California's Illegal Marijuana Industry: A Threat to Homes and Communities
In a quiet suburb north of Los Angeles, state police and hazmat trucks recently made their way to two unassuming homes. The mission was to raid illegal cannabis cultivation operations, a multi-billion-dollar-a-year industry in California. These operations are often run by transnational criminal organizations, and when law enforcement intervenes, they frequently discover human trafficking victims, automatic weapons, booby traps, and banned toxic pesticides smuggled from China.
The Hidden Danger of Illegal Cannabis Cultivation
The raid in Lancaster resulted in the seizure of around 1,020 plants, a small haul compared to the massive grows common across California’s booming black market. However, the real threat lies in the damage these operations inflict on the buildings they occupy. According to Mike Katz, a Lancaster code enforcement officer, these criminal enterprises are destroying city buildings as they modify them for illegal cultivation, endangering future occupants and devaluing neighboring properties.
The Toxic Aftermath of Illegal Cannabis Grows
The buildings used for illegal cannabis cultivation become dangerous due to the harsh pesticides used, which permeate every surface. Toxic black mold thrives in the high humidity required for marijuana growth, and the large amounts of water and electricity needed can result in structural damage and fire hazards. If local governments do not intervene before property owners start concealing the damage, they can often get away with making only cosmetic fixes.
Illegal Cannabis Operations: A Threat to Affordable Housing
Working and middle-class families often move to communities like Lancaster, where affordable single-family homes are still available. However, these homes may come with hidden dangers if they have been used for illegal cannabis cultivation. The same low-cost housing also attracts criminal enterprises looking to launder money and turn a profit. From the outside, these houses appear normal, and it often takes a fire, robbery, or neighbors reporting electrical theft to alert law enforcement.
Challenges in Addressing the Problem
Because the entire industry operates clandestinely, it's difficult to estimate the extent of the problem. Many communities may not even be aware that it's happening. Those caught at the grows are typically low-level employees or forced labor, and illegal cultivation is a misdemeanor in California. This makes it challenging to target the larger criminal organizations behind these operations.
The Impact on Homeowners
Like the meth houses of previous decades, some residential grows are too damaged to be sold. However, the moderately damaged ones that may end up being sold to families at a discount are a major concern. While law enforcement can't prevent the sale or habitation of these homes, they use methods like "red tagging" and creating liens to compel compliance. Unfortunately, if public safety officials don’t discover a grow before property owners start hiding the damage, it's often too late.
Case Study: The Unseen Consequences of Buying a Former Grow House
Virginia Aceres, a resident of the Antelope Valley, bought a five-bedroom house for $535,000, $15,000 below asking. However, she later discovered that the house had been used by the previous owners to grow weed. She now faces a myriad of problems, from constant electrical issues to the lingering smell of marijuana. Despite wanting to move, she's unable to sell the house due to these problems.
Bottom Line
The illegal cannabis industry in California poses a significant threat not only to law enforcement but also to unsuspecting homebuyers and communities. The damage inflicted on properties used for illegal cultivation can have long-lasting effects, endangering the health and safety of future occupants. To address this issue, more stringent regulations and proactive measures may be needed to prevent these operations from slipping through the cracks. What are your thoughts on this issue? Share this article with your friends and start a conversation. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.
