The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department recently seized and eradicated approximately 3,800 marijuana plants and 1,700 pounds of processed weed after executing a search warrant in an unincorporated area of Sage County.
“Marijuana cultivation negatively impacts the environment in many ways, including diminishing and poisoning the water table and pesticides adversely affecting the health of neighboring residents,” Deputy Sgt. Anthony Pelato said in a news release.
Targeting unauthorized marijuana cultivation, the search warrant was served Wednesday by a team including the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Riverside County Code Enforcement and California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the release said.
During the operation, approximately 3,800 marijuana plants and 1,700 pounds of processed marijuana were not only seized but eradicated from several indoor and outdoor structures, the release said. Although this site previously had a permit to produce, the county permit expired several months ago, and tests of the marijuana found inside the home and in 15 outdoor greenhouses determined it far exceeded the legal tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) level, according to the release.
Authorized hemp producers must comply with all state and local laws that set THC levels, the Sheriff’s Department said, adding that anyone discovered cultivating high level THC cannabis under their permitted hemp grow site will be identified and the illegal product eradicated.
Not only was the site in violation of the permit laws, but authorities also found that the operation violated California environmental laws in relation to a nearby waterway, the release said.
Working under a policy of zero tolerance for such offenses, the Sheriff’s Department asks that anyone who suspects drug activity in their area call their local Sheriff’s Station.
