A small town in Michigan called Bessemer is having a weed odor issue. The western Upper Peninsula town is cracking down on the unpleasant smell in an interesting way.
Bessemer City Manager Charly Loper has bought an odor-detection device and is drafting an ordinance to crack down on the unpleasant smell of blooming marijuana plants.
Loper said the Nasal Ranger could be used to check a variety of bad-air complaints, but she acknowledged that marijuana appears to be the key target.
“The city of Bessemer stinks,” council member Linda Nelson remarked. The council recently voted 4-1 to buy the device, which will cost $3,400 with training. “You can smell marijuana everywhere. We’ve got people who can’t sit in their backyard because the smell from their neighbor is so bad.”
“Somebody’s got to take a stand. This is a piece of equipment we need,” council member Terry Kryshak said.
The odor problem in Bessemer, population 1,905, occurs when marijuana plants are in bloom, especially during warmer months, Loper said to the Associated Press.
“The bloom period lasts six to eight weeks,” Loper said Thursday. “A lot of people describe it as a skunk-like odor. It can be strong.
“We’re treading very softly in this area,” she said. “People have a right to grow marijuana in their house, but everyone needs to be considerate of their neighbors so the odor isn’t affecting their enjoyment of the outdoors.”
According to Loper, some Bessemer residents might even require an air-filtration system in their homes.
