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that led authorities to question the goings-on around a particular locker on the Ukiah High School campus. Ukiah police discovered at least three students were using the shared locker to store and distribute marijuana brownies to at least seven other students, according to Capt. Justin Wyatt of the Ukiah Police Department. The brownies, which Wyatt said were actually muffins, are commonly known as "hash brownies" and are made using a concentrated form of marijuana. "The student who the locker was assigned to may have known his friends were using it for marijuana……"The true source of the 9 brownies is being investigated," Wyatt said. The teens who consumed the marijuana were not arrested or cited, but Wyatt noted being under the influence of marijuana on the campus is against school rules. http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/ci_13813552 UHS pot arrests lead police to parent's medical grow By TIFFANY REVELLE The Daily Journal /11/11/2009 Wyatt: teen pot problem on the rise. A 14-year-old Ukiah High School student was arrested and booked at juvenile hall after allegedly selling marijuana she took from her mother's medical grow to four other teens, three at the high school. Capt. Justin Wyatt of the Ukiah Police Department said campus security caught two 14-year-old students with less than an ounce of marijuana apiece on school grounds at around 7:30 a.m. Oct. 30. Police found the teens allegedly bought the marijuana from the 14-year-old girl, along with another student of the same age found later that day to be under the influence and in possession of less than an ounce of marijuana on the campus. “What she said was that her mom grew medical marijuana, and this was drying in the garage," Wyatt said. The girl had also allegedly supplied a fourth teen with marijuana before school, off of school grounds, according to Wyatt. Police found just more than two ounces stashed in town, Wyatt said, and the fourth teen was booked at juvenile hall on suspicion of a felony marijuana possession charge. Police cited the teens who had less than an ounce, according to Wyatt. The girl alleged to have sold her mother's marijuana is facing four counts of marijuana distribution, according to Wyatt. "We did a follow-up on where she got it, and determined it was a medical marijuana grow that appeared to be in compliance (with state law)......characterized this incident as one of the largest at UHS, but said possession is a common occurrence. "Marijuana is definitely a problem up there, and it's becoming a more frequent problem," Wyatt said, adding that he's seen an increase this year. He said police deal with marijuana at at UHS "at least several times a week," if not daily. In addition to possession incidents, officers help campus security determine whether a student is under the influence of marijuana in violation of school rules…… http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/ci_13761163 Teen arrested in crash the injured Wellness Center owner By GREG WELTER -Staff Writer /09/30/2009 CHICO — A teenage driver from Cohasset was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of marijuana Monday night when he caused a crash on Cohasset Road that injured a Chico man……The impact of the crash sent the Explorer flying over a median strip, where it pulled a road sign buried in cement out of the ground. It spun out and wound up facing north on East Lassen. Logan's truck jumped a curb and traveled about 100 feet up a grassy knoll, where it slammed head-on into a large tree near an office building. Police had no immediate estimate on Logan's speed, but witness said the truck was traveling fast….. http://www.chicoer.com/ci_13451098?source=rss Raid nets arrest, marijuana, weapon Staff Reports /12/30/2009 OROVILLE — Authorities arrested an Oroville man Tuesday and seized numerous weapons and about 50 pounds of marijuana. The Butte Interagency Narcotic Enforcement Task Force and Butte County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant at the 400 block of Butte Avenue, the residence of Benjamin Eugene Morris and three other people. Morris, 25, was arrested, but authorities determined the other three residents were not involved in any criminal activity. Officers found about 30 pounds of marijuana packaged for sales along with a loaded .45-caliber pistol and $4,860 in currency. The currency was seized along with the pot and weapon, BINTF reported. BINTF alleges the case developed after Morris tried shipping approximately five pounds of marijuana to an undisclosed location in the Midwest. Street value of the pot seized Tuesday was estimated at $270,000. Morris was booked into Butte County Jail 10 on suspicion of sales/transportation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sales and the armed commission of a felony. Bail was set at $95,000. http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_14092510 Monster Truck & Rodeo Promoter Arrested on Marijuana Charges Contributor: Kelli Saam /10/21 A well-known monster truck and rodeo promoter in Tehama County has been arrested on drug charges. Joe Froome, age 47, was booked into the Tehama County Jail after agents with eight separate departments raided four locations Wednesday morning. Authorities say an elaborate indoor marijuana operation was discovered inside two buildings on Baker Road. They say they came away with more than 400 pot plants, and 25 pounds of dried marijuana. Agents also seized more than $9,000, a gun, and financial documents from Froome's home. 26-year-old Daniel Ludwig was also arrested. Agents say he assisted in the operation. They say the operation did not comply with proposition 215 guidelines. Froome was arrested for cultivation of marijuana and possession for sale. Froome is the promoter of the West Coast Monster Truck Nationals and the Director of the Red Bluff Roundup http://www.khsltv.com/content/localnews/story/Monster-Truck-Rodeo-Promoter-Arrestedon/WuQPBVHa0E29kF9pfpls_w.cspx The proliferation of Indoor Grows continues to be a hidden hazard within our communities. Not only are they a target for home invasion robberies, but they also present a significant fire hazard as well as the potential to leave the dwelling uninhabitable. Possible indoor pot farm in 4-alarm blaze By Henry K. Lee | September 1, 2009 A four-alarm fire that ravaged seven warehouses in San Francisco's Bayview neighborhood led to the discovery of an apparent marijuana-growing operation, authorities said Monday. The blaze broke out at 1526 Wallace Ave. about 10:50 a.m. Sunday and quickly spread to six other buildings on Wallace and Van Dyke avenues. Police found equipment used to grow marijuana at one of the buildings, 1546 Wallace Ave., police Sgt. Wilfred Williams said. No plants were found, and police are still trying to determine who may have been growing the marijuana, Williams said. http://articles.sfgate.com/keyword/marijuana/recent/2 Marijuana grow discovered after fire in West Oakland By Harry Harris /Oakland Tribune /10/09/2009 OAKLAND — A small electrical fire led to the discovery of a "very sophisticated" indoor marijuana growing operation this morning in a West Oakland building. More than 350 mature plants with an estimated street value of anywhere from $350,000 to $750,000 were found, said Oakland police spokesman Jeff Thomason. Just after 7 a.m., firefighters responded to a report of a fire at a two-story commercial building in the 800 block of West Grand Avenue. During a subsequent safety inspection of the building, firefighters spotted the marijuana plants inside…..The elaborate electrical system is likely what overloaded the exterior circuit box, causing the fire, Lipp said. "Firefighters have seen a big problem with people who pirate power," Lipp said. "It's a huge problem for us. Not only from marijuana grows, but people tampering with power boxes, which overload circuits and start fires. There's often danger to unknowing neighbors." Thomason said this was the 41st illegal pot growing operation found by police and firefighters this year. From those, police have seized more than 2,400 pounds of marijuana. "Marijuana grows can be the source of violence and other crimes and other problems," Andreotti said. "An example is what we saw this morning, with a criminal enterprise that caused a fire." http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_13524870 11 SFPD on fog-shrouded pot farms: too much green By MARCUS WOHLSEN (AP) – SAN FRANCISCO — Socked in by coastal fog, gardeners in the city's Sunset District struggle to coax vegetables from plots rarely touched by sunlight. But recently, a certain crop has flourished behind closed doors. Marijuana farms have become so widespread in this middle class neighborhood that the city's new police chief appealed to the public Wednesday for tips to help shut the operations down. Apparently even in this pot-tolerant town, there is such a thing as too much green. In the Sunset, police say row houses crammed with as many as 2,000 marijuana plants bear the marks of classic criminal enterprises. Raids on three dozen homes and warehouses have uncovered 20 guns, more than 8,000 plants and nearly $85,000. Investigators believe that organized crime is keeping the drugs, cash and weapons flowing. Often once grow houses are raided, police said, their backers just set up new operations down the street. "All this has led to the creation of a very dangerous situation," Chief George Gascon said. Growers are attracted by rents that are moderate by San Francisco standards. Coastal winds sweep pot's skunky smell away. Beyond the concern about drug-ripoff shootouts and deals gone bad, officials said the real worry is the potential for fire from houses gutted to create intensive urban farms. At a news conference Wednesday, San Francisco Fire Marshal Barbara Schultneis said growers rewire the homes to avoid detection of the huge spike in energy use needed to grow pot. Shoddy electrical work can spark blazes she said, as can hot grow lights used to simulate sunshine. Houses in the Sunset often share common walls, which allows fires to spread quickly. Growers often nail plywood to the insides of windows to keep out natural light and prying eyes, investigators said. As a result, fires can burn longer without being noticed. City firefighters typically battle two blazes a year caused by marijuana growing operations, Schultneis said. This year they have already fought four, including one at a warehouse that partially collapsed onto a firefighter, causing serious injuries…..But Gascon said the crackdown on grow houses in the Sunset has nothing to do with a political stance on pot. "This is not an argument about legalization or not legalization. This is really about public safety," Gascon said. "Quite frankly, we could end up burning an entire city block." http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hkxw_E7EaLmXl7XQNTGJbX-9byHAD9B1TR1G0 Police: Palo Alto house was elaborate indoor pot farm By Will Oremus /Daily News Staff Writer /10/01/2009 An apparently vacant Palo Alto house was actually an elaborate indoor marijuana farm, police discovered Wednesday morning. Acting on a tip, officers searched the house on the 300 block of Olive Avenue, near Park Boulevard and Page Mill Road, and found it packed wall-to-wall with marijuana plants and paraphernalia. All the furniture had been removed to make room for the plants, fertilizer, bright lights, packaging and other accessories, police Sgt. Dan Ryan said. "Someone spent a lot of money setting up the infrastructure for this operation," he added. "They took great pains to isolate this house and keep it from being discovered." No one was home when police searched the house, and detectives are still trying to track down the grower, Ryan said. Meanwhile, they seized about 100 mature marijuana plants and multiple bags of dried marijuana. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking -news/ci_13459054 Sheriff's Office raids marijuana grow on Santa Cruz's Westside By Jennifer Squires -Sentinel staff writer /10/09/2009 SANTA CRUZ --Deputies in the Sheriff's Office narcotics enforcement unit raided a Westside home and confiscated about 100 marijuana plants Thursday, Sgt. Mark Yanez reported. Deputies were tipped off to the grow by an anonymous source and developed enough evidence to get a search warrant for the house, which is on the 200 block of Surfside Avenue. At the home, they found an indoor grow, about a pound of dried pot, packaging material and a scale, Yanez said. The resident claimed to be growing for 12 medicinal purposes and had a valid doctor's recommendation, but Yanez said they took his marijuana because "he was diverting his medicine for financial gain." The $16,000 cash found in a closet was deputies' clue that the resident was selling pot,….. http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_13522152 Over $970K In Marijuana Recovered October 23, 2009 ROSAMOND, Calif. --The Kern County Sheriff's Department said that they found several hundred marijuana plants with a street value of over $974,000 dollars were seized Thursday evening. Around 5:30 p.m., a deputy from the Rosamond substation was conducting a follow up investigation to a report of a theft at a residence in Rosamond……The KCSD said several hundred mature and immature marijuana plants were seized with an estimated street value of $974,000 dollars Middleton was arrested on charges of cultivation and utility theft. He was transported to KCSO’s Central Receiving Facility where he was booked on the above listed charges. http://www.turnto23.com/news/21402862/detail.html Narcotics agents find hundreds of marijuana plants in home Sunday, November 1, 2009, 4:30 PM A call to San Ramon police to investigate a home where marijuana might be growing led to the discovery of live and cut plants as well as processed marijuana buds, all worth an estimated half million dollars…..Officers arrived and conducted a protective sweep of the residence; they discovered a sophisticated indoor hydroponic marijuana growing operation…..The search yielded the following confiscation, 280 live marijuana plants, 63 cut marijuana plants, 40 pounds of processed marijuana buds The estimated street value of the marijuana is in excess of $500,000. The investigation is ongoing http://www.danvilleweekly.com/news/show_story.php?id=2278 Police find 6 year-old at grow house, arrest dad Alejandro Martínez-Cabrera, Chronicle Staff Writer /Sunday, November 15, 2009 (11-14) 19:59 PST Vacaville --Vacaville police took custody of a 6-year-old boy on Friday evening after they arrested his father, who they say kept a sophisticated indoor marijuana grow room in their house. Christopher Stouffer, 27, was arrested at his house on the 100 block of E. Deodara Street where police found 162 marijuana plants in a room with "a sophisticated lighting, ventilation and irrigation system," according to a press release. Police also seized one pound of processed marijuana, two ounces of cocaine, some ecstasy pills and $476 in what appeared to be proceeds from drug sales. The boy was removed from the house and is currently under the custody of Child Protective Services…... http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/11/14/BUIB1AKM9B.DTL&tsp=1 Police search in Oakland finds pot grow Published online on Tuesday, Dec. 08, 2009 OAKLAND, Calif. --Police searching a house in Oakland for a stolen big screen television set and other items found a lot more than they were looking for. Oakland police say when officers entered the twostory house Tuesday morning they found about 300 marijuana plants growing inside. The plants were growing with the help of a sophisticated irrigation and ventilation system, as well as lights. Officers say it all was being powered by an illegal connection to the electrical grid. The plants were estimated to have a street value of about $105,000…… http://www.fresnobee.com/384/story/1740901.html 13 California Family Accused of Making Bombs at Pot Farm Doubling as Day Care Center Thursday, October 08, 2009 LOS ANGELES— Explosives and a marijuana farm were discovered at a Southern California home doubling as a state-licensed child day care center after a man blew off four of his fingers while mixing homemade explosives, authorities said Thursday……Authorities went to Kuzelka Family Day Care after a local hospital reported late Wednesday that Kuzelka walked in and said he had shot himself in the hand. Doctors, however, became suspicious because the wound was inconsistent with a gun shot injury and they called authorities…..The explosives were hidden outside and detectives believe Grey Kuzelka moved them from the garage to the backyard while his brother was seeking medical treatment, said sheriff's Sgt. Pat Chavez. A hazardous device team responded to the scene and defused explosives Thursday in several controlled blasts throughout the day…..Grey Kuzelka had been arrested on Saturday for investigation of possessing marijuana and concentrated cannabis, and was released the next day on $5,000 bail…..The facility was licensed for children ages 2 to 5 and was approved for no more than eight children at a time, Chavez said. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,562581,00.html?test=latestnews Clovis family arrested for drugs, guns Published online on Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2009 A Clovis couple and their 15-year-old son were arrested Tuesday on drug and weapons charges after detectives discovered a marijuana-growing operation in their home, police said. Armed with a warrant, detectives discovered a "sophisticated hydroponic growing system," 75 marijuana plants and several pounds of high-grade marijuana, police spokeswoman Janet Stoll-Lee said…..The family also had 13 long guns and 10 handguns, some of them loaded, she said…..The parents face additional charges of furnishing marijuana to a minor, employing a minor to prepare marijuana for sale, maintaining a drug house, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, child endangerment and neglect, and being armed in the commission of a felony. They have been selling marijuana to dispensaries, which is illegal, she said…..Last week undercover narcotics officers purchased marijuana from the 15-year-old boy who was arrested Tuesday, Stoll-Lee said. The officers also bought a quarter pound of marijuana from Robert Lee Williams Jr., 50…..The investigation revealed they were supplying drug dealers at the Skate Park, Stoll-Lee said. http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/1656212.html?storylink=mirelated $2M In Marijuana Plants Found In Palmdale Home Dec 12, 2009 PALMDALE (CBS) ― Authorities say deputies found at least $2 million worth of marijuana at a Palmdale operation, but no suspects were arrested…..The investigation was prompted by a neighbor's report that two males were seen jumping over a fence into the backyard of the home and trying to break in. Sheriff's deputies found an open door on the side of the garage, but no suspects. Once inside, deputies discovered the indoor marijuana operation detectives believe yielded plants worth $2.2 million on the street. http://cbs2.com/local/Palmdale.Mari juana.Grow.2.1366874.html Calif. Police Find 2 Warehouses Filled with Pot Plants By ELYSSE JAMES /Orange County Register Friday, December 18, 2009 An anonymous tip led police to warehouses and homes containing marijuana plants and weapons in Tustin and Santa Ana. Four people were arrested as a result of the search that uncovered marijuana plants and processed marijuana with a street value of about $1 million, according to police. The plants that were seized can produce more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana, police said…...Tustin officers on Tuesday afternoon reported finding marijuana, scales, packaging material, handguns, assault rifles and a 14 shotgun at the house at 17501 Linda Lane, near Santa Clara Avenue and Yorba Street. The search led the Special Investigations Unit to a warehouse at 620 S. Grand Ave., No. 105, in Santa Ana, where they found a "sophisticated marijuana cultivation," according to police. Police said they found more than 600 marijuana plants in varying stages of maturity on multiple levels of the building. Surveillance equipment had been installed to detect people approaching the warehouse. Officers searched another warehouse in Santa Ana at 1118 E. Walnut St., Unit P, and found a second operation with more than 300 plants on multiple levels. At 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, officers searched a home in Santa Ana, police said. More than 10 pounds of processed marijuana and a ballistic military-style vest were found in an outbuilding…..Officers are expecting to make more arrests as the investigation continues. http://www.officer.com/web/online/Top-News-Sto ries/Calif-Police-Find-2-Warehouses-Filled-with-Pot-Plants/1$49828 250 Pounds of Marijuana Taken in Raid of Paradise Home Reported by: Alan Marsden /12/29/2009 Two Paradise residents are behind bars after drug agents reportedly…..found the 250 pounds of pot worth 225-thousand dollars along with some loaded weapons and a two-year-old child…..Their child was taken into protective custody. A third man, 45-year-old Eric Parker, was cited and released. http://www.khsltv.com/content/localnews/story/250-Pounds-of-Marijuana-Taken-in-Raid-of-Paradise/sriL604L_Eeenbzq 0ky2kg.cspx Deputies seize 300 pot plants in LA County home The Associated Press /Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009 LANCASTER, Calif. --Los Angeles County sheriff's officials say three people were arrested following a raid at a home in Lancaster where more than 300 marijuana plants were seized. Deputy Michael Rust says a phone tip led deputies to the home early Tuesday. When deputies entered the house they found two bedrooms and a large room that were converted into a marijuana growing facility with a sophisticated system of "grow" lights and automatic irrigation. Rust says a 23-year-old man was arrested inside the home. Two other men were taken into custody in the backyard of a nearby home. All were booked on marijuana-related charges. http://www.fresnobee.co m/state/story/1764264.html Fresno Co. deputies find 137 pot plants Fresno County sheriff's officials discovered more than 100 marijuana plants being grown indoors Sunday night just south of Fresno…..In their search, deputies found 137 marijuana plants, 5 pounds of processed marijuana and an AK-47, Rien said. http://www.fresnobee.com/state/story/1764264.html Larkin Valley Road man will be charged with marijuana, gun crimes By Jennifer Squires /12/30/2009 SANTA CRUZ --A Larkin Valley Road man arrested when the Sheriff's Office SWAT team served a search warrant at his family's property two weeks ago will be in court Wednesday to face drug and weapons charges…..the Dec. 16 raid that netted more than 50 guns, about 5 pounds of marijuana, $15,000 cash and a 100-plant indoor pot garden…..Five of the allegations are felonies. Investigators have not said why Nottoli allegedly had the cache of weapons: pistols, hunting rifles, revolvers and assault rifles, including an AR-15 assault rifle equipped with a grenade launcher. Many were unlicensed firearms and some are illegal under state law…..The investigation into Nottoli began Dec. 6 when a sheriff's deputy stopped Nottoli on Highway 1 near Watsonville for speeding and driving recklessly. Nottoli was suspected of being under the influence of drugs and the deputy found a loaded gun was found in his vehicle, according to the Sheriff's Office. Nottoli faces charges of carrying a concealed 15 gun, driving under the influence and being under the influence of a controlled substance in that case, according to court records…… http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_14092133 The growing of Marijuana on public lands has been proven to be associated with foreign drug trafficking organizations and cost tax payers millions of dollars in “clean-up” costs. As enforcement is stepped up, more and more confrontations between armed growers and law enforcement officer are occurring. The danger to unarmed citizens attempting to use public lands has also increased as growers are willing to go to greater lengths to protect their drugs. Tulare deputies hold 17 in pot conspiracy Bee staff and news services /Friday, Oct. 02, 2009 Seventeen suspects have been arrested and booked on suspicion of conspiracy of illegal cultivation, distribution and sales of marijuana, the Tulare County Sheriff's Department said. The arrests follow the department's four-month investigation into a drug trafficking organization operating within Tulare County…..The organization used an illegitimate medical marijuana disclaimer in an attempt to cover its illegal cultivation, sheriff's officials said. A total of 161 marijuana plants, with a street value estimated at $584,000, and 235 pounds of processed marijuana, valued at $500,000, were seized. http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/1660816.html Marijuana seizures quadruple in L.A. County The county climbs to the No. 5 spot in California's annual eradication campaign, with more than 340,000 plants destroyed. By John Hoeffel /November 5, 2009 Los Angeles County, which has seen a whirlwind expansion in medical marijuana dispensaries this year, has notched another marijuana milestone. The county has moved to No. 5 for the amount seized in the state's annual eradication campaign, with 340,187 pot plants uprooted --more than a fourfold increase. Statewide, the 27-year-old effort, known as the Campaign Against Marijuana Planting, found and destroyed almost 4.5 million plants in 41 counties, up up from 2.9 million seized in each of the two prior years' growing season. The amount has climbed steadily since 1996, when California voters approved the nation's first medical marijuana law. State officials put the wholesale value of this year's eradicated marijuana at $17.8 billion……The proportion seized on public lands increased to 76% this year from 70% in 2008. The annual effort includes officers from numerous state and federal agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration and the California Highway Patrol, which conducted 665 raids, up from 542 in 2008. Agents made 111 arrests and found 89 weapons. Last year, they made 143 arrests and found 142 weapons. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-marijuana5-2009nov05,0,509391.story 38 arrested in pot raids Mendocino County authorities say they’ve arrested 38 people and seized thousands of marijuana plants in a series of raids on marijuana gardens. Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman says law enforcement officials found more than 53,000 marijuana plants, 30 pounds of hashish and more than $25,000 in cash last week in searches near the communities of Laytonville and Covelo. Allman says some of the raids were prompted after law officials conducting an air search for marijuana gardens spotted water pipes illegally diverting water from the Eel River. Nine county, state and federal agencies participated in the operations. http://www.santaynezvalleyjournal.com/archive/7/40/5235/ 16 Eradication Season Ends with Record Numbers Source: SBSD /Nov 18, 2009 Santa Barbara—The Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department has completed a record year for marijuana eradication in Santa Barbara County. The Sheriff's Narcotics Bureau discovered 22 illegal grow sites in 2009, an increase of more than 25% from the 16 marijuana gardens discovered the year before. The larger number of grows resulted in the eradication of more than 238,335 marijuana plants. "That's an increase of more than 350% from just one year ago,"…..The total combined indoor and outdoor plant count for 2009 is 240,219 with an estimated street value of $720,867,000. "240,000 plants averages out to about half a plant for every resident in Santa Barbara County," said Commander Laz Salinas who oversees the Department's special investigations. "This is not for medicinal use; this is purely for profit which can come at a very high price in terms of the public's safety." Over the past several years, the majority of the outdoor marijuana gardens gardens have been linked to Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations and the ensuing challenges they create. For example, in 2007 the SBSO investigated a murder that stemmed from two Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations that were fighting over growing territory. Another probable homicide occurred this year in a marijuana garden in the hills of Santa Barbara. Detectives are still investigating this incident which has led to search warrants in five counties, the seizure of several hundred pounds of marijuana, over a kilo of cocaine and the arrest of 17 suspects believed part of a Mexican Drug Trafficking Organization. These investigations have taxed the Sheriff's Department resources both physically and financially. The eradication of outdoor marijuana grows has also revealed the negative impact these illegal