OAKLAND HOME YIELDS POT TROVE

OAKLAND -- More than $100,000 worth of marijuana, including blossoming
plants and packaged product stuffed in a refrigerator, were seized Tuesday
in a well-kept home police said housed "one of the most elaborate" indoor
greenhouses they had seen.

None of the residents of the two-story home in the 3900 block of Enos
Avenue were home at the time of the more than 700-plant discovery but
police did find a large German shepherd they said was "really mellow."

"He was as friendly as he wanted to be," Sgt. Ray Petty said.

Police made the find Tuesday morning after being summoned to the house by
neighbors to do a security check. Police said neighbors were concerned
because they had not seen the residents for a few days and noticed a broken
window and torn curtain.

After realizing the amount of marijuana present, police notified the
federal Drug Enforcement Administration, which took charge of the
investigation and served a search warrant Tuesday afternoon.

DEA Agent Jason England said one person who had been staying at the
residence arrived during the afternoon investigation and was released
without being cited pending further investigation.

Inside the home, authorities found posters and fliers in the home
indicating the residents may have belonged to the Oakland Cannabis Club and
that the marijuana was for medicinal purposes.

"I understand people's needs to feel better from terminal illness and
stuff," England said. "How one justifies medical use for that much pot, I'm
really not sure."

England said the $100,000 price tag was a "very conservative" estimate.

Petty said there were at least 100 marijuana plants in the basement and
upper floor of the three-level home. Most were at least 2 feet high "and
extremely healthy," he said.

He said the plants were being grown in one of the most elaborate setups he
had seen.

He said the lighting and irrigation and pumping systems, which worked on
timers, could be worth thousands of dollars.

Additionally, he said a ventilation system that included huge blowers had
been constructed, which ran from room to room.

Still, Petty said, the smell of the plants was overwhelming when officers
entered the home.

Besides the plants, police found pounds of marijuana in plastic bags and
other packaging throughout the home, including some in a refrigerator as
well as in closets.

Authorities were trying to identify exactly who lived at the home.

Neighbors said the residents had lived there less than a year, but were not
sure if they were renting or had bought the home.

Jeff Jones, executive director of the Oakland pot club, said the address
didn't "ring a bell" with him.

"If it was a patient garden, I hope that they don't cut it all down and
save some for the patient," Jones said.