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plants were being grown <br />16 hydroponically, without soil. Holcomb says the pot had a street value of about $100,000. Six weapons also were seized. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ixcngF7pbHkfv0sOx3mQ6mN-jow <br />D9EB6E001 Response hazards at marijuana grow houses Firefighters need to be aware of a range of dangers and be on the lookout for warning signs of such sites By Michael Lee As I drove <br />through our fire district recently, I noticed an ever-increasing number of marijuana dispensaries that our state has recently said are legal. It made me begin to wonder what impacts <br />a fire in one of these or the sites of suppliers (home growers) may cause should crews have to respond on a structure fire. Marijuana grow houses are generally trailers, houses or other <br />locations in rural, urban and residential areas that are retrofitted to be used for the purposes of growing marijuana. Growing operations have been discovered in different locations <br />such as houses, attics, basements, apartments, storage units, barns and other locations. Indoor marijuana grow operations are growing rapidly in both urban and rural areas and are regularly <br />found by law enforcement or firefighters during the course of their duties. Responders should be very cautious of any items or locations that arouse curiosity. Fires at such sites can <br />present a range of dangers to firefighters. Here are the main areas you need to be aware of: Safety: Growers are generally considered to be violent criminals until proven otherwise. <br />As such, they will not only attempt to protect their "crop" but may also store cash and weapons on site. Responders need to also be aware of anti-personnel devices (APD) or "booby traps" <br />used to protect these items from curious individuals, such as police and other competitive growers. First responders should be cautious. If one is found, chances are there will be others. <br />Fire: Numerous fire hazards may be present on site. These may consist of: exposed live wires, excessive wiring, uncovered breaker boxes, wire bundles, wires exposed to water or in contact <br />with water and a large number of high-intensity light bulbs. Also some growers will utilize several extra exhaust fans which can aggravate the spread of a fire in a residence. Atmospheric: <br />One of the greatest hazards can be an oxygen deficient atmosphere. Any atmosphere that has an oxygen concentration below 19.5 percent or above 23.5 percent is dangerous. Carbon dioxide <br />is often artificially introduced to the indoor grow area to assist with plant growth. Ozone generators are commonly used to reduce or eliminate the odor of an indoor grow; ozone is a <br />known chemical carcinogen. Electrical: Grow houses that are operating can use up to 10 times the power of a standard residence. The growers may attempt to "bypass" the normal distribution <br />of power and steal additional power for their operations. Remember that these illegal power taps are not generally accomplished by licensed electricians and are significantly hazardous. <br />Light ballast used to run high intensity grow lights can maintain a charge for up to 15 minutes after being unplugged. Illegal hydroponic growing may combine two incompatibles: water <br />and electricity. Environmental: Due to the high humidity, mold is a standard byproduct growing in the same area as the product. Molds present a very unique health threat in that without <br />respiratory protection, exposure can cause allergic reactions, sinus and respiratory distress; even death in the most extreme cases. Grow farmers may utilize large amounts of hazardous <br />materials in the form of fungicides, pesticides, acids, and bases. These hazardous materials are generally stored and disposed of improperly including being poured down drains and sewers. <br />Structural factors: Homes used for indoor marijuana growing operations can be altered. These alterations are implemented to produce the maximum growing environment for the plants and <br />to disguise the growing location. Walls will be moved to make room and the high levels of humidity that can lead to growth of fungus and molds has the potential to damage insulation, <br />walls and ceilings. Some <br />17 grows have been discovered in underground rooms and tunnels &mdash these are considered confined spaces and must be dealt with as confined spaces. OSHA guidelines must be followed <br />and only those properly trained may act as an entrant, attendant, or confined space supervisor. No other persons can make entry into this environment. Hazmat: Many sites utilize flammable <br />and volatile solvents. These can include acetones, camp fuel and isopropyl alcohol. Clues and warning signs to alert responders: What clues can responding crews utilize to anticipate <br />possible grow houses? What procedures can they take to ensure they are kept safe? The following list of warning signs may help to focus the company officer's attention and create "red <br />flags" in their mind: Structure: Almost all marijuana growers will utilize rental property — residence and commercial — to avoid damage to their own properties. To make a location suitable <br />for cultivating marijuana, significant changes are made to the location’s structure. Be aware of: Unusual structures or equipment such as large numbers of vents Equipment used in the <br />growing operation (such as large fans, lights, plastic plant containers and other items) being carried into the home. Garbage bags containing used soil and plant material discarded in <br />areas surrounding the house. Accumulations of waste inside or outside Security: High fences, locked gates, heavy chains and locks visible. Windows are boarded or covered up. Smell: Indoor <br />marijuana grows will produce a heavy smell of marijuana that can be recognized around the location. Growers have been known to mask the smell with other offensive odors to hide the smell. <br />Condensation: Grow house humidity levels may be up to 100 percent, which would cause large amounts of precipitation on specific windows. Lights: High intensity lamps are used in the <br />indoor growing operation. High intensity light can be seen around doors or windows, which may be covered. Houses may appear much brighter than surrounding houses. Covered windows: Windows <br />may be covered in black plastic, heavy curtains or drapes that will be closed tight and pressed against the windows. This is to reduce the ability of light to escape and to prevent natural <br />light from disrupting the artificial light cycles. Open windows: Windows cracked open in winter months in various rooms of the house could be signs that they are being used to cool the <br />house and grow room due to excess heat from high intensity lighting. Excess air conditioning units: Multiple air conditioning units in a house far too small for the area the air conditioners <br />can efficiently cool are signs that the interior is being cooled secondary to the excess heat from the high intensity lighting. Next month, we will focus on the response guidelines your <br />department can follow when dealing with fires in grow houses. http://www.firerescue1.com/fire-attack/articles/780478-Response-hazards-at-marijuana-grow-houses/The growing of Marijuana <br />on public lands has been proven to be associated with foreign drug trafficking organizations and costs tax payers millions of dollars in “clean-up” costs. The danger to unarmed citizens <br />attempting to use public lands has also increased as growers are willing to go to greater lengths to protect their drugs. AP IMPACT: Drug gangs taking over US public lands By Alicia <br />Caldwell and Manuel Valdes – Associated Press Writers Monday, Mar. 01, 2010 SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. --Not far from Yosemite's waterfalls and in the middle of California's redwood <br />forests, Mexican drug gangs are quietly commandeering U.S. public land to grow millions of marijuana plants and using smuggled immigrants to cultivate them. Pot has been grown on public <br />lands for decades, but Mexican traffickers have taken it to a whole new level: using armed guards <br />18 and trip wires to safeguard sprawling plots that in some cases contain tens of thousands of plants offering a potential yield of more than 30 tons of pot a year. "Just like the Mexicans <br />took over the methamphetamine trade, they've gone to mega, monster gardens," said Brent Wood, a supervisor for the California Department of Justice's Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement……The <br />Sequoia National Forest in central California is covered in a patchwork of pot fields, most of which are hidden along mountain creeks and streams, far from hiking trails. It's the same <br />situation in the nearby Yosemite, Sequoia and Redwood national parks. Even if they had the manpower to police the vast wilderness, authorities say terrain and weather conditions often <br />keep them from finding the farms, except accidentally. Many of the plots are encircled with crude explosives and are patrolled by guards armed with AK-47s who survey the perimeter from <br />the ground and from perches high in the trees. The farms are growing in sophistication and are increasingly cultivated by illegal immigrants, many of whom have been brought to the U.S. <br />from Michoacan. Growers once slept among their plants, but many of them now have campsites up to a mile away equipped with separate living and cooking areas. "It's amazing how they have <br />changed the way they do business," Wood said. "It's their domain." Drug gangs have also imported marijuana experts and unskilled labor to help find the best land or build irrigation <br />systems, Wood said. Moyses Mesa Barajas had just arrived in eastern Washington state from the Mexican state of Michoacan when he was approached to work in a pot field. He was taken almost <br />immediately to a massive crop hidden in the Wenatchee National Forest, where he managed the watering of the plants. He was arrested in 2008 in a raid and sentenced to more than six years <br />in federal prison. Several other men wearing camouflage fled before police could stop them. "I thought it would be easy," he told the AP in a jailhouse interview. "I didn't think it <br />would would be a big crime." Stewart said recruiters look for people who still have family in Mexico, so they can use them as leverage to keep the farmers working -and to keep them quiet…..Washington <br />State Patrol Lt. Richard Wiley said hired hands either do not know who the boss is or are too frightened to give details. "They are fearful of what may happen to them if they were to <br />snitch on these coyote people," Wiley said of the recruiters and smugglers who bring marijuana farmers into the U.S. "That's organized crime of a different fashion. There's nothing to <br />gain from (talking), but there's a lot to lose." http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2010/03/01/1034363/ap-impact-drug-gangs-taking-over.html DEA Marijuana Seizures Nearly Double By Ryan <br />J. Reilly | March 1, 2010 The total amount of marijuana seized by the Drug Enforcement Administration nearly doubled from 1,539 metric tons in fiscal 2008 to 2,980 metric tons in last <br />year. The numbers were disclosed as part of the DEA’s budget request for fiscal 2011. A spokesman for the DEA declined to elaborate on the reason for such a dramatic rise in seizures <br />of marijuana. “Several factors play into this number and in any given year the amount of drugs seized by DEA can fluctuate,” said spokesman David Ausiello…... http://www.mainjustice.com/2010/03/01/de <br />a-marijuana-seizures-nearly-double/Federal, State and Local Officials continue to struggle with the large numbers of dispensaries throughout the state. Cities and Counties are also fighting <br />on-going legal battles with dispensaries that open or continue to operate in violation of land use and licensing violations. Many Cities and Counties are enacting are establishing moratoriums <br />or enacting bans on the establishment of dispensaries within their jurisdictions. Due to publicity generated by Proposition 19, a number of Medical Marijuna Business are being exposed <br />for what they are, huge cash machines generating millions of dollars in profit while running “non-profit collectives or cooperatives. <br />19 Santa Barbara Detectives Shut Down Marijuana Dispensary Officials say Humanity, on Bond Avenue, operated illegally; six employees are arrested By Paul McCaffrey | Published on 01.11.2010 <br />For the past few months, the Santa Barbara Police Department has received information that the marijuana dispensary Humanity, at 715 Bond Ave., was operating in violation of the Compassionate <br />Use Act. Information sources included complaints and public comments made at city marijuana ordinance hearings. Narcotic detectives initiated a thorough investigation and made undercover <br />purchases by an individual who presented a counterfeit medical marijuana recommendation. ID was never checked, and the medical marijuana recommendation never verified. Authorized search <br />and arrest warrants were issued for the business, six employees and their residences……Police recovered 63 pounds of marijuana buried in the backyard of the Santa Ynez address. They seized <br />$12,000 in cash, 281 doses of unprescribed anabolic steroids and 150 growing marijuana plants. In addition to this case, detectives investigated an assault with a deadly weapon case <br />involving two current dispensary employees against a former employee. The employees were charged with assault with a deadly weapon and false imprisonment…..In addition to the seizure <br />of cash assets, detectives gained court authorization to freeze $25,000 in bank assets. Other financial documents and transaction records are being examined to determine if the source <br />was illegal profiteering from Humanity. http://www.noozhawk.com/local_news/article/011110_santa_barbara_detectives_shut_down_marijuana _dispensary/EXCLUSIVE: Doctor accused of running <br />a medical marijuana mill BY KAREN VELIE /January 10, 2010 9:31 pm Former co-workers are accusing Dr. Atsuko Rees, a physician at HealthWorks in San Luis Obispo until July 2009, of writing <br />medical marijuana recommendations for almost anyone who asked, while not claiming the bulk of payments for the visits as income. The allegations come as medical officials across the <br />the country are asking if a small number of doctors are responsible for authorizing the vast majority of medical marijuana cards — possibly abusing a law meant to help patients with <br />chronic health problems. These few doctors, many known for spending five to ten minutes with patients before diagnosing them with a chronic illness, are said to be practicing sub-standard <br />medical care as they rake in between $150 to $250 for each diagnosis. HealthWorks employees allege that Dr. Rees, a former co-owner of HealthWorks who now practices at Rees Family Medical <br />on Higuera Street in San Luis Obispo, would see as many as 60 to 70 patients on so-called “Marijuana Fridays” when she practiced at HealthWorks…..Even though Dr. Rees saw patients of <br />all ages at HealthWorks, the bulk of her marijuana card clients fell between the ages of 15 and 25, with a large number visiting the clinic on, or within days of, their 18th birthday. <br />Medical marijuana patients under age 18 must have a parent present when seeing a doctor or visiting a dispensary, according to California law. Nevertheless, Dr. Rees gave a medical marijuana <br />recommendation to a 15-year-old Nipomo boy who walked into the clinic complaining of headaches. He provided a note from his mother that said he could seek medical care without an accompanying <br />parent. Dr. Rees started writing cannabis recommendations in 2007 and since then has written more than 30,000 medical marijuana approvals for everything from sleeping problems to anxiety. <br />Cynthia Scott, a former business partner of Dr. Rees at HealthWorks, said that shortly after Dr. Rees began advertising for patients seeking medical marijuana, they began seeing scores <br />of cannabis-seeking patients. Scott said many patients would come to the counter requesting to see the “marijuana doctor.” Scott also said that when the partners began battling over <br />the clinic’s growing reputation as a marijuana prescription mill, Dr. Rees told Scott not to worry because she was “keeping it all off the books.”……. http://calcoastnews.com/2010/01/exclusive-doctor- <br />accused-of-running-a-medical-marijuana-mill/ <br />20 Chico Cannibis club owner arrested for selling pot The Associated Press /01/17/2010 CHICO, Calif.—The owner of a Butte County medical pot club has been arrested on suspicion of illegally <br />selling marijuana. The Chico Police Department says 62-year-old Joel Kelly Castle was arrested Friday night for allegedly trading two ounces of marijuana for an item posted for sale <br />on the Web site Craigslist. Police say they received a complaint from a Chico Craigslist user who said Castle had offered to trade marijuana for the item. Police officers posed as the <br />seller and arranged to meet with Castle, who is the founder of the Chico Cannabis Club. He was arrested at a motel where police reportedly found more than five pounds of marijuana and <br />a loaded semiautomatic firearm. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_14211692 Pot clinic ignores orders MedMar Patient Care Collective continues operations, despite cease-and-desist <br />orders served by code enforcement. By Brianna Bailey /Saturday, March 6, 2010 Despite city orders to abide Costa Mesa’s ban on medical marijuana, at least one pot dispensary told to <br />close remained open for business Friday. City code enforcement officers escorted by police served three dispensaries with cease-and-desist orders Thursday, instructing them to close <br />immediately for operating outside the boundaries of their business licenses……Many of the medical marijuana dispensaries in the city have business licenses to operate as alternative health <br />or vitamin shops, said Costa Mesa Police Capt. Les Gogerty, adding that if the businesses continue to dole out medical marijuana, they will be subject to fines and legal action. “They <br />say they’re going to be an alternative medical center, or therapeutic massage or medicinal herbs and so forth,” Gogerty said. “They have bottles of legal herbal vitamins and massagers, <br />but you also have marijuana.” Police have recently noted more motorists being arrested for driving under the influence of marijuana, and businesses next to pot dispensaries have complained <br />to the the city about increased foot traffic and the smell of pot, Police Chief Chris Shawkey said. The city will continue to shut down a growing number of pot dispensaries that have <br />sprouted up in Costa Mesa over the past several months, he said. “They are in violation of a city ordinance, and we intend to continue to investigate and inspect them,” Shawkey said. <br />“If we find they are in violation of a city ordinance, we will take whatever action is appropriate.”….. http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2010/03/07/publicsafety/dpt-marijuanadispensaries030610.txt <br />4 arrested in raid at OC marijuana dispensary The Associated Press /02/05/2010 COSTA MESA, Calif.—Police in Costa Mesa have raided a medical marijuana dispensary and arrested four people <br />for allegedly selling or having pot. The suspects were arrested Thursday at the West Coast Wellness. They include three men booked on suspicion of illegally selling marijuana and an <br />18-year-old woman arrested for drug possession. Costa Mesa is among cities that ban marijuana dispensaries, while Los Angeles recently passed an ordinance limiting the number of dispensaries <br />to 70. California voters passed a law in 1996 that legalized marijuana use for medical reasons but the initiative didn't say anything about distribution. The Obama administration announced <br />last year that people complying with state marijuana laws would not face federal arrest. But they are subject to local laws. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_14341749?nclick_check=1 <br />Warrant issued for owner of marijuana dispensary Wednesday, February 3, 2010 Fresno, Calif. (AP) --The operator of Fresno marijuana dispensary is a wanted man after authorities say he <br />missed a court appearance. A judge on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant for Rick Morse, the owner of Medmar Clinic, after he failed to appear for his arraignment on a contempt-of-court <br />charge. In <br />21 issuing the warrant, Fresno County Superior Court Judge Donald Franson Jr. said once Morse is taken into custody he would be held without bail. The judge ruled last month that marijuana <br />dispensaries could not operate in Fresno because they violate city zoning laws. City officials say Morse had continued to operate the dispensary despite the order. Morse had not hired <br />an attorney, and was expected to represent himself for the arraignment. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/02/03/state/n173817S65.DTL&type=health Vacaville Man Arrested <br />For Illegal Marijuana Club Feb 13, 2010 VACAVILLE (BCN) ― Four people were arrested in Vacaville on Thursday for operating what appeared to be an illegal marijuana dispensary, police <br />said…..The business was found to be a marijuana dispensary operating without a business license, according to police…..Officers searched Treat's home in the 2000 block of Daybreak Court <br />and found 100 Vicodin pills and a set of brass knuckles. He was booked for possession of Vicodin and possession of a dangerous weapon. Vacaville currently has a moratorium on medical <br />marijuana dispensaries prohibiting their operation within the city limits. http://cbs5.com/local/illegal.marijuana.dispensary.2.1492863.html Federal agents raid Culver City marijuana <br />dispensary Amina Khan /February 18, 2010 Federal agents and L.A. police officers raided a Culver City medical marijuana dispensary Thursday. Culver City police also participated in the <br />raid. Witnesses reported seeing several officers and cars congregating about 10 a.m. around Organica Collective at 13456 Washington Blvd., said officials with the Drug Enforcement Administration. <br />At least three people were detained against a graffiti-covered storage truck, a witness said. DEA spokeswoman Sarah Pullen confirmed the agency was serving warrants at the collective, <br />which has been raided in the past. She could not confirm whether any arrests had been made. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/02/federal-agents-raid-marina-del-rey-marijuanadispensary.html <br />Comment: I am not surprised. I was partners with the owner, Jeff, for about 6 months when he first opened, and warned him repeatedly that his business practices would result in DEA raids. <br />Luckily I had left him well before any assault weapons were pointed in my face. He held quite a number of parties in the rest of the warehouse where Ecstasy and other drugs were readily <br />available. The dispensary was not secure. Receipts were not kept. AND the dispensary room borders Culver City, which is not dispensaryfriendly. The whole compound is one large hippie <br />flophouse. It's too bad that Jeff doesn't learn or plan better. He has a fighting spirit which I admire, but he just leaves too many loose ends. Posted by: Ed McCann | February 18, 2010 <br />at 01:36 PM Arrests made in marijuana investigation updated: Feb 18, 2010, 1:41 PM Source: SBSO Santa Barbara-Santa Barbara County Sheriff Narcotics Detectives have made several arrests <br />following a combined investigation with the Santa Barbara Police Department into into suspected illegal marijuana cultivators and marijuana traffickers operating through collectives <br />(Dispensaries) within the cities of Santa Barbara, Goleta and the unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County (Summerland)……During the search, over 50 active marijuana plants were located <br />and approximately 5 pounds of processed marijuana packaged for sales. Additional items of evidence indicative to marijuana sales including edible marijuana products, scales, price sheets/boards, <br />packaging materials and pay owe sheets were also located…….While detectives were serving the search warrant, Paul REINAUER (4-13-58) arrived at the collective from northern California <br />with over 2 lbs of processed marijuana and hashish for sales. A short <br />22 time later, Curtis ROBERTSON (5-19-62) arrived at the collective from southern Ventura County with approximately 1 lb of marijuana for sales. Both suspects were arrested at the scene <br />and booked into SBCJ……At the service of the search warrant in Goleta, two employees were contacted onsite, Jacob ROSNER (9-8-89) and Jason JONES (1-18-72). Detectives found over 80 marijuana <br />plants in a sophisticated indoor grow operation and 15 lbs of processed marijuana. Additional items of evidence indicative to marijuana sales including edible marijuana products, scales, <br />price sheets/boards, packaging materials and pay owe sheets were also located. Additional financial investigation into the collective is also underway and an unknown amount of currency <br />will be seized pursuant to State Asset Forfeiture laws…… http://www.edhat.com/site/tidbit.cfm?id=1400&nid=27196 Owner of LA pot club charged with money laundering The Associated Press <br />/02/22/2010 LOS ANGELES—The owner of a Los Angeles medical marijuana dispensary has pleaded not guilty to money laundering and other charges stemming from his arrest last week. Jeffrey <br />Joseph was charged with 24 counts Monday and was being held on $520,000 bail. He is scheduled to return to court March 4. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison. Joseph's attorney, <br />Eric Shevin, said his client was being unfairly targeted. Joseph ran Organica, a pot clinic that prosecutors say brought in an average of $400,000 a month. Authorities say people associated <br />with Organica passed out flyers advertising the dispensary near a high school last year and some students apparently purchased marijuana from the outlet….. http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_14448551 <br /> <br />23 Authorities urge parents to watch out for marijuana 'candy' By DAILY SOUND STAFF — Feb. 26, 2010 The fallout from a string of raids on medical marijuana dispensaries last week continued <br />yesterday when Santa Barbara County Sheriff officials issued a news release urging parents to “be aware that some candy may do more than cause cavities.” The news release contained pictures <br />of edible marijuana products that investigators seized during the raids, which took place on Feb. 17 and involved the Miramar Collective at 2173 Ortega Hill Rd. and the Santa Barbara <br />Care Center at 5814 Gaviota St. Among items seized were lollipops, candy bars, cookies, brownies and truffles. “Due to the packaging of the cannabis-laced items, they are particularly <br />hard to discern from everyday sweets that do not contain marijuana or other drugs,” the news release said. According to the news release, sheriff’s deputies, sometime prior to the recent <br />raids, seized similar products after a student became ill after consuming a marijuana-laced lollipop, the news release noted. “Witness statements and other investigations indicated that <br />quantities of marijuana-laced edibles had been obtained from one or more dispensaries by a person with a marijuana identity card who then distributed the candy to high school aged students <br />who did not have a doctor’s recommendation to use marijuana,” the news release said. http://www.thedailysound.com/News/022610WeedEdibles L.A. dispensary case stirs probe of toxic buds <br />March 1, 2010 A poignant issue lurks in the pot club saga in Los Angeles' Eagle Rock neighborhood: whether unhealthy levels of insecticides are winding up in some medical weed. First <br />the back story: Los Angeles City Attorney Carman Trutanich is trying to close the Hemp Factory V dispensary. He argues it is a retail sales operation -not a legal "collective" distributing <br />amongst patient members. On Jan. 29, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant granted an injunction stopping dispensary operations, invigorating a legal fight over whether <br />medical pot transactions may constitute illegal sales. Now the rest of the story: Authorities say laboratory tests on marijuana varieties undercover officers bought at Hemp Factory V <br />reveal levels of an insecticide, Bifenthrin, registering 170 times "tolerable" guidelines that the Environmental Protection Agency sets for human food or animal feed. They claim the <br />cannabis also contains traces of insecticides banned in the United States, stirring law enforcement speculation that some dispensaries may be selling pot smuggled across the border or <br />grown illicitly. In court documents, authorities said Hemp Factory V employees "claim that they did not grow the marijuana, do not know the conditions in which it is grown" and were <br />unable to label their products for pesticides. But legal papers also reported that dispensary president Gevork Berberyan and six other patients grew pot for the operation. Regardless <br />of the circumstances, the insecticide discovery may send tremors through medical marijuana country. Most dispensaries boast of offering pure, healthy organic medicine grown