Editing Ventura County, California (section)

===Cannabis===
{{further|Cannabis in California}}
State law says local governments may not prohibit adults from growing, using or transporting marijuana for personal use but they can prohibit companies from growing, testing, and selling cannabis within their jurisdiction by licensing none or only some of these activities. The state allows deliveries without local agency licensing at the point of delivery.<ref name="VCS 2019/01/02">{{Cite news|url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2019/01/02/so-far-so-good-legal-marijuana-pot-cannabis-ventura-county/2406687002/|title=So far, so good for legal marijuana sales in Ventura County|last=Martinez|first=Christian|date=January 2, 2019|newspaper=[[Ventura County Star]]|language=en|access-date=June 17, 2019}}</ref>

Under the legalization of the sale and distribution of cannabis in California, Ventura County voters approved Measure O in 2020, which sets up taxes on marijuana cultivation, as well as limits on the amounts of growing.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Orozco|first=Lance|date=November 4, 2020|title=Marijuana-Related Tax Proposals Approved By South Coast Voters|url=https://www.kclu.org/post/marijuana-related-tax-proposals-approved-south-coast-voters|access-date=November 5, 2020|work=KCLU News|language=en}}</ref> Allowing retail sales to the general public in the unincorporated areas was not approved as part of the referendum although sales are allowed within the cities of Port Hueneme and Ojai.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Schroyer|first=John|date=November 6, 2020|title=California cities, counties approve pro-cannabis measures|url=https://mjbizdaily.com/california-cities-counties-approve-pro-cannabis-measures/|access-date=November 22, 2020|work=Marijuana Business Daily|language=en-US}}</ref> It restricted operations to the inside of existing greenhouses with only {{convert|500| acres}} of commercial cannabis allowed within the county, though an additional {{convert|100|acres}} is available for nursery cultivation.<ref name="VCS 2021/08/14">{{Cite news|date=August 14, 2021|title=Houweling Nurseries sheds light on closure of longtime tomato growing operation|url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2021/08/14/houweling-sheds-light-closure-longtime-tomato-growing-operation-equilibrium-lease/8097104002/|last=Varela|first=Brian J.|access-date=August 18, 2021|newspaper=Ventura County Star}}</ref>

A {{convert|5.5|e6sqft|e6m2|adj=mid|abbr=off}} greenhouse facility, on which construction had begun in 1996 to grow tomatoes and other produce, began preparing to grow cannabis in 2021 under the rules put in place by Measure O.{{r|VCS 2021/08/14}}<ref name="PCBT 2021-08-04">{{Cite news|last=Mercado|first=Jorge|date=August 4, 2021|title=Houweling's Tomatoes will become state's biggest cannabis greenhouse|url=https://www.pacbiztimes.com/2021/08/04/houwelings-tomatoes-will-become-states-biggest-cannabis-greenhouse/|access-date=August 5, 2021|work=Pacific Coast Business Times|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="VCS 2020/10/03">{{Cite news|last=Wilson|first=Kathleen|title=Camarillo business drives funding of cannabis initiative, stands to benefit|url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2020/10/03/camarillo-california-ventura-county-cannabis-pot-weed-measure-o-election-2020/3523687001/|access-date=August 5, 2021|newspaper=Ventura County Star|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Black |first=Lester |date=April 29, 2023 |title=California's largest cannabis farm is run by a former cop |url=https://www.sfgate.com/cannabis/article/largest-california-cannabis-farm-glass-house-17924258.php |access-date=April 30, 2023 |website=SFGATE |language=en-US}}</ref>