Anonymous
Illegal cannabis farm on Cebada Canyon Road (Photos: SBSO)
Source: Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Cannabis Compliance Team served several unrelated search warrants over the past week in an effort to eradicate illegal, unlicensed and unregulated marijuana operations.
On Saturday, September 14, 2019, detectives served a warrant in the 3500 block of Cebada Canyon Rd, in the unincorporated area of Lompoc. Detectives discovered 6,000 cannabis plants ready for harvest, and another 6,000 that had been recently harvested, with the product already moved offsite. This site was operating outside of the legal parameters and had no license to operate. The destination of the harvested cannabis is unknown. The results of this investigation will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s office for review.
In an unrelated investigation, detectives served a warrant in the area of 300 Winchester Canyon Rd, in the unincorporated area of Goleta on Monday, September 23, 2019. Detectives located approximately 900 cannabis plants in various stages of growth and about 700 pounds of harvested marijuana in the drying process. This operation was also unlicensed and evidence was discovered indicating the operator was actively engaging in illegal cannabis sales of untested and unlicensed cannabis products. The operator of this site, 62-year-old Don Hartley of Goleta, was arrested and subsequently released with a criminal citation for illegal cannabis cultivation.
Search Warrant on Winchester Canyon Road
The Santa Barbara County Cannabis Compliance Team was founded in June of 2018 and consists of personnel from many disciplines within a variety of county departments. The team primarily focuses on unlicensed and illegal cannabis operations within the county and the safety of the public. Following the approval of Proposition 64, recreational marijuana is legal. However, the law requires any person or business selling or providing marijuana to be licensed through the State of California to ensure the sale of approved and tested cannabis products with regulated and identified THC content. Additionally, the County of Santa Barbara requires that cannabis businesses must possess local land use permits and local business licenses if the operations are in the unincorporated parts of the county. More information on the state licensing and testing process can be found on the CalCannabis or Bureau of Cannabis Control websites. For information on local permitting and licensing, please visit cannabis.countyofsb.org.
Thanks Das. For nothing but hiring even more expensive government workers, just to root this illegal stuff out. Zero acreage is the only answer.
Everyone thought legalizing the weed was going to be such a wonderful thing, but the exact opposite is happening. The wool has been pulled over our eyes, and we are now living with the unsavory consequences. Smoke away my dull-minded friends…sales of sugary and salty snack foods up by nearly 20% in CA, CO, and OR. Smoke until your IQ drops 50 points…then vote for your fav dope industry supported pol. Go dull down now.
There is no “illegal” cannabis plants. It’s a legal, natural, agricultural product. Only the reefer madness crowd gets their panties in a bunch. Time to join the 21st century folks.
Agree with the observations that the County basically created this mess in the past two years— look at the State database- hundreds of “temporary” licenses were authorized by the County issued by the State, up on Winchester Canyon- before any land use permits were ever approved- and this operation was in the County permitting system for the past several months- what a nightmare of a land use debacle, how much environmental damage was done by this rush to the finish line
gotta love that nanny state
Right you are, Flicka. The other afternoon I was out for a leisurely drive in my open convertible, and as I toured some of the more “agricultural” parts of the Carp Valley, I noticed NO odor of marijuana. (And I can smell a doobie at 100 yards.) As you say, it’s the skunk weed that has the smell. It would seem to me that they’re growing quality bud in Carp.
It started with the voters who approved this nonsense and Das Williams pretending he cared. He is out as First District county supervisor – he sold out his district for pot cash.
Pot growing along side of grapes is like oil and water. Outdoor pot grows ANYWHERE near residences is like having a neighbor move in who raises skunks. If you want to grow this money maker, there are areas off of HWY 166 or HWY 46 that would only offend cattle. Take your crap somewhere else…
If that’s the same Don Hartley then I think he teaches classes at SBCC. I wonder if there will be any disciplinary action from the school?
Which lucky winner gets $700,000?
I can’t imagine how someone would think growing a huge crop of marijuana outdoors wouldn’t be discovered. Lot of work gone to waste for this old guy. As far as the “skunk” smell goes, it’s only on skunk weed, not all strains smell like skunks, I never had any that did but admit it’s a pretty potent strain.
Rex, you are absolutely correct! I just bought some Carpinteria weed that smelled and tasted delicious. Matter of fact it even took most of my RA pain away and I was able to enjoy life today at the Lemon Festival. So for those of you who are continually complaining on top of your pedestals I pray you never need it as badly as those of us who were left with no choices! Someday you may need it too, then what? Our doctors told us take Vicodin for our pain for years. We even got tested for illegal pot use. Now all the doctors are telling us to use Marijuana. What would you do in our places? I tried every medication they gave me as a substitute and they made me so sick and dizzy I felt like I was drunk but had no alcohol. I was bed bound until I gave in to the “Reefer Madness” and soon I was way more active and way more happy! Not dull anymore and I didn’t lose one IQ point either. Weed literally gave me my life back so please do not put us down for medication usage you know nothing about. Those Miracle Marijuana salves they have work miracles for people too, ask any elderly or young person who uses it. Just saying instead of pills with awful side effects the next best thing is weed to chronic pain patients.
Das Williams’ decisions lead to some of these problems. I wonder whether Laura Capps has any answers? So far as I can tell she doesn’t.
May I suggest that if you wanna be educated on the differences and usages of CBD to watch WEED 5 on CNN tomorrow at 5pm. You can know the truth from a real doctor who is extremely educated in the use of CBD and THC( this is #5). CBD doesn’t get you high it just relieves pain and does numerous other healthy things you couldn’t imagine. I call the Salve “Mom’s Miracle” cream because my mom and all her elderly gal pals are all using it like a dirty little secret. Lol (truth is they all swear by it) Your Mom will thank you too when she uses it on her aching hands etc
I have never read one of these news articles that names the illegal operator. Why was the operator of the second smaller bust named? I think they all should be called out as the sheriff knows who the property owners are. It just seems weird to single out one guy…
So Mr. Hartley got a ‘criminal citation?’ Does that mean misdemeanor? As in slap on the wrist and a fine? If so, this is not much of a deterrent compared to the big bucks involved. Something is wrong here, and it started in Sacramento. .
The strenuous vilification of a harmless plant continues. Your nervous system is built to receive Cannabis. It’s called
your “Cannibinoid Receptors/System”.
Agreed! I have lost my son over this. He is destroyed. My heart misses a good smart boy who will not be a productive member of society.
Legal? Not really. When I go to buy booze at the liquor store, they may ask you to show ID. When you go to the Farmacy, they ask you to show ID (like, pull your license out), and then…..then….they SCAN your license. Hmmmmmm…..I thought the whole idea was to be able to buy weed just like booze. I know that in Oregon, when you walk into a weed dispensary, they ask you to show ID, but they do not scan it.
Those greenhouses have been there for decades. The polo fields and their stables have been there for decades. The marsh, and the beach for eternity… All of these things have smelled like poop for as long as anyone has resided in the area. Have you smelled the stench of a low tide emanating from the salt marsh? Or when there is an algae bloom? Or a fresh tar splurge on the beach? How about the stench of manure and garbage rotting in the sunlight as its prepped for the flowers in the greenhouses? How about the ammonia that comes from the bird poop? Or the diesel exhaust from the trucks and trains? All of these smells pre-date anyone alive and living in the area… If you live near a freeway, a polo field, a few dozen commercial greenhouses and across from a salt marsh, you will deal with smells. I get how people may not like the smell of weed, but to complain that its worse than rotting flesh, exhaust, feces and droppings is downright ridiculous. Get over yourselves.
The guy in Winchester Canyon has a permit application on file and was trying to do it the right way. I wonder if he had a temporary license/permit to grow what he has. Either way, it’s such a massive waste of resources to bust these guys. Cannabis isn’t hurting anyone.