$1B in illegal marijuana seized in largest Los Angeles County bust

[left-of-center2012]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The largest illegal marijuana bust in Los Angeles County history — which netted 373,000 plants that would ultimately have been worth $1 billion on the street — eradicated only a fraction of the illicit grows in the Southern California high desert, authorities said Wednesday.

The problem is wide-ranging in the Antelope Valley north of Los Angeles, officials said, and has grown tremendously during the coronavirus pandemic. Armed cartel members run massive illegal grows, some spanning dozens of greenhouses, that are detrimental to the state’s legal marijuana market.

Multiple law enforcement agencies carried out a 10-day operation in the Antelope Valley last month that resulted in 131 arrests and the seizure of more than 33,000 pounds of harvested marijuana plants.

Yet the undertaking only demolished 205 illegal grows out of the 500 seen by aerial surveillance in the area. Scores more exist in other nearby counties. The cartel members threaten residents and steal millions of gallons of water amid a severe drought, Villanueva said. The growing operations have poisoned streams and groundwater with harmful pesticides and harmed wildlife and plants.

https://www.indianagazette.com/news/1b-in-illegal-pot-seized-in-largest-los-angeles-county-bust/article_080a3a94-134e-5260-9d79-8d73d5e8ce9e.html

[2naSalit]

1. ...

They are fucking up the forests, they need to go and we need to decriminalize it so they have a tiny market if they exist at all.

[marble falls]

3. Legalizr it and there won't be any public land grows.

[ripcord]

8. California has legal marijuana

What kind of idiot idiot would allow permits for all these water intense grows in the desert where this happened?

[left-of-center2012]

12. " What kind of idiot idiot would allow permits for all these water intense grows ..."

I doubt the drug cartels mentioned in the article as the illegal growers went and got permits for water usage.

[marble falls]

17. The kind of idiot who is filling a market. You really want to help fix illigical/insane water use?

... cut down all the almond tree orchards that are in the same area.

[Dream Girl]

4. It's legal here, but there is a market for the illegal stuff because ithey tax the beejezus of it.

So the high tax rate 25% is propping up demand for illegal weed. I’m going to look into growing my own but concerned about the water requirements. I have a medical card so taxed at a discounted rate “only” 20%. I know California is raking it in, but really, 25%?

[marble falls]

18. With the tax, it's cheaper than untaxed illegal weed. I live in Texas, if I want weed, I drive to ..

... a legal state. I have no problem paying taxes on pot. Or gasoline. I support all the services these two taxes fund.

[Dream Girl]

19. In California the illegal stuff is far cheaper. I don't mind pay taxes but Imnot a recreational user

They jacked it up for everyone. 25% is a lot!

[marble falls]

2. I volunteer to personally completely turn to ash a couple of LBs. Public service is my middle name.

[Devil Child]

6. Your patriotism inspires me. I want to help you, where do we sign up?

[marble falls]

7. Your public spiritness gives me chills. Up my committment to 10 lbs, please ...

... to increase productivity, I purpose to turn it into hashish, first.

[Devil Child]

14. Got tears in my eyes over here. Faith in humanity restored a bit

[Devil Child]

5. Stop sin-taxing the hell out of marijuana users plus federal legalization

Would go a long way in taking the incentive out of guerrilla growing.

[former9thward]

11. This was a LA county bust.

The feds had nothing to do with it. If you want to eliminate sin taxes on MJ I assume you want to eliminate those taxes on alcohol and cigarettes, right?

[Devil Child]

13. Feds have everything to do with it being a "Schedue I Narcotic" and illegal nationally

High taxation rates in CA fuel demand for guerilla growing. Patchwork state laws and federal illegality of marijuana contribute to guerilla growing. My opinion is change in those areas will lessen rather than contribute to the guerilla growing issue.

Regarding your question: yes.

Don't tread on my bong.

[former9thward]

15. Yes, but the busts were made on state laws.

I wish MJ was legalized at the federal level but that will not stop the states from taxing the hell out of it. Until that stops the illegal growing and distribution networks will remain.

[Devil Child]

16. Agreed former9thward, just my observations on things and as you note, things we can't control

I doubt any state government will voluntarily give up that income source.

Cheers! Just please stay away from the guerilla-grown stuff, its sprayed down with god know's what.

[Dream Girl]

20. Exactly.