Rock Hill residents have filed a lawsuit against a cannabis producer, claiming a persistent odor from its nearby processing facility has affected their homes and may have lowered property values.
This complaint, filed at the St. Louis County Circuit Court, names Proper Brands, a Missouri cannabis company, as the defendant. The plaintiffs are seeking class-action status for people living within 0.5 miles of the facility who say they have experienced the smell.
Tim Heimann and Robert Smejkal, listed as lead plaintiffs, allege that unpleasant odors have repeatedly spread from the operation into nearby residential areas. The filing contends that Proper Brands has not adequately maintained or upgraded the facility to prevent the smell from reaching surrounding properties.
The proposed class could include residents from roughly 1,500 households, according to the lawsuit. Plaintiffs are requesting compensation for alleged damages, including punitive and compensatory awards, and have asked for the case to be heard by a jury.
Proper Brands produces cannabis goods under multiple labels and operates a vertically integrated business model, meaning it grows cannabis, manufactures products, and sells them through its own dispensaries. The company reportedly cultivates over 70 varieties for products including flower, edibles, and vaporizer items.
In 2025, cannabis firm Vireo Growth acquired Proper Brands for $102 million. Proper continued to operate under its existing name and leadership following the transaction.
Odor complaints have also drawn attention from Rock Hill officials. The city previously acknowledged receiving complaints and said it was working with the facility’s compliance representative and the state health department to address the problem.
The lawsuit says Rock Hill served the company a notice alleging that the company violated municipal cannabis regulations. Those rules prohibit odors from being detectable outside the business property. The notice reportedly required Proper to provide a corrective plan addressing the emissions.
Proper representatives had attended several public meetings to respond to questions from residents and officials. At the company’s most recent appearance, the city board formally informed Proper that it was out of compliance and directed the business to make operational changes.
Officials say the city has subsequently received substantially fewer odor complaints since those adjustments were introduced. Even so, over 300 complaints have reportedly been submitted through an email address established specifically to collect residents’ concerns.
One resident told the city that the smell was sometimes so intense that they avoided spending time outdoors. The resident also questioned whether prospective buyers would want to purchase a home in an area where the odor remained noticeable.
Rock Hill has about 5,000 residents and covers roughly one square mile southwest of Brentwood.
These conflicts between marijuana facilities and surrounding residents aren’t entirely new, and established firms like SNDL Inc. (NASDAQ: SNDL) in jurisdictions where marijuana has been legal for a long time have seen their peers encounter similar complaints largely from those opposed to cannabis legalization.
About CNW420
CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of an article each business day at 4:20 p.m. Eastern – a tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. The concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.
To receive SMS alerts from CNW, text CANNABIS to 888-902-4192 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)
For more information, please visit https://www.CannabisNewsWire.com
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CannabisNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by CNW, wherever published or re-published: https://www.CannabisNewsWire.com/Disclaimer
CannabisNewsWire
Denver, CO
www.CannabisNewsWire.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com
CannabisNewsWire is powered by IBN
