A property owner is facing misdemeanor charges after deputies served a search warrant last week at a cannabis farm in Carpinteria, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department.
On Jan. 22, the sheriff’s Cannabis Compliance Team, along with investigators from the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, served the warrant on the 5300 block of Foothill Road, said Raquel Zick, a sheriff’s spokeswoman.
“The warrant location encompassed four parcels, with only one of the parcels having a license for the cultivation and processing of cannabis,” Zick said. “It was suspected that the farm was growing and processing marijuana outside of the licensed parcel, as well as possessing and selling cannabis crude (oil) without a license.”
Detectives also discovered off-book or black market marijuana sales associated with the farm, Zick said.
“During the warrant service, detectives found a small volatile extrication lab, along with extracted oil—both of which are outside of the grower’s license,” Zick said.
Investigators seized some 20 pounds of cannabis and more than 1,000 pounds of cannabis crude, Zick said.
The owner, Barry Brand, was issued a citation alleging illegal possession of marijuana for sale, a misdemeanor, she added, noting that the investigation was ongoing.
— Noozhawk executive editor Tom Bolton can be reached at tbolton@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
