Multiple agencies of the Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team, including the Oregon State Police and deputies with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant last Friday morning, August 2nd, at an address in rural Central Point.
During the service of the warrant it was determined that there was no licensing for any type of cannabis growing, handling, or processing at this location and detectives seized approximately 39,000 illegal marijuana plants, $3000 in cash, and two firearms.
The Oregon Water Resources Department Enforcement section will issue a Notice of Violation to the responsible party for the unauthorized appropriation of water from Snider Creek. This type of water violation is subject to both civil and criminal penalties. Due to the age of the plants, Watermasters estimate that roughly 1.5 million gallons of water was saved by stopping water use at this time.
Seven people were detained on the property and charges are being referred to the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office.
Jackson County Code Enforcement responded to the scene and issued a total of $64,000 in fines to the landowner and a known responsible party at the site. Fines were for violations related to solid waste, non-permitted construction of a large pole barn structure, non-permitted electrical installations, and failure to obtain land use approval for marijuana production. The solid waste violations issued as a result of this search warrant were related to plastic materials including PVC piping, plastic sheeting, and other miscellaneous materials that were burned and buried in April of this year.
