To curb the negative impacts of illegal large-scale cannabis growing operations including water theft, trespassing, littering and the use of dangerous pesticides and chemicals, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors recently approved a motion by Supervisors Kathryn Barger, 5th District, and Sheila Kuehl, 3rd District, that aims to address the issue.

“While the national and local media reports on this issue have focused on the Antelope Valley and surrounding desert communities, illegal marijuana grows will impact the entire county of Los Angeles,” Barger said. “As the state enters another potential drought emergency, we need to ensure that this new activity does not further exacerbate water scarcity. In addition, I am very concerned that illegal growers are using unregulated chemicals to process marijuana and selling these products to both legal and illegal dispensaries throughout the L.A. basin endangering cannabis users, contributing to contamination and pollution, and threatening water quality and safety.”

The motion asks the county’s Chief Executive Office’s Legislative Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations Branch to coordinate with departments to support or pursue legislation that will allow offenders to be civilly prosecuted for water theft. The supervisors are also seeking additional enforcement authority for water theft and misuse in declared drought emergencies.

Additionally, the motion calls for authorities to address potential loopholes or exploitation by illegal cannabis growers and pursue increasing local government controls over illegal cannabis and unregistered hemp crops. A report is expected in 90 days on a proposed administrative nuisance abatement ordinance for unpermitted cannabis activity including illegal cannabis cultivation and dispensaries. The board also sought a study to regulate hemp and asked for a report on recommendations in 180 days. The supervisors allocated $250,000 to finance continued sheriff’s department enforcement against illegal cannabis businesses and growers.

“The whack-a-mole problem of illegal cannabis dispensaries and now illegal cannabis grows popping up throughout the county has been exacerbated by the lack of a regulating ordinance,” Barger added. “Finally, when examining the true impact of illegal grows outside of environmental impacts, public safety and consumer health, we cannot overlook the fact that the cartels and growers are engaging in human trafficking and coercion to provide the manual labor in the fields.”

For information, visit kathrynbarger.lacounty.gov.