CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department has issued a reminder to the community about new city rules that apply to medical marijuana cultivation.
The outdoor growing season for marijuana is rapidly approaching, and in the next few weeks citizens may be approached by individuals involved in the growing of marijuana asking permission to plant and cultivate marijuana on their property, according to Lt. Tim Celli.
Celli said such individuals may offer to pay property taxes, offer large sums of money at the end of the growing season or other methods of payment for the use of property.
He said the police department wants to warn citizens of these activities because they are illegal in the city of Clearlake.
Also in past years several citizens have reported being threatened by individuals when requesting payment. Often, individuals who are involved in these illegal grows have no intention of paying for the use of property, he said.
Celli said these large scale grows also cause significant damage to property and have the potential to attract criminal violence.
Property owners who allow grows on their property may also be subject to civil and criminal penalties, he said.
He said there is a new ordinance in effect requiring that individuals apply for a permit to grow medicinal marijuana in the city of Clearlake. This ordinance will be enforced by the Code Enforcement Department.
Information on the permit process can be located at the city of Clearlake Web site at www.clearlake.ca.us or at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
Additionally, Celli said marijuana ordinance information that deals with medicinal marijuana has been distributed to local businesses, such as the dispensaries and businesses involved in hydroponics.
Celli said the Clearlake Police Department has no interest in legal medicinal marijuana grows that are in compliance with the city ordinance.
“We do, however highly recommend any citizen desiring to grow medicinal marijuana follow the permit process or risk code violations and civil penalties through Code Enforcement,” he said.
Illegal commercial marijuana grows will be investigated by police personnel, Celli said.
Celli said individuals who want to involve themselves in illegal commercial – or for-profit – growing of marijuana “should be warned that this type of activity will not be tolerated in the city of Clearlake and we will take the necessary steps to investigate, enforce the law and submit cases for prosecution.”
Police urge residents to be aware of new Clearlake marijuana cultivation rules
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