To get sense of what is happening in the tug of war between cannabis growers and law enforcement, we’ve put together a list of the known marijuana enforcement actions in Humboldt County so far this year.
We’re going to start off with a report of a raid led by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on a relatively large grow in the Thomas Road area of Salmon Creek that had been served a search warrant by Humboldt County’s Marijuana Eradication Team just six weeks earlier on May 15. On the same day, DFW also served a warrant on Fruitland Ridge and one in Redcrest.
This greenhouse off Thomas Road in the Salmon Creek watershed was refilled with clones after having been raided a month prior. [Photo provided by the Department of Fish and Wildlife]
No, you are not crazy, this happens all the time
According to Janice Mackey, Information Officer for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, “During the week of June 29 [we know the date was June 30], the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, assisted by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office and the California Department of Food and Agriculture, served three search warrants in Humboldt County. The parcels were located at Thomas Road in Miranda, Johnson Lane in Redcrest and Kelsey Lane in Myers Flat.”
The Thomas Road parcel we know was in the permit process with the County. We are unsure of the other parcels. According to Mackey, “A records check confirmed that none of the parcels were licensed by the state for commercial cannabis cultivation.”
"In case you forgot: #No Un-permitted Grows", "No Permits, No Plants", #Heat
On May 18, the MET team said they found over 14,000 plants at the Thomas Road parcel* and over 1,990 pounds of processed cannabis.
A wall of weed contained in the ubiquitous black and yellow tuppies was found during the May 18 raid on the Thomas Road piece, according to MET. [Photo from the team]
Undeterred by the MET raid in May, the optimistic folks on the Thomas Road property rushed to replant. When the Department of Fish and Wildlife arrived at the property on June 30, they say they discovered an estimated 46,791 illegal marijuana plants. 46, 791 plants.
The DFW says they located around 3200 plants total on both the parcels in Redcrest and Myers Flat.
Though DFW would only speak in general terms about the three parcels, we believe around ten suspects were detained on the Thomas Road property but then released. However, it is possible that some of those were located on the other two properties. Ten "suspects" released.
Mackey says, “Criminal charges will be filed with the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office for consideration….Criminal charges are pending and these are ongoing investigations.”
MET: HCSO deputies remove nearly 60,000 pot plants from Blocksburg property:
The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office Marijuana Enforcement Team served a search warrant to a property in the Blocksburg area on Friday to investigate illegal cannabis cultivation.
Officials said the property did not possess the required county permit and state license to cultivate cannabis commercially. During the service of the warrant, deputies said they eradicated approximately 58,395 growing cannabis plants. found the following violations:
Six water diversion violations (up to $8,000 fine per day, per violation)
Three water pollution violations (up to $20,000 fine per day, per violation)
Commercial cannabis ordinance violations (up to $10,000 fine per day)
Additional violations with civil fines are expected to be filed by the assisting agencies.
Officials said the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Humboldt County Code Enforcement assisted in the service of the warrant.
Assisting agencies ????, sometimes a nebulous term
Below are all the rest of the enforcement actions we know of with brief summaries and links to more complete stories if we have them. Note: This list is incomplete and not up to date
Known Humboldt County Marijuana Enforcement Actions So Far in 2020:
-On Monday, April 27: Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) Served Search Warrant in the Mattole Road Area
-On Wednesday, April 29: Indoor Grow Raided Today
-On Thursday, April 30: Marijuana Enforcement Team Served Search Warrant in Garberville Yesterday
-On Friday, May 8: 878 Plants Eradicated in Redway Bust
-On Monday, May 11: Over 17,000 Plants Eradicated at Miranda Property Today, Says Sheriff’s Office
-On Tuesday, May 12: There wasn’t a press release but our request, Karges was able to gather some details for us. She told us,
…[D]eputies with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) served two search warrants to investigate illegal cannabis cultivation in the Cathy’s Peak area of Honeydew. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife assisted in the service of the warrant.
Two parcels were investigated during the service of the warrants. The parcels did not possess the required county permit and state license to cultivate cannabis commercially.
During the service of the warrants, deputies eradicated approximately 2,000 growing cannabis plants.
Additional violations with civil fines are expected to be filed by the assisting agencies.
No arrests were made during the service of the warrant. The case will be forwarded to the DA’s Office for review.
-On Wednesday, May 13: Citizens’ Complaints Lead to Marijuana Bust on Wilder Ridge, Says Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office
-On May 14, Karges said a search warrant was served in the Dinsmore area. At this point we haven’t received information on what MET discovered. We will request information again.We will request information again.
-On Friday, May 15: Over 14,000 Plants and Nearly 2000 Pounds of Marijuana Found at Salmon Creek Grow, Says HCSO MET Team
-On May 20, Karges confirmed that there were search warrants served in Southern Humboldt but she hadn’t been able to gather details at the time we requested information. We have reports that at least one warrant was served in the Weott area. We will request information again.
-On May 26, MET went to a Large Indoor Grow in the Weitchpec area–18,690 Plants and 818 Pounds.
-On May 27, MET Served three search warrants on parcels without any permits in the Dinsmore area.
-On May 29, MET eradicated approximately 58,395 growing cannabis plants on a Blocksburg property without any permits.
-On June 3, MET eradicated about 353 plants as well as 62 grams of meth and prescription pills packaged for sales. The grow–in the area of Tobacco Road, Petrolia–did not possess any permits. One woman was cited and released. One person fled.
-On June 4, MET served four search warrants in the Alderpoint/Rancho Sequoia area. Deputies eradicated approximately 10,299 growing cannabis plants and confiscated a ghost gun.
-On June 5, we had a report of a convoy in SoHum but no further information. We will request information again.
-On June 17, MET served two search warrants in the Blocksburg area. “One parcel did not possess the required county permit and state license to cultivate cannabis commercially. The second parcel did not possess the required state license to cultivate cannabis commercially.” One person was cited. In addition, one trespass grow was eradicated.
-On June 22, a law enforcement convoy went to Fruitland Ridge and to Eel Rock Road. We will request information again.
-On June 24, MET “served two search warrants to investigate illegal cannabis cultivation in the Mad River drainage area of Dinsmore…[D]eputies eradicated approximately 10,735 growing cannabis plants.”
-On June 25, MET served two search warrants in the Mattole River drainage area of Honeydew. “One parcel possessed the required county permit but did not possess a state license to cultivate cannabis commercially. The other parcel investigated did not possess the required county permit and state license to cultivate cannabis commercially…[D]eputies eradicated approximately 7,930 growing cannabis plants.”
-On June 30, a convoy went to Holmes Flat in Redcrest, then to Fruitland Ridge in the Kelsey Lane area, and returned to a Salmon Creek watershed property. See lead story above.
-On July 14, MET served one search warrant at a parcel without any permits in the Shively area and eradicated approximately 2,600 growing cannabis plants. Also, “MET deputies served one search warrant at a parcel in the Honeydew area. The parcel did not possess the required state license to cultivate cannabis commercially. “[D]deputies eradicated approximately 6,900 growing cannabis plants.”
-On July 15, MET served a search warrant at a Briceland farm that had a County permit but not a state permit and “eradicated approximately 2,000 growing cannabis plants….MET deputies also visited an additional cannabis cultivation operation in Briceland. Upon contact with the parcel owner, deputies learned the parcel had just received its state license and verified that it was in compliance with current state and local orders.”
Use this link CDFGNews for excellent information on the permitting process for growing marijuana LEGALLY in the State of California. County rules and regulations differ and it is all very expensive.
Here are some photos of Illegal Grows, which include Illegal cutting of forest lands, illegal grading leading to un-needed run off into nearby water sources, illegal road building, illegal water diversions, pumping, storing, chemical and pesticide violations harming wildlife, zoning ordinance issues and code violations, and no paper work on file suggesting this grower was , at the very least , trying to come into compliance:
Yes, see above : looks neater, but still illegal and un-permitted. Use Google Earth, albeit NOT up to date, and see the Gardens of Plastic created by the Green Rushers , especially in California's Emerald Triangle , but also beyond. California's Emerald Triangle includes Humboldt, Mendocino and Trinity Counties. Some California counties encourage this type of legal growing with all permits PLUS fencing.
Cartel related indictments for drug trafficking being reported in the State of Washington, Puget Sound area.
ReplyDeleteHow hard is it for an average citizen with no connections to start a marijuana plantation or marijuana business? I hear corporate America is getting its hands on the weed business in all legal states and they’re making very difficult for average citizens to get into the business.
ReplyDeleteVery hard to do it legally as it is still a federal crime.
DeleteKinda late to the marijuana game, aren't you?
DeleteIts one thing to grow it and harvest, another to unload it. Cartel folks have the connections as well as the older experienced growers. "If" one successfully grew a crop, you'd still have to get it to market, right?
Delete8:13, its easy, don't let people tell you its not. They're going to say its hard because you'll be more competition! You just need to put in the time, work and dedication. Customers are everywhere!
DeleteIn the industry, it’s extremely hard to start legally. You need state and county level licensing, 280e tax accountants and a cannabis law form to manage relationships with the MED. There are a few independent credit unions that require a $250,000 escrow in order to initiate banking. Plus add in 280e and state taxes and you are looking at 40-70% taxation with at least 50% of costs going to raw products.
DeleteDidn’t someone in one of these articles say they heard helicopters and shit raising a place? Maybe it was Mexico news daily.
ReplyDeleteA facebook page posted pictures of dead members of cartels Unidos members killed in the shooting vs Cjng where cartels Unidos was showing off a truck as a sign of victory but no fallen rivals
ReplyDelete20k for sellers permit to distribute dry flower
ReplyDeleteOver a 100k to open dispensary
In California also nessacry to have liquid income of over 300k in bank just to be approved for an application ontop of that the application cost 10k to file. The California government also says new shops that are opening in order to have both sales recreational (21yr old) and medical patients shop had to have been open 3 years prior to law to be considered to open both in one establishment. The list goes on...thats just a small bite of the hoops to jump through to open a shop
yep typical of CA Democrats they buried the guys who started it all and handed it over to corporate greed.
DeleteI thought marijuana was legal in cali
ReplyDeleteIf you have at least half a million in the bank account than as easy as small loan of a million dollars.
DeleteIt is legal but you still need to do the necessary state and county paperwork and meet their monetary requirements, you can't just set up in front of your shack and start slanging and claim to be a legitimate business. Read post 5:56
Delete*5:46*
DeleteIt's still a FEDERAL crime which is above state law.
DeleteFascists Dudley Do Rights
ReplyDeleteThey're gonna be playing this cat & mouse game until growers and law enforcement figure out a way to co exist without causing all this commotion. Cali is a big state with a whole bunch of illegal grows
ReplyDeletethose pictures are taken after they finish trashing the place just so yall environmentalists know
ReplyDeletebust them all i’m making that money
ReplyDelete