The illegal pot farm down the road from us was raided

[ripcord]

It was great the cops came in with an armored vehicle and started arresting and disarming the criminals. They pulled up everything and leveled the place with a bulldozer with the neighbors cheering them on. Now we won't have to deal with them stealing water, running multiple generators 24/7, having armed men block the road and most of all we won't have to deal with their filthy and unhealthy sanitation.

[roody]

1. How are they growing in winter?

[ripcord]

4. Southern California doesn't get that warm

With greenhouses they are able to control the temperature.

[msfiddlestix]

2. What's the general location ripcord

there are a couple of local growers in my community (Cotati, California) that sort of fits similar description, though it's fairly legal here to grow with a permit, which requires following certain regulations.

[ripcord]

3. Phelan in the Southern California high desert

All these illegal pot farms have popped up in the desert and are stealing water to supply their plants.

[Beatlelvr]

5. Yes, I heard

That's happening alot in our beloved California. All up and down the state apparently. You'd think with drones they could ferret out more of these illegal operations.

[msfiddlestix]

6. wow. That's really effed up.

With drone technology these grow houses should be fairly easy to spot, seems like the State has an interest to shutting these operations down. Given the drought and how much it impacts Big Ag. and populations beyond the region.

Not familiar with the watershed in high desert regions just guessing. I'm up in Nor Cal.

[4Q2u2]

7. Vice News

Has done great reporting on this and how they are using Federal Protected land to grow their crops.

[msfiddlestix]

8. yes, but not with a wink and a nod. it's a huge struggle

up in Northern California National Forests regions, this has been going on for decades, the Feds do have a hard struggle to ferret out in the densely forested regions. They're able to do ok in Mendocino, often raid low hanging fruit, but there are some dangerous organized criminal enterprises heavily armed to fight against the Feds.

[multigraincracker]

9. GYO

Grow your own. Cut out the middle man.

[Xolodno]

10. I doubt any of it is for the states where its legal.

Given the location, its close to the I-15 and I-40. So its for Idaho, Wyoming, Kansas, Texas, etc.

They took a few of these farms down recently here in the antelope valley. Fairly sure the aspiring wineries that have popped up are happy about that.

[2naSalit]

12. I read an article recently...

Can't recall where, that legal growers in CA were hiving issues because the illegal market there is still very large. Since the legal businesses have to pay high taxes that keep getting raised, it's hurting them.

[multigraincracker]

13. California Taxe have made

Black Market pot profitable there.

[Thunderbeast]

11. An illegal grow was destroyed in central Oregon.

LEOs found ties to the Mexican cartels.

I can go to a dispensary in my Portland neighborhood and buy an ounce for $40 (less my senior discount).

Much of the illegal product must be destined for other states. Are growing conditions so much better in Pacific coast states that it outweighs the advantages of growing it closer to customers?

Is the black market a cheaper alternative in "legal" states?

Does the guy lurking in the dark alley give a bigger senior discount?