies, all of which enforce various aspects of cannabis growing and processing.
MDE ensures no environmental harm is caused by potential cannabis-related facilities, which includes quarterly and annual inspections.
Regulations are already in place by the state for what kind of pesticides can be used on cannabis plants to ensure minimal harm can be caused by any runoff.
At the hearing, one day prior, one of the property’s neighbors showed what appeared to be a dwindling stream adjacent to the property. He also showed the commissioners the impacts that alleged “sediment runoff” from the facility had caused earlier in the year to that stream.
The MDE report indicated that all runoff observed on the day of inspection appeared typical, following rain that happened the day before. The report denotes the color, smells, and locations of the property’s runoff and does not show the property has any violations for such.
The closing remarks on the report indicate recommended actions of continuing with routine inspections throughout the year.
Charlie Mattingly, the property’s owner, told TheBayNet.com that he hopes to have the construction of the facility on track to be fully operational by the end of the year.
They are currently working to establish their plant’s genetics in one of the smaller buildings on the property, before hopefully moving plants into the larger building for bulk growing when construction is complete.
Read the full inspection report from MDE below:
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EDITOR’S NOTE: An earlier version of this story identified that the inspection was in response to a complaint of the property. The story has been updated to reflect that the report issued from MDE was labeled as a routine inspection.
Weed knew this was going to happen!
I seed what you did there.
I think we all are hemp to the situuation in St Mary’s.
They only have higher sources to answer to now.
Should rename that area the 7th Dank-strict.
Where was this person complaining about the environmental impacts of tearing down acres of trees for Fords 13th dealership on 235?
You almost had a point. Except for the neighborhood negatively affected in the critical area. And, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t live behind the dealership. Also, there’s the fact that the dealership wasn’t built in a residential farm community – its zoned commercial. Oh, and the dealership is commercial no industrial. But, you were close.
Better to have a bunch of pot heads than crack heads
It’s amazing what they don’t find when they want something, but what they do find if I were to cut some trees or do any type of clearing on my property.
From my own experience re lead issues, the MDE exists only to collect funds from homeowners (or weed growers) to get things okayed that logically should not be.