Will $4.5 Million Finally Get Rid of Cathedral City's Cannabis Smell?

If you've driven through parts of Cathedral City lately, chances are you've noticed it—the unmistakable smell of cannabis that's frustrated residents for years. The complaints haven't gone away, and until now, neither has the odor. But city leaders are hoping a new infusion of state money could finally help clear the air.Cathedral City has been awarded a $4.5 million Cannabis Enforcement Grant, funded through Proposition 64, California's recreational marijuana law. The money is part of a larger statewide public safety program and is intended to help cities better regulate the cannabis industry while addressing community concerns.So what exactly will the money pay for? According to city officials, a big piece of it will go toward hiring dedicated staff instead of pulling employees away from other departments whenever complaints come in. The city also plans to invest in new technology and software designed to identify where odors are coming from and improve enforcement efforts.Fred Roggin couldn't help but have a little fun with that idea, joking that he doesn't need expensive software to figure out where the smell is coming from. As he put it, just stand along Ramon Road or near the RV park, and it's pretty obvious. His bigger question was the one many residents are asking: How does any of this actually stop the smell?Reporter Caitlin Kelley admitted that's still the unanswered question. While city officials are optimistic the grant will move things in the right direction, they weren't able to clearly explain how success will be measured over the next six months or year. In other words, the city now has more resources—but no guarantee of results.For now, residents have reason to be cautiously optimistic. Cathedral City finally has funding to try new solutions after years of frustration. Whether those efforts will actually make the air smell any better is something the community—and probably a few noses—will be watching closely. For more Coachella Valley News visit NBCPalmSprings.com