The Merced County Sheriff’s Office Marijuana Enforcement Team took down another illegal marijuana grow in the Delhi area. On January 24, 2018 at about 8:00am, Deputies from the Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant in the 7700 block of Sycamore Street in Delhi.

When agents arrived at the single story residence, no one was home, but they found a large barn filled with 210 high quality indoor marijuana plants. Additionally, the back yard of the residence contained 120 roosters which were believed to be used in illegal cock fights.

Sergeant Ray Framstad with the Merced County Sheriff’s Office said the search warrant on the residence was served after weeks of investigation and surveillance on the property. Sergeant Framstad added that this was the third search warrant served to the residence within a three-year period and a broken door from the last search warrant was still laying in the yard.

Sergeant Framstad explained that an indoor marijuana grow of this size could produce 1,260 oz. of high quality marijuana every 60 days which would produce 472 pounds every year. The average sale price per pound is between $2,000.00 and $2,500.00.

Sheriff Vern Warnke wants to remind everyone that the Merced County Sheriff’s Office will be enforcing the cultivation laws regarding marijuana that the county has put in place starting in 2018. Allen outdoor marijuana grows are illegal and will be dealt with immediately and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Additionally, you are only allowed to grow 6 plants indoors. If you have questions about the laws regarding cultivation and possession of marijuana, please call the Merced County Sheriff’s Office 209-385-7445. The new County Cannabis Ordinance details are as follows:

Personal Cultivation Restrictions reasonably regulated (Ord. 9.29.060):
• Personal use cannabis plants limited from twelve (12) to six (6)
• Cultivation can occur in either 1) within a single private residence; or 2) inside a fully enclosed and secure structure located upon the grounds of a private residence. Outdoor cultivation of any type, on any parcel is prohibited.
• Cultivation must comply with Building and Construction Code, Title 16.
• Cultivation cannot be conducted in a manner that constitutes a public nuisance.

Enforcement – penalty/consequences for noncompliance unchanged from previous Medical Marijuana Cultivation ordinance
• Administrative Penalties for unlawful cannabis cultivation(Ordinance 9.29.083)
• All violations deemed a misdemeanor; Sheriff has ability to abate unlawful cannabis cultivation (Ord. 9.29.200)