Recently, a large number of police arrested 23 people in connection to illegal marijuana grows in Antelope Valley. The investigation involving over 400 police began months ago when Antelope Valley residents complained that the illegal grows were impacting their lives. According to authorities, illegal pot growing is “an existential threat” to Los Angeles County. Alleged cartel members were reported to be stealing water in the middle of the night from local farms, creating difficulties for the farmers there.
California Health and Safety Code 11358 HS defines how to legally grow marijuana in the state. The passage of Proposition 64 made recreational marijuana legal in California and also enables people to grow it, provided they follow certain stipulations.
- Persons 21 and older can grow up to six marijuana plants for recreational use
- If someone 18-20 is caught growing marijuana, the crime is an infraction punishable by a fine of $100
- If someone age 21 or older is caught growing more than six marijuana plants, they may be charged with a misdemeanor level offense and face up to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $500
Suffice it to say, the grows that were discovered and shut down by law enforcement involved a great deal more than six marijuana plants. One grow that was bulldozed Tuesday, June 8th, included 74 greenhouses spread over 10 acres of land. Last year, over 150 illegal marijuana grows were identified in the county. So far this year over 500 have been identified. The size and scope of the grows wasn’t released, though it’s not difficult to imagine that the majority of them involved much more than the legal limit of six plants.
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