The General
New Member
Marijuana growers are so skilled at hiding plants from prying eyes that even illegal grows within shouting distance of a school can go undetected for months. In mid-September, Fresno County deputies removed 10,000 plants across the street from Sequoia Elementary School on South Armstrong near Sanger, and another 3,000 behind the school. Although the Sheriff's Office told school officials that there was no immediate threat when the search warrant was served, the school locked the gates and kept students in classrooms until deputies gave the all-clear.
"It's definitely not OK when they're growing it across the street," Principal Nichole Rosales said. "How can we allow this?" In response to an inquiry from The Bee, the office of Assembly Minority Leader Connie Conway, R-Tulare, said Assembly Republicans will propose legislation that could increase penalties for growing illegal marijuana near schools. "We just haven't determined which member will be the author," Sabrina Lockhart, Conway's communications director, wrote in an email.
Enhanced penalties would discourage some growers from planting near a school, but in the overall battle against illegal pot farms "it wouldn't make a big difference – they'd just grow it somewhere else," Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims said. it's no longer a surprise to find marijuana growing near rural schools, Tulare County sheriff's Lt. Tom Sigley said. This year, both illegal and legal grows – those allowed under state medical marijuana laws – have been found within 1,000 feet of nine elementary schools and two high schools in the county, he said.
Likewise, in mid-September 400 fully budded plants ready for harvest were found within 75 yards of Coarsegold Elementary in Madera County, and the same month a large grow was found near Willow International Community College Center and within one-quarter mile of Clovis Unified's Riverview Elementary School. Even though the pot grow was close to the school, no parents had raised the issue with the Riverview principal, said Kelly Avants, spokeswoman for Clovis Unified. The school district is concerned when criminal activity takes place near a school, "but this is very much a community issue," Avants said. "We encourage our community to always be watchful and report anything unusual to the police."
News Moderator - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Fresnobee.com
Author: Lewis Griswold
Contact: Contact The Fresno Bee or FresnoBee.com | Fresno and Clovis, CA
Website: Pot grown near Valley schools raises concerns | Local News | FresnoBee.com
"It's definitely not OK when they're growing it across the street," Principal Nichole Rosales said. "How can we allow this?" In response to an inquiry from The Bee, the office of Assembly Minority Leader Connie Conway, R-Tulare, said Assembly Republicans will propose legislation that could increase penalties for growing illegal marijuana near schools. "We just haven't determined which member will be the author," Sabrina Lockhart, Conway's communications director, wrote in an email.
Enhanced penalties would discourage some growers from planting near a school, but in the overall battle against illegal pot farms "it wouldn't make a big difference – they'd just grow it somewhere else," Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims said. it's no longer a surprise to find marijuana growing near rural schools, Tulare County sheriff's Lt. Tom Sigley said. This year, both illegal and legal grows – those allowed under state medical marijuana laws – have been found within 1,000 feet of nine elementary schools and two high schools in the county, he said.
Likewise, in mid-September 400 fully budded plants ready for harvest were found within 75 yards of Coarsegold Elementary in Madera County, and the same month a large grow was found near Willow International Community College Center and within one-quarter mile of Clovis Unified's Riverview Elementary School. Even though the pot grow was close to the school, no parents had raised the issue with the Riverview principal, said Kelly Avants, spokeswoman for Clovis Unified. The school district is concerned when criminal activity takes place near a school, "but this is very much a community issue," Avants said. "We encourage our community to always be watchful and report anything unusual to the police."
News Moderator - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Fresnobee.com
Author: Lewis Griswold
Contact: Contact The Fresno Bee or FresnoBee.com | Fresno and Clovis, CA
Website: Pot grown near Valley schools raises concerns | Local News | FresnoBee.com
