POT TV – Thousands of marijuana plants were seized, and over 20 arrests were made across 500 grow sites in Antelope Valley, California, reported CBS Los Angeles.
Despite having a massive recreational and medical marijuana industry, California continues to use the criminal justice system to enforce drug laws designed around a black market drug mentality.
California’s system of cannabis regulation, which is in need of rescue, struggles under the weight of intense rules that do not reflect the safe nature of the plant. Instead, a shadowy “black market” is blamed for industry woes, and police are quick to repeat the claim to justify law enforcement bulldozers and expensive multi-agency bureaucracy.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said. “We have legal marijuana grows in California. They’re very small in number; they’re very tightly regulated … and they’re being put out of business by the illegal grows.”
Though reports have alleged links to drug cartels, there is no discussion of why drug cartels might continue to have an interest in cannabis, it’s over-inflated price.
Taxpayers continue to pay the bill for both law enforcement and taxes on licensed marijuana sales in California.
