Mendocino Sheriff Vows to Combat Illicit Marijuana Grows This Year
Mendocino Sheriff’s Department planning raids on illicit marijuana grows. [Photo from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office]
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office is preparing for the upcoming marijuana season. Clearly, we will be facing several issues. This will be a great year if we choose to stand together. I have always believed every problem is also an opportunity and now is the time for us to shine in a way only Mendocino County can.
Following my public comment with the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors on 02/23/21 regarding grant proposals, I received several calls and had several discussions regarding concerns for this year. These concerns ranged from climate change, and the impending drought to fire safety to drug violence. All of these folks realize we are facing a very concerning year to come. Concerns regarding policies Mendocino County is currently working with are extremely concerning as well.
I constantly hear arguments that marijuana is the only crop in Mendocino County. That marijuana is the only thing keeping this county afloat. If that is what we believe, then that will be our reality. I don’t believe this to be true. Although there will be some legal market in Mendocino County, we can’t support that market if the black market is allowed to continue. Policies which provide cover to persons continuing to feed the black market are flawed. I have been questioned by many people regarding the cost of enforcement. I would invite these folks to please drive through our county and look at the cost of a lack of enforcement. We are paying a heavy price right now.
With the impending drought, I realize the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office will be contacted to address issues of water. Water diversions, water theft, fire suppression water will be at a premium this year. Continued violence from drug trafficking organizations must be stopped. During the previous fire seasons, we assisted the fire service by completing evacuations, alert and warning, providing security for fire personnel while they battled fires. We faced several challenges in the more rural areas of the county, many of these challenges were directly due to the lawless nature of the illegal marijuana grows in our forests, rangelands and in neighborhoods.
I continue to receive calls and emails from people who are concerned regarding the amount of trash, fertilizer and waste in the mountains, and throughout our communities which has become almost epidemic. Many fear as I do, when the market collapses, our lands will be poisoned, the bill will come due to be paid by the remaining residents of the county.
I received a call from a person who was concerned about the water being siphoned away from watersheds which are so critical. Would we allow this in any other industry? Absolutely not.
Based on these factors, I understand we will see a deeper demand for law enforcement. I will be moving more personnel into our marijuana enforcement team. Currently, we have been working with numbers that simply can’t support our mission. When we have over one million marijuana plants just in Round Valley, we have to make changes in personnel to meet these needs.
With the new issues we are seeing, including well-armed and dangerous crews running these illegal grow sites, we simply have to place greater efforts into the safety of our personnel. The only way to accomplish this will be to move forward with adequate staffing and equipment. This will come at a price.
We can’t continue to allow dangerous living conditions, environmental damage, and a constant concern for our youth. The main issue driving all of these problems is greed. The people coming to our county and causing many of these issues are simply drug dealers. Drug dealers who are hoping to profit from a system that is broken. And clearly, they have been profiting. Our recent increases in methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and other illicit drugs are largely due to a drug pipeline which has been established through our county.
I have been contacted by friends, neighbors and complete strangers who have advised me they are ready to abandon Mendocino County. Many have bluntly told me, the beauty of this place simply isn’t worth the dangers they are living in. We have Native Americans who are choosing to leave their ancestral homes due to this invasion of drug dealers. That simply isn’t acceptable.
Therefore, we will be continuing with a proactive approach to enforcement throughout the year. There will be deputies and partnering agencies throughout the county to deal with these issues. I would like to make it extremely clear to all who are committing these crimes and to those who would come to Mendocino County intending to commit these violations, it won’t be tolerated. We will be aggressively enforcing all illicit drug laws as well as continuing to investigate the terrible crimes associated with the illicit drug trade. We will use any tool at our disposal to combat this issue. Clearly now is the time for all of us to say no more. Enough is enough, and we will work together to take the county back.
Thank you
Sheriff Matt Kendall
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Economically speaking, you do know that an increased pressure on black markets insures a proportional increase in value? Your raids are price support.
The War on Drugs is a 40 year boondoggle that has destroyed many lives. Perhaps a new strategy is needed.
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
Shhhh et them do their few raids and make themselves looks good. 99.9% will still make it through the season.
Ullr nailed it.
I think he should apply for a job in the propaganda arm of the military industrial complex. “Just give me half a trillion dollars, twenty more years and a few thousand American lives and we’ll beat the Taliban.”
What a dipshit your sheriff is!
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
Covelo did not become what it has become because of overly zealous and repetitive law enforcement policies.
If even 35% of black market grows in Covelo were raided, slowed or stopped this year – that WOULD BE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
No mention of Covelo in this press release.
When we have over one million marijuana plants just in Round Valley, we have to make changes in personnel to meet these needs.
And what would be your point about my comment anyway, if you ignore that Covelo is the hub of Round Valley?
“million plants in Round Valley”
Covelo… cringe, I’m sure they want nothing to do w/ that sh*thole.
They never tell us how much their spending on these raids with our tax dollars. Never. A permit might be cheaper on tax payers vs a raid/court bureaucracy costs.
Sheriff Kendall is the has a case of good old 1950’s “Reefer Madness”.
All the murders! Missing persons and heavy crime he is blaming on cannabis while ignoring the fact that Round Valley has a very small population and it is the same people and same families we see in the news committing the same crimes. Clean up the criminal scum. Do your job you were never elected to do. Serve the warrants for the already wanted fugitives and violators. Blaming cannabis while ignoring he hard drug dealing in our local bars and communities is just plain wrong. Enough is Enough Sheriff. Get to doing your job! Arrest the criminals.
Sweep Round Valley. Clean up the Warranted Fugitives.
One Simple Way Sheriff Kendall:
1 Deputy Check station at Poonkinney Bridge on Covelo Road. Plate Reading Technology. Check drivers ID as well as R/O Info. Look for out of town suspicious persons.
You should get a job with the sheriff and then u can b the person plate reading cornball😩😂😂
How about declaring no “War on Pot” and instead: set up checkpoints going into Covelo in all 3 Access Roads! Then sweep Covelo and screen visitors. Few roads lead in and out use plate reading tech ology and checkpoints.
Can we recall an
Un-elected Sheriff?
“I received a call from a person who was concerned about the water being siphoned away from watersheds which are so critical. Would we allow this in any other industry? Absolutely not.“
It’s the California way.
State Water Project:
https://water.ca.gov/Programs/State-Water-Project
Check out map: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Water_Project
Central Valley Project:
https://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvp-water/
Check out map: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Valley_Project
But seriously, do something about Covelo.
Right, I guess Central Valley nut trees and so. Cal golf courses are not industries. Watersheds should not be tapped to support illegal grows but it is a drop in the bucket compared to the state sponsored water diversions.
Many cannabis growers store water from the rainy season in tanks, propaganda & stereotypes are immature. If only all of the agricultural industry had the same rules as cannabiz ! Don’t be bias, have the same energy when you buy groceries & drink a glass of wine.
Great idea! Go bust all the heavily armed cartel grows in Covelo, some of those other nasty scenes near Willits and Ukiah and make prices go up for the smaller family growers- the people we like who live here year round… About time! Post a camera from the highway outside Big Daddy and track the biggest buyers of supplies, track those supplies up to Covelo and go get ’em! Or will this be yet another major attack on smaller, peaceful scenes because the cops are actually afraid of the real criminals? Guess we will see….
Busting the big guys requires way too much work.
The Best way to help small farmers is to allow them to plant 100# patches. As well as consultations as to what strains to grow. Buyers rarely look for less than a 100 pack in Mendo. Just speaking the truth. If you domt have a 100 pack of Ice Cream Cake or Wedding Cake your sittin on your product these days.
Such bullshit. I highly doubt he received all the calls and emails he claims. Weed does support the Mendo economy. Only an idiot would try to say it doesn’t. Tell us wise one…what is the number one crop that supports economic stability here. Funny how he didn’t answer that when he said it. He feeding the propaganda machine to scare citizens into thinking their lives are in jeopardy because of the weed. SMH. Wow how totally out of touch he is!!
Their thuggish weirdos with low IQ’s & no logic in their sadistic brains.
Cannabis is legal.
What year is it!!?? This is some D.A.R.E. era devils lettuce eradication propaganda if I’ve ever seen it. Mendo, you people elected this clown! Do your part, register, vote the guy out next election.
Have you been keeping up on the news? There are lots of violent messy scenes in round valley and other spots that need law enforcement pressure.. the alternative got us where we are now. Like noted above, most people will be just fine but I think it’s smart to pressure these organized crime operations. Unless you have a better idea. (It’s easy to throw turds around but coming up with something else that works is much harder!)
Ya, so fuck it, let’s keep wasting millions of dollars and man hours on something that has been proven to not work.
Yeah, so fuck it, let’s allow for another Greenrush 2.0 because that’s what happens when law enforcement doesn’t but and then everyone complains about all the illegal grows taking water, trashing neighborhoods, glutting the market, bringing crime and burgeoning infrastructure.
Make up your minds everyone.
I’m no lover of law enforcement, but with a little insight you can appreciate the delicate balance needed to keep our lifestyle here intact. You take out one part, and the other part becomes out of balance. If you lived here a little longer you might understand, local farmer.
You act like you know how long my family has been here willow creeker?
4 generations of my family. I’m for freeing the herb. Take away the enforcement and the price will drop too low for the cartels to be interested. The enforcement of draconian cannabis laws is what brings the criminal element.
Yes 1+1=2
What principals do you follow?
I’ve lived in the triangle since 78
My family has had to deal with the war on cannabis my whole life.
Chumps wanna have it both ways and act like they stand on some kind of principals. Chum up to the pot coppers all you want, not my cup of tea.
Defund police, empty the prisons, end the drug war, close the borders, give everyone their choice of AR-15 or Benelli M4, let the chips fall where they may. End lockdowns, let COVID reign. Lots of trees in the forest, some need to fall. Let freedom ring!
Since 78? Your family must of been busy to pump out 4 generations in that time frame. That’s 42 years, I think someone might of ignored some statutory laws
I’ve lived in the triangle since 78. 4 generations of my family live in humboldt county. That is so hard for you to comprehend? Not sure what poor tasting humor you are trying to tap into. Grandparents, parents, my siblings and I along with my children. No statutory laws were broken, just lots of cannabis laws.
First off if you have 4 generations of family in humboldt I guarantee you some one in your family has broken some statutory laws!
You make a habit of guaranteeing things you don’t know shit about?
A great-grandchild since 1978 is possible, no problem, Mike.
That’s not a very nice insinuation.
Do the math.
Assuming Local Farmer was over 18 when he started;😁
1978 + 19 + 19 = 2016.
1978 + 20 + 20 = 2018.
Where’s the problem?
They only exist because cannabis is illegal. If it was legalized truly, it would be cheap & available to all and not the basis for criminal enterprise.
I think that’s true also. But that’s not the reality we live in.
Grrrs spot on. He speaks reality.
You don’t live in reality willow creeker, because you aren’t coming from a principled view point.
If I’m wrong please explain your principled opinion. It seems to me that you are wanting to continue the failed war on cannabis for your own price control and selfish reasons.
Just living in reality. Law enforcement is a part of the game, and I support it being used in the right ways. There are people who are idealists, and there are people who are pragmatists. I’m happy for you and your ideals.
More likely it would result in avoiding expenses like property taxes and regulation by wildcat grows on public land. It’s not like pot production is a long or complicated mechanical process like wine making. Quick and dirty avoids expense. And is attractive to outlaws and their accompanying violence.
Allman won the election unopposed and then swiftly retired and handed the badge to Kendall so no one actually voted for him. Of course all of this was done under Carmel Angelo’s supervision who was HIRED to run the county in 2010. So despite the parade and pony show the supes put on Mendo isn’t really much of a democracy.
Sounds like BIG changes are ahead! I’ve never heard anything like this before! Great game plan! I’m so excited to see the difference this will make for……….absolutely nobody.
Covelo, seriously, today!
Until then you have no law enforcement, just a dope with a badge that doesn’t mean squat.
Don’t I remember all you guys decrying the lawlessness in Covelo and how law enforcement let it turn into a a huge cartel illegal grow destination? And how all the illegal grows everywhere operate without any hassle from law enforcement ? And now the Sheriff is an asshole because he’s going to try and shut down the kind of grows that everyone cried about?
Ok…..
Mendocino County is a big, fat joke.
Corruption, nepotism, incompetence: the Holy Trinity of North Coast Governments…
Get ’em Matt, but bring the National Guard, or Black Ops, and shoot to kill… OH, no room in the jails though…
We need those taxes, so get a permit, or get out!
Who owns all those vineyards, mountain top homes, and businesses in Ukiah? Would that be Pot Farmers?
Actually probably the wine makers if I had to guess
It’s a funny thing on these threads. No matter the subject, there’s this contingent of contrarians that object to EVERYTHING. If the Sheriff had said he’s never busting an illegal grow again, these same contrarians would say that he needs to be fired for not doing his job.
The war on drugs has been costly and ineffective for 40 years. Why do we allow it to continue, especially against cannabis?
Combat? Against farmers, gardeners and a plant? Do the perpetrators of this folly know how stupid they appear?
Yeah, but it’s not “just a plant”.
What is it then?
Its something that is being manufactured into potent white powders (distallite) and big gnarly crystals floating in soup(live resin). All which blast people far beyond the threshold of “just a plant.” Look no further than the local dab zombies. Starting to resemble the coca plant more and more actually, maybe it should be subject to the same regulation?
Did you say coca plant? I thought so.
Yes cannabis is just a plant, so is coca, just like you said.
You wanna say trees aren’t trees because people make toilet paper out of them? You guys can stay in pretend land all you want, doesn’t change reality.
Now that you got busted 1911, you want to regulate cannabis more than it is? Chum up to the government all you want.
And to think I actually felt bad for your sorry ass getting busted.
Quite quick on the quip. Skimmed over the part where I said it’s being made into crystals and white powders now? Kind of a bad look don’t you think? For something that’s “just a plant?” Big sticky full term ladies aren’t to blame sir, it’s the stuff the kids are making it all into. Big crystals manufactured from blasting buds with butane isn’t exactly my definition of ‘just a plant.’ It’s sad how many growers can’t be real about what’s actually going on. Hey man, always back the blue. The government and the blue are the ones that keep your sorry ass crop worth something through regulation and busting the black market. Give credit where credit’s due.
Sherriff, if it’s about greed then we need to legalize and make drugs so cheap gangsters walk away.
Opportunistic outlaws need law enforcement to support their pursuit of greed.
Tell that to big pharma
And then there is this….”Sun Valley Plans 23 Acres of Cannabis Cultivation in Arcata Bottoms” https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2021/feb/24/cut-flower-business-struggling-sun-valley-plans-1/
Kym- I appreciate your “where is weed going” articles and especially when you include one about Mendocino County. But how come you don’t run anything about this? It about to become the hugest weed grow in the world and it’s almost a done deal now…and I really want to see the comments on it!
I have a freelancer looking into it but you have got to realize Redheaded Blackbelt is small. I don’t have reporters that I can just say “Drop what you are doing and get to the bottom of this.” I have moms and people employed elsewhere who just have a passion for journalism helping get stories out for very little pay. If you want to change that, you could look at how much you value what we do here and translate that into a monthly donation–$5, $10, even $20 per month is something a few people have started doing. The more regular donations I have, the more I can try to figure out how to hire someone at least part-time.
The site is a Cleanup Case and doesn’t have Water Board closure yet, there are areas of the site that still require investigation. The groundwater is contaminated below the site. It looks like the County isn’t following their own book on this one.
https://documents.geotracker.waterboards.ca.gov/regulators/deliverable_documents/4818817615/200303_PBN_mc_SimpsonTimberArcata_letter.pdf
Thank, Kym…that was the answer I expected. You do A LOT on a shoestring budget. I find you more informative than anybody else and I’ll be donating. BTW- You deserve a gold medal for putting up w/ this comment section and not denying access to anybody no matter how “alternative” ie. “crazy” ha ha (I include myself in that some days)
Donate to Kym. Also, anyone who thinks 23 acres is a lot for a legal farm, should drive around the Central Valley, Willamette Valley or up through Washington state’s eastern farmlands.
Lane devrie is not an especially ‘big fish’. He’s a cut flower/bulb producer who is a smart business man. There are many more like him, waiting to launch in coming years.
Thanks for your efforts Kym. I hope we will see a story about it from u. Since the high regulations on the Cannabis industry.. Sun Valley Farms should only be able to proceed if they agree to pay all their workers at LEAST $15.00 an hour minimum. No loop holes. I would encourage the county to tax them on at a higher rate the bigger they get… Taxing bigger players may move to keep the market at a more reasonable level.. without draconian raids.
To me, it’s not that the big fish exists. Of course they do. Its the massive over regulation on smaller cultivators that is bad, in my book. Handcuffing small outfits that built the industry, while allowing massive outfits to exist, hardly seems just.
Maybe SunValley could be encouraged to contract out a few greenhouses to smaller cultivators, somehow.. if they were allowed to proceed… Even though it’s not the greatest situation..
Polluted water is a big one, as Cannabis accumulates toxins in the trichomes…
Humboldt doesn’t need a bunch more low paying jobs, mostly provided by immigrant labor to boot.. that will actually destabilize well paying independent livelihoods. On the other hand.. in relation to this article.. it seems that.. allowing big scenes may help to displace larger mafia run dodgy operations. Which also has its merits. Unfortunately, I think that even without weed.. and with the loss of economic opportunities, places like The Round Valley may fall even deeper chaos and despair.. No easy answers..
One thing is probably for sure.. in the next 4 years.. the Democrats will most likely “Legalize” weed on a federal level. The question in my mind.. is will it be “legal” then.. or just another money sucking cat and mouse trap that often produces hyper extensive over top police states to the likes we are seeing now? It’s a grotesque nonsensical chain of events..And who’s to say that massive over the top police raids won’t only serve to further inflame the situation?
The “criminal” elements at work now shouldn’t be that people pursue economic interests or utilize private property to do so, within a reasonable scope.
Here’s my comment on the Sun Valley farm. I am not worried about anyone outside of the Triangle setting up large grows. Mainly cause they don’t know what the fuck their doin. We can beat em on the street if ya know what I mean. Goin up against Triangle growers is a whole new ballgame. He says he ain’t gonna effect local growers but that just ain’t true.
However, we do gotta crank it up a notch and keep our foot on the throats of corporate weed. So, we do need an operation like this in the county to keep throw’in as much flak as we can (well grown weed). It’s a pickle for sure, things are very good. Prices are up and the nation loves Humboldt (triangle) weed. Gotta keep it this way and once we go international (not only will the feds want their cut but so will other countries) by moving weed freely to Amsterdam nothing will be able to stop Humboldt growers (Triangle) from dominating the industry.
Good luck on that. The average weedsumer cares most about price. Humboldt will be a niche, but in the long run, that’s all. Corporate-scale weed will suck most of the market, the price will drop. Growing weed isn’t the rocket science people around here seem to think it is.
You are missing the point. Corporate weed cannot compete. They do not understand the demographics of the consumer and they are the ones that are niche. I will always sell my weed cause it’s damn good weed and I prove it every year. Bring on the competition and when I say I am more concerned moving my product vs other triangle growers I mean it. Rocket science no just the best damn growers of weed in this galaxy.
Since 2016 these growers in these hills have been kicking corporate cannabis ass up and down main st in every state of the USA, Fact!!
Please stop it. The costume doesn’t fit.
You are funny guy. Corporate weed puts poop in a fancy box. And sells it for a lot. The don’t understand the customer… eye roll…..
My man, love the spirit. Tell me how fast food has thrived for so long. How about cheap, nasty beer, can it compete with actual good beer? You think a company that sells a turkey bag full of product for $10 bucks can’t make a fortune selling half a turkey bag worth $500?? Don’t care how good your weed is, they are about to grow literal tons of $$$
Like I said facts are facts and if you grow a decent product it sells quick. I am not spewing hearsay this has been the case since legalization as its been for decades. Corporate weeds price point cannot compete against a knowladgeble business minded Humboldt (triangle) grower. As I said I prove it every year and now I am making money in this state which I never sold a drop in this state prior to legalization.
Funny you bring up fast food. I use that analogy to explain why weed will not meet the same doom. Taco Bell goes on national television and states 30% of the meat fill is cardboard. They got lines of people still buying their product but food is a necessity. Interesting though when the consumer talks about a tasty taco no mention of taco bell.
Weed however is not necessary and when it comes to shilling out hard earned dollars the consumer will always purchase a decent product over monkey juiced preservative laced corporate crap cannabis. At the end of the day I still have not heard anyone utter “that was some amazing dispensary weed.” What I do hear is “fuck dude I was high for hours. Do you got anymore?”
Like I said corporate cannabis has no clue of the true demographic of the cannabis industry this is why the traditional market is thriving. Again, as I stated we are not the ones who are niche but if opinion continues to spew comments without paying attention to facts I am good it just means more dollars in my pocket.
I’m happy for you, I really am. At some point, corporate will up their game, or just buy boutique farms. Three quarters of the craft beer on the shelves is owned by the swill brewers. Enjoy the climate while you can, save some money, ’cause it won’t last.
// “Taco Bell goes on national television and states 30% of the meat fill is cardboard. “//
Well … except that they didn’t and it isn’t.
It’s worth checking out the LoCo story Farce mentions. Here’s a quote: “People on Facebook noted that it would rank in the top 10 largest commercial greenhouse grows in North America.” A huge project, with a big carbon footprint, already well into the planning process with the county, with minimal environmental review.
These huge grows the county is approving will push Humboldt”s carbon footprint off the charts. A planning commissioner I talked to thinks the pittance of solar panels will offset the huge electrical draw. They are not the brightest bulbs in the box.
Solar is a joke. Solar panels use rare earth metals to function. The primary medium for storage of electricity in the solar batteries is sulfuric acid. Rare earth metals require massive mining operations, usually strip mining done in third world countries utilizing child labor. Sulfuric acid is made in large chemical refineries. Large solar fields absorb sunlight. Most large solar fields are placed in desert areas. Desert areas are made of sand for those of you who don’t know, sand is light in color, things that are light in color reflect light, not absorb it. Filling deserts with solar fields changes a landscape that reflected the majority of light (and heat), into one that absorbs the majority of light (and heat). That increases the temperature in that area. For people concerned about global warming, solar panels may not be the way to go. For people concerned about preserving the earth, solar panels may not be the way to go. For people concerned about child labor and work conditions people are subjugated to, solar panels may not be the way to go.
great post!
No not really a great post. Solar panels may not completely displace Fossil fuels. Fossil fuels still have all the impacts your stating, but do not produce the extreme amount of green house gasses. No free lunch as far as Electricity is concerned.. at least not yet.. Still solar energy is a greener alternative to fossils fuels by far.. even when u consider in all the factors.
Check out The sustainable NET Zero Sustainable city in Dubai. So awesome!
https://www.thesustainablecity.ae/
// “Still solar energy is a greener alternative to fossils fuels by far.. even when u consider in all the factors.”//
This ^^^
It’s very easy to claim that solar is joke when you only list the environmental disadvantages of solar and ignore the disadvantages of fossil fuels. There is no ‘perfect’ power source.
I never said there was, but fossil fuels outperform solar and wind across every sector. Don’t forget that there is a threshold to the amount of solar power we can harness. Its about 35%, considering we are already producing solar panels that capture 23% of the solar energy, those solar panels are not going to be getting that much more efficient. Besides, how do you think all that machinery being used to mine those rare earth metals are being powered? I am yet to see the rollout of Elon Musk’s electric excavator. And did I mention rare earth metals? Cobalt, selenium, lithium, all those require massive strip mining operations for very little yield. I understand oil can contaminate water if it is spilled or there is an accident, but mining rare earth metals requires the use of acids to strip them from the earth. Contamination of ground water is part of the equation in those sorts of mining operations. It isn’t part of fossil fuel extraction, as long as there aren’t any accidents. Which I will say humans are prone to. Anyway, thats just to get the raw materials to produce the solar panels. At that point, no “green” energy has been produced. Not to mention the space. Have any of you ever done the math on the amount of square footage needed for panels vs. energy produced? Its dismal, sadly very dismal.
// “… fossil fuels outperform solar and wind across every sector. “//
Not in the sector most critical — environmental.
Once again you list negatives of solar without comparing to the negatives of fossil fuels. Solar wins.
The best path environmentally is to continue to improve and install as much solar as we practically can, reducing fossil consumption. And yes, I’m an engineer who has studied the issues involved with all the power sources.
Solar panels, on average, are 5.4×3.25ft or 17.55 sqft. They produce about 500,000 watts of power in a year at peak capacity. The state of California generated 200.475 billion megawatts of electricity in 2019, as well as importing another 89 million megawatts of electricity, bringing the grand total to 200.564 billion megawatts of electricity. 1 megawatt hour = 1 million watt hours. So if one solar panel generates approximately half a megawatt annually, that means we would need 401.128 billion solar panels to power the state of California. 401.128 billion x 17.55 square feet = 7 trillion square feet of solar panels to power the state of California. The size of California in square feet is 4.6 trillion square feet, rounding up. Do you see the problem with using inefficient solar? How is it green energy if you have to pave over an entire state with solar panels and you still wouldn’t have enough energy to power it?
Farce- you should read the Mad River Union articl on that too!
All I can say about any of this shit, legal or not…what about WATER. Can not drink money
If you’ve got the money… you move to Costa Rica.
YES! The most important thing that really isn’t even mentioned yet. Has anybody gone out and looked at Lake Mendocino in the last few days??? Go look folks walking on the dry lakebed, It’s pretty much empty. I don’t know what Pillsbury looks like I haven’t been over the top of the hill in a few weeks. If there is only water from hydrants we have potential for some unforeseen challenges ahead. Permits can be pushed all day, but it seems the water is overlooked. Read many articles on the “paper water issue” recently eye opening!
Grape growers are the ones drying up lakes.
Can drink your piss though. Its sterile.
Screw Covelo come up Hargus rd where the Mexican mafia is threatening my family because they want our land. I called the sheriffs three times. They are to scared to come up here they even have my gate codes. They know the parcels the water lines pull directly from rattlesnake. There used to be fish in my creek before they moved in. There used to be trees too but not anymore. They even rammed the gate threatening the one legal grow. They ride around with ar15’s thinking they are Chapo’s sicarios. Well I’ll let everyone know now. If the sheriffs don’t come handle this we will. I’ll stack the bodies on the 101 for all to see. We don’t care about you growing weed. If you are a pos spill diesel and drain the creek and threaten my friends and family them I’m going to be forced to do so. I know the sheriffs read these posts they told me so so read this I’m going to be forced to shoot these people then I’m going to sue the sheriffs for not doing their damn job.
I’m sorry to hear about your situation. Yes- I think the sheriff should focus on complaints like this and clean out the assholes. It could keep him busy for a few years and we’d all end up supporting the sheriff- imagine that! I’ve met many people in my 40+ years around the business and they range from wonderful, peaceful good neighbors all the way into the greedy greenrush destructive assholes who would like to pretend we are #sameteam and hide behind the good vibes the homesteading/og growers built painstakingly over decades. Your neighbors suck and they should be driven out…BEFORE they buy up a permit!
Agree with you Farce. This goes on a lot. Mendocino is just like Humboldt, they let things get completely out of control and now have to work overtime to clean up bullshit they let fester.
Humboldt essentially threw in the towel busting people and then 8 years later all all flustered that there’s 15,000 illegal grows happening. They still don’t have a grip on it but at least they’re whittling away at it.
You have my sympathy. This is the havoc that the Greenrush brought to the Triangle while law enforcement looked the other way. These type of growers are completely emboldened because they’ve gotten away with growing in the open for years now. They’re entrenched. Only unrelenting busting is going to pry them out.
Good luck, you’re gonna need it.
Screw covelo? Your road has nothing on covelo. Google it. Nothing comes up for your laughable at best argument. Now Google just one month in covelo. Sorry just like murder mountain. Your a little joke, compared to covelos daily BS.
Might want an attorney on detainer after this comment.
Make me wanna horse laugh! Hahaha
Y’all still worried about weed when there’s people passed out on main st with dope foil in their hands. Lmao Mendocino has a drug problem and marijuana isn’t it. Maybe Mendocino should be making the loopholes to make getting your licenses easier. Legal grows pour money into the local economy…. more jobs more tax money.. solve poverty solve crime. but okay sheriff
Matt kendall is from covelo and keeps throwing this lie around. “Natives want to move from their ancestral grounds due to illegal grows.” What a joke! The natives take hundreds of thousands in cash, cars, and drugs from the illegal immigrants. And in return, rent out several or more gardens on one piece of property they were given to get a well and home on. They just take more, more handouts from illegal growers, every year. Get busted then let the illegals replant for more money. Matt. Get real. Take away heirship properties that are letting illegals grow. Don’t try to cry wolf. When that is the source of 80 percent of covelos grows. They are all on the Rez. Yet tribal police are related to most of the landlords to illegal grows. So they always know when the mendo police are coming to do a bust.
Tribal police will find you a spot to grow for a fee. No joke. Just ask them
How many actually own their property? Or is it landowners renting out for quick bucks, and screw their neighbors and land values at the same time?
Covelo,Covelo,Covelo
It’s just not Covelo stupids, Redwood Valley,Willits,broketrails,lazyville come on people your showing your racist sides of yourselves. Why do you think Covelo is the way it is? History has been bad to the natives and it continues to today, They keep stilling the land and call themselves pioneers, REALLY!!!!
Covelo,Covelo,Covelo
It’s just not Covelo stupids, Redwood Valley,Willits,broketrails,lazyville come on people your showing your racist sides of yourselves. Why do you think Covelo is the way it is? History has been bad to the natives and it continues to today, They keep stilling the land and call themselves pioneers, REALLY!!!!
You’re pretty correct on that one Mas puto. Have often times wondered with the water situation and Brooktrails how small the lots are how do any grows get by. The Laytonville situation is pretty much just door to door. All the truck loads of soil, if those were tracked and the bulkloads where are they really going? Stop the loads of “soil” before they even go out with verification required for permit or agriculture. The backyard vegetable farmer doesn’t need 4 transfer loads. Track the water truck haulers better too. Lots of between the scales runners overlaiden .
Remember next time you are called to be a juryer …..not guilty if less then 100lbs of marketable dry bud…….. and this shit will stop. Don’t plea to nothing. It takes all to agree to convict.
I read the comments, and seems like when the blog topic is marijuana grows those posting comments prefer to attack one another, a lot. Tough crowd. Add in comments by the Sheriff and ho boy, no quarter.
But like the old Hamm’s beer commercial, “It’s the water.” I think that is the central issue for addressing marijuana grows and the future of our north coast region. Water. There used to be an abundance of it; rain, rain, rain every winter. We used to have floods closing the roads when I was growing up here. Now it looks like drought conditions are here to stay, even here in the northern coastal counties. Future planning for the marijuana growing industry must address water sources and consumption requirements along with all the other competing needs for water, just like in the established agricultural areas of Central California. Law enforcement should focus on the crime associated with the Black Market. Local voters should decide the economic and environmental issues. Steady, gradual progress and over time this will all get sorted out.