Cannabis Operations in Antioch and Brentwood Valued at $3.1 Million

On May 11, the California Department of Cannabis held an operation in the City of Antioch and the City of Brentwood targeting illegal indoor cannabis cultivation.

At a house on St. Michaels Ct, authorities located 1,386 cannabis plants with a total poundage of 693 at an estimated value of $1.143 million. With the new Brentwood $100 per plant fine, authorities assessed the property owner a $136,700 fine.

At another house in Brentwood, on Anastasia Drive, authorities located 529 cannabis flower with a poundage of 296 at an estimated value of $488,400. Authorities issued a $52,900 fine for this location based on the $100 per plant fine.

In the Brentwood operation, the Brentwood Police Department and the California National Guard were the assisting agencies.

For the second time in weeks, the Department of Cannabis returned to the city of Antioch where they targeted two homes, both were located on Glasglow Ct.

At the first home, they called it a heavily fortified house, however, upon beginning forced entry someone answered the door. They also said evidence showed that children spent time at this residence, but no children were present at the time. They also located an unsecured AR10A assault rifle.

Authorities located 1,010 cannabis plants and a total 11.85 cannabis flower seized with a poundage of 516.85 with a value of $852,802. They also located 3.5 grams of meth and seized $2,932 in cash.

In the second home located on Glasglow Ct, they found 846 cannabis plants with a poundage of 423 at an estimated value of $697,950.

Last July, the City of Brentwood agreed to additional penalties for illegal cultivation of marijuana within the city of Brentwood. The penalty is now $100 per plant over the legal limit. At the time, Code Enforcement Supervisor Roberta Portillo-Bienemann explained to the council how the City of Brentwood has seen an increase in illegal marijuana grows inside single-family homes. Staff was seeking additional penalties to clarify they were seeking penalties on a per plant basis as a deterrent for illegal marijuana grows inside single-family homes.

According to staff at the meeting, if someone is unable to pay the fine, it would go to collection and possibly a lien against the property—ultimately it falls on the property owner and any potential buyer of a property would be aware of the violations against the property. Citations are $100 for the first violation, $200 for the second and $500 for the third and subsequent violation.

 

On May 4, the California Department of Cannabis held an operation that targeted three Antioch homes and one in Fremont. That operation resulted in $2.2 million in cannabis product seized.

In total, three houses in Antioch were targeted by the agency which resulted in the following being seized:

• 2,444 plants
• 45 pounds of cannabis flower
• 1,379 pounds of cannabis
• 1 assault rifle
• 2 detained for living at one of the homes

A fourth home was also searched in the City of Fremont. That operation resulted in information regarding financials, computers, cell phones, and documentation being seized at the location.

In December, a joint operation between the Department of Cannabis Control and Antioch Police resulted in more than $14 million in cannabis products seized as the agency hit multiple homes.  That operation resulted in more than 16,600 plants being seized. Two other operations occurred in 2022 in the city of Antioch which include August 31 and September 7 busts of $7.3 million, the Department of Cannabis has seized more than $22.1 million in cannabis in the city of Antioch in 2022.

Editors Note – the City of Antioch has reported that cannabis sales tax and fees have generated at least $1.5 million each year for the city and in the upcoming budget its anticipated to reach $2 million.

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If residents believe an illegal marijuana grow is located in their neighborhood they can report it through the City’s community enrichment app, Brentwood Connect Service Request | Brentwood, CA (brentwoodca.gov) or by calling Community Enrichment at (925) 516-5405 or the Police Department non-emergency number at (925) 809-7911

The Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) is the California state agency that licenses and regulates cannabis businesses. DCC regulates the:

• Growing of cannabis plants
• Manufacture of cannabis products
• Transportation and tracking of cannabis goods throughout the state
• Sale of cannabis goods
• Events where cannabis is sold or used
• Labeling of goods sold at retail

To learn more about the Department of Cannabis Control or the laws pertaining to cannabis, please visit: www.cannabis.ca.gov.