California marijuana enforcement continues: Humboldt busts illegal grow

A California county’s drug enforcement unit raided an unlicensed cannabis cultivation operation this week, dealing another blow to the state’s thriving illicit market, which has been stealing market share from legal marijuana businesses.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit – in partnership with multiple county and state agencies – served a warrant to investigate the property and discovered the growers “did not possess the required county permit and state license to cultivate cannabis commercially,” according to a news release first reported by Redheaded Blackbelt.

Investigators destroyed roughly 5,000 cannabis plants and 596 pounds of cannabis shake in the raid. They also found the following violations:

• Water diversion.
• Stream crossing (nine violations).
• Water pollution (three violations).
• Failure to establish a Hazardous Materials Business Plan.
• Commercial cannabis ordinance.

Fines could reportedly total up to $155,000 per day.

The raid is the latest act of enforcement against illicit cannabis businesses in California.

Los Angeles prosecutors filed charges against 515 people in a crackdown on 105 illegal marijuana businesses earlier this month, and the state targeted an unlicensed dispensary and MJ delivery business last month.