Over 15,000 illegal marijuana plants destroyed in July by Northern California deputies

(FOX40.COM) — A Northern California sheriff’s office recently announced that during July, its deputies managed to seize and destroy over 15,000 illegally grown marijuana plants along with about 5,000 pounds of processed cannabis.

According to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, the man responsible for possessing all of the illegal marijuana was a 36-year-old from Grass Valley, the sheriff’s office said. The agency added that he was charged with illegal cannabis cultivation and six environmental felony charges.

“These are not clean, safe grows,” the sheriff’s office said. “They contaminate the environment and use dangerous chemicals on their plants for human consumption.”

Deputies added that when clearing out these illegal marijuana sites, they often involve “hazardous chemicals, polluted water, no running water, and even human excrement.”

On Tuesday, deputies conducted searches at two properties in Grass Valley and three properties in Smartsville in partnership with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Cannabis Compliance, which revealed the illegally grown and processed marijuana.

Officials said environmental violations were found at all five properties.

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