STATE MARIJUANA SEIZURES HIT ALL-TIME HIGH

The California Department of Justice said its Campaign Against
Marijuana Planting resulted in the eradication of nearly 1.7 million
plants this season. The number reflects the seizure of pot plants in
34 California counties, and is up more than 500,000 plants over last
year.

A few north state counties are generally among those with the largest
number of seizures. Shasta County held the top ranking last year, with
more than 214,000 plants. More than that were pulled from illegal
gardens this year, but Shasta came in second to Lake County, where
314,603 plants were eradicated.

Mendocino County, always in the top three, was third this season with
135,736 plants seized.

Glenn County ranked 21st this season, according to the DOJ. It
reported 15,789 plants seized in eradication operations which involved
CAMP officers and local law enforcement. However, Glenn County Sheriff
Larry Jones said the Tehama and Glenn Marijuana Eradication Team had
been involved in destroying more than 64,000 plants in Glenn County as
of Oct. 25.

The DOJ ranked Butte County 22nd, with 15,694 plants seized in
combined law enforcement operations.

The number of plants destroyed in Butte County is likely far higher
than reported by CAMP, but several calls to the Butte County Sheriff's
Office Special Enforcement Unit seeking total statistics went
unanswered Thursday.

CAMP said 48,672 plants were destroyed in Tehama County, earning it an
11th-place ranking.

The marijuana was taken during 477 raids between late July and early
October, the heart of pot harvesting and processing season.

Eighty percent of the plants seized were being grown on public lands,
including national forests. During the raids, 27 people were taken
into custody. Only 29 firearms were seized, about one-third last
year's total.

There were no officer-involved shootings.