Illegal cannabis grows in Siskiyou County, California, have been a persistent problem for the past seven years, despite efforts by the local sheriff to crack down on them.
The issue has been exacerbated by California's laws, which legalized recreational use and cultivation of marijuana in 2016 and became a sanctuary for illegal immigrants in 2018. These laws have limited the ability of local law enforcement to communicate with federal immigration authorities, hindering their efforts to tackle the issue.
Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue has expressed frustration with the current laws, stating that there is not much that can be done to address the problem. He has requested additional personnel and resources from the state, but his calls for help have gone unanswered. LaRue believes that the laws need to be changed in order to give law enforcement the tools they need to combat illegal cannabis grows effectively.
Under current California law, individuals who are 21 years and older can grow up to six marijuana plants per household as long as they are out of public view. Operating a cannabis grow requires obtaining a cultivation license from the state and adhering to regulations on the use of pesticides, generators, electricity, and water. Growing more than the allowed six plants is considered a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in prison and/or a $500 fine.
However, the penalties for illegal grows are mainly administrative, and state agencies lack the resources to address the massive scale of the problem. When law enforcement is able to bust one grow, growers are often able to replant within 24 hours. The lack of federal support due to California's sanctuary status further hampers efforts to tackle the issue.
The infiltration of cartel-controlled illegal marijuana grows in Siskiyou County has led to increased criminal activity, danger to residents and law enforcement, and severe environmental degradation, according to Republican California Representative Doug LaMalfa. He believes that the legalization of cannabis by California Democrats has only added fuel to the fire, allowing individuals and cartel operations to grow large quantities of marijuana with minimal consequences.
The black market industry in illegal cannabis stems from the crisis at the southern border, where federal authorities have recorded millions of encounters with migrants crossing into the country illegally. Both legal and illegal immigrants, including those from China, are present on the grow sites, according to Sheriff LaRue. The workers in the illicit pot industry are often victims of human trafficking, with some being promised large sums of money for their work but never receiving payment.
There has been a lack of attention from federal prosecutors in tackling the grow operations in Siskiyou County. John Nores, a retired special operations lieutenant from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, believes that serious federal cases and prosecution would have a significant deterrent effect on the illegal cannabis industry. However, this has not been happening to the extent necessary.
The illegal cannabis industry continues to thrive in California, causing environmental damage and threatening public safety. The use of toxic pesticides, aggressive dogs, and threats to access water during droughts are some of the issues associated with illegal grows. The local community is being driven out as the cartels take over Homeowners Associations and cause deaths in the area.
Despite efforts by the California Office of Cannabis Control to combat illegal grows through a task force, the problem persists. The task force has served search warrants on unlicensed commercial grows, eradicating thousands of illegal cannabis plants and seizing large quantities of processed cannabis and firearms.
However, until legislation changes to impose stricter penalties and provide more resources for law enforcement, the cartels will continue to operate largely unchecked in California.
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