LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The county of Lake reported Friday that abatement of unauthorized marijuana cultivation is continuing in neighborhoods around Lake County.
In a Friday statement, the county of Lake said there continues to be miscommunication as to the nature and scope of the preliminary injunction recently issued by a federal court and the effect of that injunction on Measure N.
Measure N was passed by voters in June. It bans marijuana grows in neighborhoods, sets plant limits on larger parcels and also governs the size of indoor grows.
Although a federal judge in San Francisco earlier this month granted a preliminary injunction as to nonemergency summary abatements action under Measure N, joint efforts between the Lake County Community Development Department and the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force to abate unauthorized marijuana cultivation have been able to continue successfully, officials said.
The Community Development Department has primarily focused its abatement attention on neighborhood grows to increase public safety in populated community areas, the county reported.
Officials said there also has been concern during this historic California drought about water theft and overusage in neighborhoods, particularly as wells and water systems are going dry in the county.
Illegal marijuana grows have the potential to consume large amounts of water that do not fit into current rationing guidelines, and threaten the water availability to other residents.
As a result of Measure N, which went into effect on July 11, more than 2,500 marijuana plants have been abated from 80 residential sites within neighborhoods, the county reported.
The average plant count is approximately 32 in the residential neighborhood grows which have been abated this summer, according to the Friday report.
Additionally, officials reported that the Sheriff’s Narcotic Task Force has eradicated approximately 194,000 marijuana plants to date this year on rural properties through criminal cases and the Measure N joint enforcement efforts.
Under the nonsummary abatement clause in Measure N, the Community Development Department responds to anonymous complaints by posting a “Notice to Abate Unlawful Marijuana Cultivation” at the grow site.
The resident of the property has five business days to comply with voluntary abatement. If there is no voluntary compliance, the Community Development Department will secure an abatement warrant for the property. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office will then carry out the abatement.
Neighbors and residents can protect their privacy and place anonymous complaints about illegal marijuana grows in their neighborhood by contacting the Lake County Community Development department at 707-263-2382 or by using the online complaint form located at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Code_Enforcement.htm .
County: Abatement of unauthorized marijuana cultivation in Lake County neighborhoods continues
- Lake County News reports
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