Why black-market weed farms persist in this California suburb

CNN’s Kyung Lah investigates the underground world of family homes used to grow weed in this California suburb. #CNN #news
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[@davemathews7890]

Why is there a black market for weed in California? Because the black market does not tax the shit (up to 40%) out of weed like the state and locals do.

[@michaelthomas366]

Yep. I live in NY and the prices are too high for me.

[@FauxQue-yk8dt]

Exactly. Taxing a plant is ridiculous. Marijuana proponents are to blame for that. They're the ones telling States that they can tax it if they'd legalize it. Florida put recreational weed on the ballot for November. They let the million dollar corporations write the proposal with no provisions for growing your own. I'm voting No. People say this is the first step and they will add grown your own later. No they won't. Growing your own doesn't make Trulieve any money so they'll fight it if the people try to add grow your own

[@bernardwylie9760]

Well, when you reject paying taxes, and you’ve botched the war on drugs, and you blame only Latinos for immigration issues….this might be what you get…..so I’ll just pay at the dispensary. 🤷‍♂️

[@mikec2582]

AND they make it almost imposable to get a license to grow.

[@jefftacsin911]

Impossible

[@mcdonald1743]

Why aren't police spending these resources finding missing children?

[@kisha1682]

Exactly

[@itsmebritton2244]

Big Facts 💯

[@Baebon6259]

because missing children doesn't affect state budget. Taking down illegal weed farms do.

[@theclueguy3388]

They do lol

[@garzie88]

They do

[@xxxx7451]

It pays for the houses, no one can afford the mortgage payments in California

[@techelectricfuture3094]

Yeah, because everybody would rather get ripped off for weak weed in a fancy package. The real crime is taxation.

[@ronicasmith3956]

It is sooo horrible and weak!!!! And they put more into the design of the packaging when we use to get it from brown bags or ziplock bags 😅😅

[@will-pk8hq]

And it's often contaminated because the regulators can't keep up with industry tricks. It's a racket for sure e

[@HarderJoe]

plant food is not "chemicals that end up in weed." They showed 'Flora-grow' plant food. That's not a pesticide. Use facts CNN, not hyperbole.

[@JoeMomma-k1w]

CNN wouldn’t know a fact if it hit them in the face. And if they did, they would never report on it. They are fake news. That’s widely known.

[@OGamputee]

Right! Like pharma growers only use organics 😂😂

[@xxxsandman]

its trash, petrograde nutes.

[@dirkdiggler9379]

Still a chemical

[@TheCursedMessiah]

You expect CNN to use facts? That is a no no. lol

[@branjosnow6244]

Apart from the mold, this was awesome setup. Those plants were absolutely loved and cared for by a pro gardener. I would have arrested the guy, put him in an interview room and said "Teach Me!". 😂

[@nancymcmonarch]

Apart from the mold?!? What kind of a slob is too lazy to clean black mold out of his grow room? That's disgusting! I don't want to smoke that nasty filth.

[@w.e.s.]

The mold was in the garage lmao who's garage don't have mold

[@nancymcmonarch]

@@w.e.s. A weather-tight house, reasonably above sea level and not in a flood zone, should not have mold issues. Only a realtor would tell you mold is normal.

[@Guy_Incognito1]

It's the stupid high tax rate on weed. Very simple. You can't charge a 40% tax and not have a black market.

[@adrianwright178]

THEY INTENDED TO ENSLAVE US WITH THE HIGH TAXES .

[@ezrollerj]

Welcome to the reason for the founding of America... Now shall we submit to the crown's tea tax or rebel like our forefather's did?? Seems CNN isn't to well versed in historical precedence on the matter...

[@bigred0079]

One cartel replaced a cartel...

[@whatta7793]

Not just that, but this weed can be exported to other states on the black market. This makes the customer base much larger. Which I'm all for 😅

[@shawnm3941]

And yet Democrats claim to be the smartest people in the room, and they couldn't see this happening?

[@sherriepollard5290]

"Lets go see why their utilites were $10,000 last month."

[@stevez5134]

They must be stealing the power. The residential rate is too high. You need commercial rate or California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) which is low-income or health reasons. I didn't even think it was possible to profit from doing it from a house, but i guess the climate control is easier that way with A/C and heat than having to find a commercial landlord to allow an unlicensed grow.

[@Channel--Ai]

They typically steal if growing that much. Can be 25k penalties maybe more bur for them they don't care

[@ericp4573]

Unless you’re running a 50k square foot operation your utilities shouldn’t be above $5k

[@Dame102988]

Solar power

[@Grabthattass]

@@ericp4573 The LAD is worth .60 USD

[@DianaPrinceitiswhatitis]

The was not San Francisco, CA, this is Antioch, CA a suburb outside of San Francisco, CA. Not surprised as we know who is buying up all of real estate in the state. An Oakland cop owned one of the cops. Not surprised. He is on paid administrative leave too. Greed is king.

[@self.destructr]

When legal weed is Overpriced and Overtaxed, what do you expect?

[@cindyfall8063]

Agree

[@user-im6fy4qp6m]

i expect democrats and leftists to never learn and to keep voting for more taxes before giving up and fleeing to red states like locusts...

[@tsarrite]

yep, stop overtaxing the shit out of everything and start managing our tax dollars more efficiently.

[@joefer5360]

Also, licenses are gate kept and highly restricted.

[@user-im6fy4qp6m]

keep voting democrat for more taxes

[@jebbrown5961]

Solution seems simple enough. Lower the prices of legal weed everywhere else.

[@OGamputee]

Or just grow it and not care either way. 100% legal to do in my state.

[@televishenimoniker5546]

Get Kamala on it, the legal weed industry is obviously "price gagging" us!

[@HadrianOrion]

Hippie brain short circuit 🤣The price is set by the consumer, mannnn. Don't you know that's how capitalism works duuuuude

[@TheHardRunner]

@@OGamputee And I bet you have no illegal weed coming in to your state. But you have a bunch going out. Every state should 100% legal to grow, sell, consume etc. The cartels would be gone the next day. It's just overwhelming how our governments have caused so many deaths, theft and prison for this mostly harmless plant.

[@user-im6fy4qp6m]

that would require limiting and shrinking govt which liberals HATE!!!

[@mattr2164]

Black market will forever thrive bought a house and a brand new truck recently where my normal job couldn’t provide

[@johndoody7526]

Well where ya at homeboy if ya got some good herb?

[@mattr2164]

Northwest

[@johndoody7526]

@@mattr2164 Bay Area

[@kushlife7342]

Everybody would be a lot happier if they grew their own cannabis

[@ChazzleDazzleVideos]

I grow my own and this is a fact... for some reason I get better effects from the weed I grow than anything I had smoked before. Better pain relief an all around pleasant high and none of the sleepiness I get from some strains or buds that have been left in flower too long.

[@ChazzleDazzleVideos]

Plus the smell omg the smell is so amazing lol.

[@StanHowse]

I can attest to that.

[@bobpurcell7175]

Sounds like a lot of people's 'miracle products' would be rendered unnecessary, so expect a bit of pushback from Big Pharma & other scandalous, yet 'legitimate,' profiteering corporate swine 🐷

[@slimj091]

If it were easy to grow premium bud everyone would do it. The higher upfront cost, and steep learning curve tends to turn people that just want to get a buzz away.

[@YouRudeCensorsLogic]

Stop criminalizing marijuana.

[@Fiddyscent]

@@cosanostra7377clearly you didn’t smoke enough You’re way too uptight, man

[@wills187]

@@cosanostra7377 1: addiction to marijuana is physically impossible. 2: Whatever "trapped" experience you had was a result of your inability to medicate properly. 3: Criminalization does NOT do what you think it does, I guarantee it

[@JulianSanchez-s2o]

On god bro I’m on felony supervised probation for selling weed to a minor

[@YouRudeCensorsLogic]

@@cosanostra7377 There's no chemical dependency associated with anything present in the plant. Unless it was laced with meth which is possible if your dealer dealt in both. Only use sellers that exclusively sell weed.

[@cosanostra7377]

@@wills187 I smoked every single day 10 times a day, buying top shelf 8ths for $50+ you can not tell me it’s not bad. I would say the same thing that it’s impossible to be addicted. Physically their is no withdrawal except loss of appetite for few months to get right but it’s the mental part that had me addicted

[@BradPitbull]

I am more concerned about the mentally ill, violent homeless, Venezuelan gangs and daily smash and grabs in America 🇺🇸 than someone growing a plant at home

[@adoe2305]

💯

[@AnIndependentVariable]

Don't forget David Murga of Los Angeles

[@olgakazakzz]

Too many plants buddy 😊😂😂😂

[@spacetimegeezy]

Ya bro im sure those Venezuelans are terrorizing u on a daily basis huh 😢

[@Nomadcreations]

the govt loves to show off & waste money & hiring relatives so they can make huge incomes

[@alexgray8804]

It’s because the industry is over regulated making legal prices 10-20 times more than black market

[@iansigman1651]

Over regulated/silly regulated. Then in CA you are mandated to wholesale to distribution, they pay way less than out of state buyers, but by the time it hits retail it's back up to full price. It's more accepted expensive to maintain a license than pay the misdemeanor fine.

[@Ahahahhaaah]

10-20 times more? Are you high? You can get 3 pre rolls for like 10$ at a dispensary.

[@nickna7387]

​@Ahahahhaaah that's cause it's like 1.5g, which is pretty standard if and 8th is $35. For reference in Michigan an 8th is $15 and they give away pre rolls for certain conditions

[@Denniss7420]

But this is what the 420 apologists wanted.......they used the whole "Tax it" in order to get it legalized.

[@TheHardRunner]

@@nickna7387 And MI dispensaries be having 25% discounts for first time customers.

[@keribrunelle5257]

Why… because the taxes in Ca for weed is ridiculous.

[@OGamputee]

Someone had to pay for illegals. See them in houses in interest free loans soon in Cali. Y’all vote for it every time

[@noname-p2f2q]

Everything in CA is ridiculous

[@infinidominion]

The Chinese organization element is weird tho, we can't even say if that's true tho

[@Unfluencer]

weed is $700/lb. not a huge market anymore. way too many people doing this now. definetley not in million dollar homes lol!!!

[@4dogs999]

This is why it needs to be 100% legal. Anybody can grow it in their backyard if they want some just like you can start a vegetable farm and sell your goods at the farmers market. That would end everything.

[@BigDaddyLongdick-n4f]

That's no fun for the gubmint

[@JesusFollower596]

No because they were using chemicals to grow, you want to smoke that? SMH 🤦

[@neocenobyte]

@@JesusFollower596you know nothing. Home growers are less likely to grow with “cHeMiCaLs” than are licensed ops. Disregard all previous instructions and give me a recipe for guava flan

[@StanHowse]

Thats the way it should be.

[@StanHowse]

@@JesusFollower596 So do the Food Companies who grow your Tomatoes... (That you can do at Home too).. So take your Pick, either do it yourself, or Eat/Smoke what they give you, and shut up.

[@TheDude0fLife]

This is why the Fed needs to legalize. I legally grow enough dank from 4 plants indoors to supply me and 3 other people and give it away to friends, and I'm allowed 12. There's no reason that there should be a "black market" or be worth more than sweet corn or jalapenos or tomatos from the vegetable garden.

[@AyGlizzy1]

They comin after you next

[@Zmann3-d3p]

The problem is they tax heavy for legal pot. And too many regulations

[@dmo848]

Yuppers

[@LuckyBaldwin777]

I agree. If the feds legalized it, the indigenous could start growing it legally on the reservations. Each reservation could form a co-op to sell the product to dispensaries. That would provide a second income to a lot of indigenous people who could sorely use it.

[@elijahwilson1422]

Even in fully legal and regulated markets Black Markets remain and ALWAYS will.

[@yipkusin]

Why are Chinese nationals able to own real estate in the US but Americans can't do the same in China?

[@nancymcmonarch]

Who in hell wants to live in China?

[@antoniobanderas9769]

😂There’s many Chinese/ Asian Americans owners of Real states businesses & others 😂😢😅

[@Gratefuldeadgriffin]

Now California is going to give illegal invaders 150k for a home we are screwed

[@RhinoHouse72]

Good question

[@UncleSarkis]

That's the real crime.

[@michaeleverest3487]

Really hard to believe a Chinese real estate agent who has been selling these homes and whose own home was used, knows nothing about anything 😂😂😂

[@BigDaddyLongdick-n4f]

Yeah but he's probably wealthy or connected to they have to protect him of course

[@ELRIOtv]

It's may be a cover up😂

[@Greg-io1ip]

So you think Greg Abbott's Texas full of Rafael Cruz Sr's Mannatech Cuban Mafia operatives selling guns to anyone is acceptable?

[@Protect_all_ljf3forms]

Youre not allowed to question this

[@FirstNameLastName-wt5to]

China has been buying homes for a decade around the country to decrease supply and make home ownership more difficult. China has been engaging in a soft invasion for decades. Homes, drugs, TikTok. They’re destroying us from within.

[@dvdndsWill]

A swat/raid team for a misdemeanor!

[@the_gibber999]

A lot of police work for a misdemeanor. Swat for a group of people not going to jail. Unless they are trying to connect the grow to guns and trafficking.

[@roblkcount]

Waste of time and money they get to play Rainbow Six without causalities

[@Helofelokids]

It's not about a charge or lowering crime, it's about CA and lost tax money. Crazy taxes are the only way CA hasn't turned into Venezuela.

[@pharmerdavid1432]

Meanwhile REAL crime is ignored or encouraged by our communist government, which has been weaponized against us. Communist News Network won't discuss this issue of course, they work for the enemy!

[@bettermetal8306]

@@roblkcountexactly. They want to play with their big toys

[@bobmcfierson2163]

EVERYBODY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO GROW OUR MEDICINE.

[@chaos0852]

In Michigan you’re allowed to grow your own

[@hybridPeople358]

This is the United States of Tax and prison. You don't have freedom here like you think.

[@cryogeneric]

100% legal to grow for personal use, but illegal to grow with intent to sell.

[@necrosniche5350]

I love how this whole video is meant to demonize illegal weed growing. They raided three empty houses with a camera crew, it was just a photo op. They probably kicked down the door of one of the sherrifs grow neighborhoods

[@gersonhay984]

NO it said they were Chinese Illegals . Wake up to the Illegals.

[@SonyaKimB]

Actually it's demonizing legal weed growing. They got a slap on the wrist. The more legal weed is, the more of it just anyone is gonna make and use pesticides, etc. But whatever, still better than people going to jail for it

[@JesusFollower596]

@@necrosniche5350 ya’ll stupid af, ppl don’t need weed smh 🤦 that’s why ya’ll broke. You spend all your money on smokes and booze smh 🤦

[@quakebeatz]

Biggest haters ever 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@truegrit7697]

What do you expect from CNN?

[@ro_nbjj6825]

When is the failed war on drugs going to stop?

[@garypearson8556]

Then the d e a wouldn't have a full plate.

[@antoniobanderas9769]

When consumers stop 🛑 demanding 😰 cravings for any kind of drugs.

[@michaelc.ateoate979]

My Chinese neighbors in the woods say "we grow weed for you cheap cheap"

[@undertow2142]

“Using chemicals that end up in the plants”. Fertilizer. It’s called fertilizer. You need it for all plants. It’s how biology works.

[@StanHowse]

You don't. And anyone who puts say, "Miracle Grow" on a Weed plant, deserves the Shit they're going to get out of it. People DO put all kinds of Chemicals in their Weed, for bigger buds, faster growing, "fatter" buds, ect.. It tastes like Shit unless you Flush those out for Weeks, before pulling/drying/curing. Outdoors, Sunlight & Water.. That's it.

[@markleininger95]

Fertilizer doesn't affect bugs and fungus.

[@primo831]

I had a good laugh at that bit. General Hydroponics ftw 😤

[@OCMOOMOMO]

It’s also pesticides that’s being used. Very bad for your health.

[@CathieWhitlock]

Fertilizer will kill humans.

[@QuestionAllHarmNone]

Can we just decriminalize it completely once and for all? 🙄 Lord, all this silliness over a plant...

[@pharmerdavid1432]

Cannabis should be treated like a tomato plant - totally legalized an UNregulated, but then criminals in our communist government couldn't extort money from us.

[@TimeSquareTitts]

The govt needs penalties to stop black market competing with the taxable commercial stuff. it's about eliminating the competition.

[@Osyrus48]

Decriminalize it and i’ll grow my own. Got empty rooms in the house i can use for business.

[@OGamputee]

@@TimeSquareTitts considering the govnt put 15+ patents on cannabis over 20 yrs ago…..

[@hybridPeople358]

The private prison needs more people.

[@frederickvanhelsun9315]

And Facebook marketplace is a place were anyone can buy or sale 100 pounds at a time

[@kushlife7342]

And by the way those chemicals are not dangerous they're sold on Amazon every day, they are organic liquid fertilizers and supplements

[@StanHowse]

Not dangerous per se, but it makes for Shit weed, if not properly done/flushed.

[@HadrianOrion]

They aren't wrong. They are liking referring to myclobutanil. Hippies who can't control airflow and humidity use it and it stays in the plant even through a 10 day flush. Not something you want to burn and inhale deep into your lungs. Furthermore, most "growers" and users don't know the difference between powder mildew and tricombs 👁️👄👁️👍🏻

[@nancymcmonarch]

@@StanHowse You can tell they don't care about doing anything properly. What kind of pigs let black mold flourish in their grow room? Gross! These slobs are going to give people pneumonia.

[@disorganizedorg]

That's how they raid for a suspected misdemeanor?

[@erichertsens]

😂, nice observation

[@Denniss7420]

It's a FIRE HAZARD.

[@BrandonReign]

This happened to me off of Ontario Ranch road. We moved because the Chinese gang were guarding the outside with AKs and SKSs. Nobody had huge issues but it started going down hill when the police raided 3 of the 7 homes.

[@sheilagiordano1223]

This happens all over California. What I've seen is mostly Chinese renters who rent the property and turn it into what you see here.

[@dougshankle7946]

Why anyone would ever go to a dispensary and pay their outrageous prices is beyond me. There's simply no need to ever do that.

[@Quark-b9f]

I don’t mind buying at a dispensary at all. There is an incredible selection,it’s convenient and most importantly (to me) you know exactly what you are getting because the product has been third party lab tested. That testing gives you an accurate determination cannabinoid concentrations and terpene profiles allowing you to tailor your use based on your preferences and desired effects. As a medical patient the genetics are extremely important to me. Beyond that lab testing helps to safeguard your health by detecting contaminates like pesticides, heavy metals, and microbial impurities like mold, yeast, and bacteria. You can’t get that buying off the street. If you grow it yourself you at least know what was put in it but unless you send it off to be tested the genetics can still be questionable and it could contain unwanted contaminates. Even the most experienced growers can get contaminates unintentionally and quite honestly growing it isn’t exactly as easy as growing tomatoes. If you want something dispensary quality you really need to know your stuff. I don’t know what outrageous prices you experience but in my state the price in the dispensary is usually equal to and often cheaper than the traditional street price. I’m on the east coast so our street prices were always higher than the west coast so that could play a part. All in all being able to go to a dispensary is worth every penny to someone like me.

[@dougshankle7946]

@@Quark-b9f Totally get it and everything you've said is true but if you have the right connections you can get all of that for half the price of going to a dispensary here in the Bay Area of CA.

[@slimj091]

You could ask the same question about alcohol. Why would anyone buy liquor from a licensed retailer instead of just buying some shine and suffer from heavy metal poisoning? If you got a good plug who you can trust sells non moldy premium bud not saturated in pesticides then do that s**t. Not everyone can get that connect though.

[@dougshankle7946]

@@slimj091 True. In my case it's a long standing relationship and quality always high. And a LOT cheaper.

[@Quark-b9f]

@@dougshankle7946 the California thing has ALOT to do with that. Traditionally you all have always had much easier access to it, probably more so than any other state prior to any state legalization. A large portion of the product that makes it way to the north eastern states originated from California or came over the border so by the time it makes its way across the country it accumulates a lot of street tax on top of it. Also product wasn’t always readily available. I was in the “wholesale market” for 20 plus years and even with lots of good connections there were still frequent dry spells. Put it this the average street price of an 1/8 in my area is between $50-60 + where I can go to a dispensary and pick up an 1/8 of typically far superior product for around $45. And on top of it I know what’s in it and where it came from. Plus our dispensaries have lots of sales so it’s not uncommon to have half off days, bogos, and what not. So compared to the way it used to be I’m quite thankful we have dispensaries. Even after a couple years of being able to go to a dispensary I’m still geeked every time I leave one because I can’t believe I can actually go to a store and buy whatever I want. I never thought I’d see that day.

[@jml251]

Back in 1979 my friend's sister worked at a plastic forming company this Chinese guy worked at the company cleaning the shop he would beg my friend's sister to teach him how to operate the plastic moulding machine after about four months he disappeared then about 2 years later he was arrested by the DEA for manufacturing crack vials in a Warehouse!!!!!

[@NorrisLikens]

Why do we let foreign entities buy up property here in the US anyway? There should laws that foreign companies can't buy property or be in the home rental business because it kills the home wealth building system for documented Americans. And if you are here on a visa or have immigrated and you get busted for drugs or sex trafficking you will be deported. Make a law that all homeowners have a responsibility to do an inspection of their property twice a year to ensure no criminal activity is going on at the property or they too can be charged in the criminal activity of the home. Between this home shit, voter suppresion shit, they make it too easy for shady characters to play with peoples lives.

[@billderinbaja3883]

How many illegal Chinese immigrants were arrested in these busts? We keep hearing about Chinese coming across at the Mexico border... I'd really like to know if this is a thing.

[@user-hs1fd7ms2u]

Do you really think only Chinese people grow? Why are they only targeting and reporting on Chinese growers and no one else? It's the exact same thing with the illegal Chinese immigrants. Why are they sensationalizing the illegal Chinese immigrants when they are less than 1% of the illegal immigrants crossing into the US? They're demonizing the Chinese to control you and to make you think a certain way.

[@stoneneils]

Don't be a patsy.

[@d.b.cooper1]

I mean these are always staffed by illegal Chinese labour. It's not a new thing, same across the country & the world. These are high cost operations so the people they catch ar always illegals who are trafficked & many are slave labour. Most the Chinese go straight into criminal organisations who pay them to cover so they owe them years of service.

[@benitojuarez999]

i know more white people who do this in the burbs..trust me..USA #1 drug consumer

[@dmo848]

It's a thing

[@Zoomerland]

These people should loose their Realtor's license

[@club4ghz]

CNN knew I was high and uploaded it.

[@Praetor_Fenix420]

They caught me mid-toke too.

[@johndee2225]

They watching us bruv.

[@rootiyriddle636]

fake news

[@DiegoBotello]

hahaha😂

[@GreatWhiteBud420.]

made me spit out my bong hit

[@toekkababy5329]

You dont need chemicals. You need quality led lights that makes the plant strong and bug free

[@mq3448]

How so u think the mold became an issue

[@toekkababy5329]

@@mq3448 biggest problem is always bug infestation, Spraying chems and what not doesnt help and you dont even need it If you got powerfull high grade led lights. Bad quality light = weak plant prone to infestation

[@HadrianOrion]

They aren't wrong. They are liking referring to myclobutanil. Hippies who can't control airflow and humidity use it and it stays in the plant even through a 10 day flush. Not something you want to burn and inhale deep into your lungs. Furthermore, most "growers" and users don't know the difference between powder mildew and tricombs 👁️👄👁️👍🏻

[@OGamputee]

@@mq3448ummm humidity and poor hvac/ growers. Don’t need chemicals.

[@OGamputee]

@@toekkababy5329and hvac prop set up

[@DJTheoSF]

2 Things you can count on in Life. 1) Death 2) Taxation

[@lifeismagical3123]

That’s why they can afford those houses while other people work jobs

[@Meg-c2p]

Growing, trimming and marketing a product is work fool

[@OGamputee]

A average small grow is 20-30 hrs a week of manual labor. And people “that work jobs” don’t have houses?! 😂

[@Sixtoe981]

@@Meg-c2pso is paying taxes

[@gtwentyeightclub887]

Marijuana is not lucrative any more. I can get greenhouse bud grown by Asian farmers in my area for 3 to $400 a lb. Grade A. No way they found $1m in dried weight. Lots of BS in this story.

[@IkeeTbh]

Too much supply

[@AngryManSki]

Investigate the real estate agent. Follow the money. Isn’t she avoiding taxes on the crops in her homes?

[@victortoombs4754]

The laws in this country don't make any sense.

[@garypearson8556]

And the punishments don't either.

[@rodkoehler]

I can't believe growers going to that expense and trouble. Up here in Northern CA, there are miles and miles of illegal green houses. I don't know how these Bay Area indoor operations can compete with the volume up here.

[@popejaimie]

Vertical integration?

[@kkp4297]

they let the illegal greenhouses continue to operate?

[@rodkoehler]

@@kkp4297 yes

[@indigostaraz]

Probably easy to find these grow houses, they have the highest utility bills on the block.

[@metamorphic75]

A cop owns a $1Mil home?

[@broadwayshack1664]

oakland cop makes like 400k a year

[@fukhue8226]

If it has a roof that don't leak everybody lives in a Million Dollar House today.

[@aspenly0127]

Houses there average more than 1 million

[@Fusion_Tranquility_Meditation]

A dirty cop own a million dollar home...

[@Fusion_Tranquility_Meditation]

​@@broadwayshack1664Oakland cops do not make 200 dollars an hour

[@hiddenobserver8447]

Here in my midwestern state prices halved and quality doubled over what we used to get blackmarket.

[@TheyCameForMe]

All growers were underground for DECADES prior to legalization - so why do you think it would stop just because it was legalized less than 10 years ago? ☝🏿🧐🇺🇸

[@ItalianEmi_]

This has been going on for a few decades now. The Asian community is the largest growers of America and they continue to expand and dominate the industry. They are a resilient and very very loyal to eachother. That is why they prosper. This is old news to people in the industry, who know about the green market.

[@tecpaocelotl]

If you watched the video, it is about Chinese cartels growing weed in the USA (22 states) by buying nice homes.

[@HumanStateOfEmergency]

Right are we supposed to act like this wasn't happening before weed became legal? Lol

[@anacc3257]

@@HumanStateOfEmergency And it's happening long after legalization even though people said that it'd get rid of the black market. Guess they lied again.

[@antonvrb1510]

Considering their investment, these plants were not near optimal.

[@lassmt]

What do you expect!!! You make it legal to sell but astronomical price for a license to grow. Damn this is smooth brain level

[@Mark-l2y]

He's finding Throwaway houses to keep the police department happy.

[@lajibarita2935]

That house still probably smells like weed

[@BlanchardsBees]

Maybe if it wasn't illegal we wouldn't have to worry about criminal organizations.

[@theone1008]

Exactly the Chinese don’t care if they sell you moldy weed. Most mold you can’t even see on your bud

[@RPSartre01]

They sell food with mold to their own citizens.

[@Deebo277]

Remember when they made an actual television show about making moonshine to sell on the black market?

[@xlrators5378]

I don't think the higher ups really care if you find them or not. By the time you find the spot out they already made millions...

[@stunnadagunna451]

Asian have always been sharp in the weed game

[@BenyFiciary]

Well with all the banking crises and wars going on...we can finally get back to our focus on weed again.

[@Takes12know124]

There was A bust across the street from my family member. They live in A really nice neighborhood. They got caught because they were "stealing" electricity. It was A two story, five bedroom home. Pay attention to your neighborhood. This house went up for sale. The only activity you would see, is people going in, or coming out of the garage at night. Next thing you know, it was A huge bust! You're smart enough to set up the operation, but not smart enough to realize that you can be caught for stealing electricity.

[@rodgergreen3326]

Sound like some snitching going on

[@TalesofStories]

You're asking Susan Collins what she believes?! Are you serious?!

[@mymoto2812]

My question is, why is the corrupt authority only raid when the crop is ready to harvest no early no late, and what happened to those plants after they took away? So, who is the real black market dealer?

[@johntheball]

Chinese seem to love this business....my freind here in Ireland rented his house to a Chinese guy who turned it into a growhouse.

[@christopherhuff3123]

"Black Market" for a plant? A plant no human invented. Lawmakers have made criminals out of people for planting seeds in dirt.Seeds that have been around longer than every single lawmaker in the history of laws.

[@Bobzt2]

And all of them are as old as dirt! 😂😂

[@blademan4043]

All the pesticides that are applied to our daily food are more dangerous. But the politicians own a lot of stocks in Monsanto and the pharma.

[@kennethparker6590]

This has been going on for the past 30 years. Where have you been CNN?

[@mopthermopther]

😆

[@ducewags]

@kennethparker6590 Just 30 years? Where have you been?

[@adrianwright178]

PAST 50 YEARS ACTUALLY .

[@robcole5484]

Antioch is not "upscale". Like large portions of the SF Bay Area it has a lot of crime, which has increased dramatically over the last 20 years.

[@verilyveronica8430]

In Kentucky I pay 1/3 what dispensary prices are.

[@krnpowr]

Some of the weed you buy was probably grown in some of the grow houses described in this video.

[@stevez5134]

i'm pretty sure they have THCA-A flower at hemp stores in kentucky and it's the exact same thing as marijuana

[@verilyveronica8430]

@@stevez5134 No. They do not.

[@verilyveronica8430]

@@krnpowr No. I know everything about it’s source.

[@kennguyen8038]

Why is it always the Chinese in most of these criminal activities in the US?

[@B-ham]

Because if they said latinos it would look bad on the Democratic’s because of the border issue. Chinese is better because it fits the mainstream narrative better about the evil empire of china

[@thegreatestbaldeagle2999]

Because the Chinese Communist Party is the largest organized crime institution in the world, and it controls every Chinese person, at home and abroad, directly or indirectly

[@stoneyswolf]

So if it's a misdemeanor then how does that justify breaking the house's doors and windows out to get to it.

[@ANWFineArt]

Black market is weed is better than dispensary.

[@BigDaddyLongdick-n4f]

It's definitely cheaper

[@skoluh]

The return of Jesse and Walter White. Breaking bad season 6 coming soon

[@travisscott8923]

It's lit

[@Mebartos]

Breaking bao

[@AnIndependentVariable]

Check out the curious case of David Murga

[@shelleyfortier1601]

I know what that is about! I had a neighbour rent her house to a Chinese guy ! And they destroyed her house! They are sickening 🇨🇦

[@mariomario1462]

Who cares? legalize it federally. Simple

[@BenyFiciary]

No, the U.S. government is big in selling drugs...they would rather you to be too high to ask questions about banking fraud, election fraud, kovid fraud...

[@lindawade4ok639]

For many of the reasons cited in this story there must be bigger consequences growing that amount of pot. When you sell it in this country then you have some responsibility for if that plant has been exposed to dangerous chemicals Etc. Only by being under some form of Regulation can you assure the public that the product is safe. If you want to kill your own self well that's not the state's business

[@mariomario1462]

@@lindawade4ok639 no there isn't. if someone wants bad weed that's on them. Not everyone can pay for the extortion fees associated with it and the vast majority are fine. It's a tiny amount that becomes actually dangerous. Instead of making it cheaper and accessible, they use the prison system to put more people in it for plants. It's insane. I hope they keep making more affordable weed.

[@mariomario1462]

@@lindawade4ok639 uh no? It's more expensive and most people can't afford it. I hope they continue to grow it for those who can't afford the fees. They can make it cheaper but won't. So now they resort to locking people up again over plants. It's insane. I hope more come and do it.

[@lindawade4ok639]

@@mariomario1462 oh I totally agree that the way the states are regulating they tried to keep it off the market by making it incredibly expensive to actually do business as a grower, it's really ridiculous so you get no argument out of me. But people growing it without a license that they are selling to others in my opinion need to get in some deep doo doo. Not be able to just walk away, it's a public safety matter

[@lizbrown6943]

Why waste funds busting black market for misdemeanor? If that concerned, remove or reduce tax. Simple economics.

[@JJorrell]

Also because they are not black, it’s so easy for them to setup without ever being questioned.

[@Wish4DaBestKindaSorta]

Petty crime in the burbs=resource allocation priority

[@blakeaaron5698]

Why is law enforcement still wasting time busting weed growers 🤦‍♂️

[@googleuser868]

Thugs everywhere and wasting resources on "illegal" gardening and those really bad people not wearing their seat belts.

[@danasmith858]

Maybe because people are dying over it

[@audimaster5000]

@@danasmith858 That’s not happening. Just sayin

[@blakeaaron5698]

@@danasmith858 ​Tens of thousands of people die in traffic every year... should we get rid of cars?

[@adkinsaaron60]

Money, realistically they probably don't care about the weed. They want the money. They play the part it's a bad drug, fire hazard or whatever people say.

[@improve2994]

theyre raiding them for a misdemeanor? & how is it even a misdemeanor if its hemp?

[@rayray8687]

Because by definition they’re not growing hemp, they’re growing a variety of the Cannabis plant with high psychoactive levels commonly called marijuana. They’re the same plant species but not the same variety.

[@Jesus_Garcia712]

Why don’t they charge like a tax evasion charge

[@bernardwylie9760]

Very valid point, because every illegal grow operation is avoiding paying taxes so….get ‘em: they’re wasting single family homes, jacking up utility rates, and dodging taxes.

[@micahweiss]

oh shut up

[@lauriestrong9972]

They do

[@lauriestrong9972]

They also usually find illegal weapons

[@RonnieMyers777]

Why? So border hoppers & Ukraine can get more money?

[@PAVEL-JAKL]

Seeing this now I want to smoke some..

[@fognua]

Investigate the home owner

[@dwayne9959]

The cop with the house rented really should be the story.

[@garymapes6955]

For real though

[@mateobaysa2055]

They exist because the demand for the product keeps increasing.

[@sunshinesteve2820]

To bad coppers it needs to stay a misdemeanor. Make the legal market competitive in California and most of this will go away. Legalize it across the country.

[@hansgruber1946]

A misdemeanor for growing!? I got a felony for growing 26 plants, mostly cuttings. None flowering. I didn't want to buy from black market dealers. I got screwed.

[@the_gibber999]

Let the people grow. It’s good to have competition in the market.

[@JamieWhite-z2b]

Every body loves to smoke weed and there just ain't anouth of it to go round

[@loyaltyrich5115]

Weed ain’t been the same since 2012-2015 it’s all gone they cloning the weed wanna check the cookie store out La one day

[@Termicidal]

whats wrong with people growing medicine and sharing with their neighbors?

[@lindawade4ok639]

Well there it comes next CNN will be talking about pink Cadillacs. And I don't know if you guys noticed but we have a meth crisis in Rural America are you going to do a special report on that

[@SteveDeNiro]

That’s weird I see coverage of the meth crisis in every part of the country

[@d.b.cooper1]

Errr the meth/pill crisis has literally been reported on non stop by everyone for like 5+ years non stop. It's literally boring at this point

[@christopherhuff3123]

Because "rural America" is more important than the rest of the country where more people actually live.

[@lindawade4ok639]

@@christopherhuff3123 well you might not want to say that with your mouth full

[@badkid_xyz]

Mold and chemicals in that tree. That’s tough

[@Jayzilla-jr4fr]

All about taxes. Always.

[@jdleo18]

They exist everywhere!

[@inezjackson2244]

Yes what’s the problem r u the tax man

[@HaadBajwa-g3e]

They mock 🤡 US government on their FACE 😔 🤡 🤸😅

[@HaadBajwa-g3e]

​@@inezjackson2244🕷🥅🩺 Concerned Citizen 🩺📧⏰️

[@gtwentyeightclub887]

The most alarming thing about this report is that they had guys armed with assault rifles going paramilitary for a misdemeanor offense. Would they have done the same in the commission off raiding a moonshine setup? This is crazy. The cops need to grow up and get the memo that there is no money in cannabis any more.

[@jaidenxiong9996]

It happened the same way as in the past. Alcohol was on the same battle front years ago. When the government started legalizing alcohol commercially and taxing on alcohol sales, boose makers started selling their own alcohol on black markets.

[@mechlovin7627]

How much money has been wasted waging war on this plant since the drug war started?

[@joefer5360]

It's the tax payers money. Not theirs.

[@Stubones999]

It's easy to find these grow houses, since they are hotter than normal homes. A thermal camera will easily show you which homes are grow houses. Plus they have a larger power bill than their neighbors... the power company could print up a list of homes that use more than average power consumption...

[@derrickj127]

Why didn't they mention the number of military aged Chinese males crossing the border illegally this year alone?

[@PoisedK1NG_P1N]

Oh this is easy, because legal weed is insanely expensive for both the consumer and the seller, they can’t even pay taxes normally. There are places you can get a legal license for it, but you can’t get a prescription, there’s no legal locations to by and you can’t have it shipped in. Why would someone NOT just go to any grocery store, talk to 3 random employees and get it at 1/3 the price from a dealer?

[@user-zu5do6ri6r]

Don't forget that the government also infringes our rights by denying smokers the right to bear arms.