Obernolte urges feds to control illegal pot grows in the desert

U.S. Rep. Jay Obernolte toured illegal marijuana cultivation sites in San Bernardino County from the air alongside San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department officials on Saturday after sending a second letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland requesting federal assistance to address the large-scale illegal marijuana grow crisis in Southern California.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department has about 1,000 potential grow sites under investigation, with the number of illegal grow operations in Southern California increasing in some areas by more than 300% since 2019.

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“While we are grateful for your previous work addressing a portion of these grows, we write asking you to address the ongoing operations in the surrounding areas, particularly in San Bernardino County and Los Angeles County,” Obernolte said.

“The issue remains untenable for residents living in these areas.”read the letter sent by Obernolte, a Republican from Big Bear Lake, and neighboring U.S. Rep. Mike Garcia, a Republican from Santa Clarita.

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