Just North of Los Angeles in the city of Castaic, police found a stoner's goldmine last Thursday -- 492 marijuana plants growing inside a residential home. Authorities say that the recovered marijuana had a street value of $1 million or more.
Los Angeles County sheriff deputies discovered the marijuana nursery in the 28200 block of Royal Road after a month long investigation. The drug investigation started when an anonymous citizen gave a tip to authorities that the neighborhood smelled of marijuana. After retrieving a search warrant for the Castaic home, narcotics detectives were able to search the house.
Authorities say that the investigation is ongoing, where the investigators are still looking to identify all the suspects involved with the marijuana cultivation.
While a person caught in possession of marijuana is usually charged with a misdemeanor, the consequences of marijuana cultivation are much more severe when it comes to California law. Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys with Shouse Law Group report that marijuana cultivation in California is a felony crime under Health and Safety Code 11358. With even growing just one marijuana plant, offenders can be punished with a $10,000 fine and spend up to three years in state prison.
However, the consequences of marijuana cultivation may not stop just there. With such a large quantity of marijuana found in the Castaic home, it's likely prosecutors will also charge the suspect with another felony for "marijuana possession with the intention to sell." California's Health and Safety Code 11359 outlines this law, where offenders can also be punished with imprisonment.
So if you're thinking of growing a trendy pot plant in your garden, just think about it one more time. You could end up with a felony on your record that haunts you for life.
- Neighbor Sniffs Out Pot Growing House (The Santa Clarita Valley Signal)
- Marijuana Nursery is Discovered Inside Castaic Home (Los Angeles Times)
- California Marijuana Laws (FindLaw)
- Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys (FindLaw)
