[Endur]

https://www.recorderonline.com/news/s...lare-hits.html

The middle of the growing season for Tulare County’s leading cash crop is here.

In 2010, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department seized nearly $1.67 billion worth of marijuana, slightly outdoing $1.6 billion in revenue fetched the same year by the dairy industry, the county’s top commodity.

And although the late rain and snow season have delayed this year’s harvest, local officials are bracing for what they foresee will be a larger marijuana crop than in years prior.

According to Lt. Tom Sigley with the Sheriff’s Tactical Enforcement Personnel (STEP) unit — the primary team for pursuing illegal marijuana traffickers in the county — so far this year authorities have already eradicated 39,737 plants and seized 18 weapons.

Approximately 36,000 of those plants, Sigley said, were eradicated from a mountain grow on Bureau of Land Management land in the Springville area on June 29.

The outdoor marijuana growing season used to run from April through September, but with new varieties of the plant, the season has expanded from February through November, Sigley said.

In a final report issued July 2 by the Tulare County grand jury, jurors found that seeds for some crops grown locally in illegal marijuana gardens come from Afghanistan and are bred to “bud” as many as three or four times per year, with a growing cycle of as little as three months.

To prepare for the marijuana trade season, the STEP unit utilizes other narcotics units and a newly formed team of deputies from the Detention Division to assist with plant eradication.

The teams also conduct regular flights to locate sites, which are commonly found on public lands.

“There are thousands and thousands of acres of public lands available for these grows,” Sigley said. “They are usually very remote in location and the climate and water for these types of illicit activities are prime.”

Growers, he added, choose Tulare County because of its generous water supply and the area’s Mediterranean climate.

Hikers, hunters, ranchers and farmers who stumble upon the lush gardens and the garbage they breed are usually the first to contact authorities.

Sites typically have miles of black plastic hose stretched across the grounds for water supply and heaps of trash scattered in forested areas.

People may encounter “stash” areas where plants are cut and stored away from the grow sites, rerouted natural water resources, tarps, isolated tents or camping trailers in the forest where no recreational activity is present, garden tools and fertilization bags among a list of other things.

These grow sites may pose risks to the general public, as they are commonly tended to by members of various Mexican drug cartels and are often protected by armed guards, Sigley said.

“If people should come across any of these signs, they should mark it on their GPS, if available, and immediately leave the area and contact the Sheriff’s Department,” he noted.

According to Sigley, in 2010 the Sheriff’s Department eradicated 78 different mountain grow sites, made 32 arrests for the plant’s illegal cultivation on public lands, and seized 417,687 plants and 23 weapons.

On average, growers caught for cultivation face 30 to 60 days of local jail time, and six months to one year for mountain cultivation. When charged federally, offenders face “significantly longer sentences,” Sigley said.

Additionally, in 2010 authorities also contacted 237 grow sites on the Valley floor, all claiming medical necessity.

He said there are teams who try and keep up with compliance checks on “hundreds of backyard medical marijuana grows and are aggressively trying to bring them into compliance.”

To do this, the teams use code enforcement, zoning and other local departments to assist with any other violations, he said.

[hazy]

I always thought that reporter types were cool at least in high school or college, and had smoked a bit of reefer. But they consistantly use myth, fear and ignorance. This one has a way with words though, right?
"garden tools and fertilization bags"

Fertilization bags??? huh?, wha?

In a final report issued July 2 by the Tulare County grand jury, jurors found that seeds for some crops grown locally in illegal marijuana gardens come from Afghanistan and are bred to “bud” as many as three or four times per year, with a growing cycle of as little as three months.

"Jurors found" that, eh? I wonder how they "found" that they "come from Afghanistan"? Daggone if they don't 'bud' over and over all year too. Bred that way too.

How can the reporter write that without commenting on the stupidity of that 'finding' by the jury, or put in some information from someone who might actually know something about marijuana.

And after you take out the 36,000 plant 'cartel grow', that only leaves 3700 plants raided maybe from regular folks, so leave the reader with an image of those pesky 'medical' growers. The almighty government has learned that if LEO is kept from arresting you for growing, just sick those 'code enforcement' guys out to enforce the local 'zoning' laws.

Heh, that reporter must have attended California public school, the kind that passes kids just to make room for the new crop that needs babysitting.

[supermanlives]

i want some of those special seeds

[Grass Lands]

Seen a segment on the news a few nights back...the reporter commented on the fertilizer from these mountain grows getting into our drinking water here in the valley....however, not one word about the pesticides or fertilizers being used here on the valley floor on the thousands of acres of crops...

[Private Joker]

Originally Posted by imnotkrazy

Heh, that reporter must have attended California public school, the kind that passes kids just to make room for the new crop that needs babysitting.

Better than Atlanta (says a product of the ca public school system)

[Kushed_]

Who has been holding out with those super beans?

It never ceases to amaze me all of the rediculous mis-information that gets reported in the newspaper, on tv, etc. I wonder what percentage of people buy-in to that grand jury report?

[gaiusmarius]

maybe they are talking about autos?

[devilgoob]

I like how they think they know what they're talking about.

An afghani will a full cycle in 3 months but flowers 4 times? They mean it one way or the other those idiots.

Oh, wow. A stream or natural water source a a prime spot for an operation...?
Plaaaaants need water.....wooooo.....we're law enforcement and we keep the public informed.

Seriously its a bunch of dolts finding sour milk when they go out looking for it. Hey buttholes, the dangerous marijuana crop wont harm you if you dont look at it!!!!

I like how they think every season they know whats going on. Well wow people grow. What? NEWS STORY..yes.......news? No. These people must get a life. They are evil scum like people who dont accept others but claim to be one of god.

They just don't get it that everytime quadrupling of potency happens....like they say. That our medicine is only better. They eradicated 36,000?

I dont know if people know this but its our right to grow. Our states decide, not the DEA...who is oe their own side.

Anyway wouldnt they be sooooo proud to bust a 100,000 plant grow? If they could find everyone's? LOL.

Everyone cmon! Create jobs for the DEA.

GO! LOL. Grow your freakin asses of we need to create jobs!!!

[Yes4Prop215]

big scary seeds from afghanistan holy shit hide your kids!! dont want our precious american kids smoking afghan weed it will make them commies....