MARIJUANA PLANT SEIZURES DOUBLE IN CALIF.

San Francisco, Nov. 28 (UPI) In the first year after California voters
approved a medical marijuana initiative, narcotics agents have seized
nearly 58 percent more marijuana plants in the state than they did all last
year.

Officials with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration say the large
harvests are evidence of a bold new attitude taken by marijuana growers
since the passage of Proposition 215.

DEA figures show that drug agents have confiscated more than 553,000 plants
in the state this year, compared with 351,000 last year. Mendocino County,
which includes a portion of the region known as the "Emerald Triangle" for
its production of highgrade marijuana, accounted for more plants than any
other northern California county.

Officials have confiscated more than 155,000 plants from Mendocino County
gardens this year more than double last year's take. Since Proposition
215 passed, marijuana "buyers clubs" have sprung up across the state to
provide pot to patients who have their doctors' recommendation to use it.

Although state officials have not settled whether the clubs are protected
under the measure, some club owners have signed contracts with growers.

Copyright 1997 by United Press International.