Pubdate: Sat, 30 Nov 2013
Source: Fresno Bee, The (CA)
Copyright: 2013 The Fresno Bee
Contact:  http://www.fresnobee.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/161
Note: Does not publish letters from outside their circulation area.
Author: Lewis Griswold

POT GROWN NEAR VALLEY SCHOOLS RAISES CONCERNS

Marijuana growers are so skilled at hiding plants from prying eyes 
that even illegal grows within shouting distance of a school can go 
undetected for months.

In mid-September, Fresno County deputies removed 10,000 plants across 
the street from Sequoia Elementary School on South Armstrong near 
Sanger, and another 3,000 behind the school.

Although the Sheriff's Office told school officials that there was no 
immediate threat when the search warrant was served, the school 
locked the gates and kept students in classrooms until deputies gave 
the all-clear.

"It's definitely not OK when they're growing it across the street," 
Principal Nichole Rosales said. "How can we allow this?"

In response to an inquiry from The Bee, the office of Assembly 
Minority Leader Connie Conway, R-Tulare, said Assembly Republicans 
will propose legislation that could increase penalties for growing 
illegal marijuana near schools.

"We just haven't determined which member will be the author," Sabrina 
Lockhart, Conway's communications director, wrote in an email.

Enhanced penalties would discourage some growers from planting near a 
school, but in the overall battle against illegal pot farms "it 
wouldn't make a big difference - they'd just grow it somewhere else," 
Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims said.

It's no longer a surprise to find marijuana growing near rural 
schools, Tulare County sheriff's Lt. Tom Sigley said.

This year, both illegal and legal grows - those allowed under state 
medical marijuana laws - have been found within 1,000 feet of nine 
elementary schools and two high schools in the county, he said.

Likewise, in mid-September 400 fully budded plants ready for harvest 
were found within 75 yards of Coarsegold Elementary in Madera County, 
and the same month a large grow was found near Willow International 
Community College Center and within one-quarter mile of Clovis 
Unified's Riverview Elementary School.

Even though the pot grow was close to the school, no parents had 
raised the issue with the Riverview principal, said Kelly Avants, 
spokeswoman for Clovis Unified.

The school district is concerned when criminal activity takes place 
near a school, "but this is very much a community issue," Avants 
said. "We encourage our community to always be watchful and report 
anything unusual to the police."
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