Pubdate: Tue, 15 Aug 2000
Source: Alameda Times-Star (CA)
Copyright: 2000 MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG Newspapers
Contact:  66 Jack London Sq. Oakland, CA 94607
Website: http://www.newschoice.com/newspapers/alameda/times/
Author: Mark Abramson, San Joaquin Bureau

MARIJUANA CULTIVATED WIDELY IN COUNTY, MANTECA POLICE SAY

Narcotics officers in San Joaquin County have been busy trying to stem the 
production and use of methamphetamine and other illicit drugs, but they 
still have their hands full combating marijuana cultivation.

"There's a lot of marijuana out there, especially with the young people," 
said Manteca narcotics officer Barry Blackburn.

Narcotics officers admit that cracking down on marijuana has taken a back 
seat to countering methamphetamine and heroin. Police say meth and heroin 
addicts are more likely to steal to support their habit than a marijuana user.

"Marijuana really isn't a troublemaker's drug (in Manteca)," Blackburn 
said. "In large quantities, marijuana is more affordable than meth."

Manteca police say it's not unusual to find marijuana growing in people's 
houses or back yards. Oftentimes, marijuana growers are reported by 
neighbors who detect its odd smell or know what the plant looks like.

Marijuana production in unincorporated parts of the county is a bigger 
problem than in city limits, law enforcement officials said.

"The valley is very compatible for high-grade marijuana growth," said San 
Joaquin County Sheriff's Department detective Wayne Brunmeier.

Most of the marijuana fields sheriff's officials find are on small Delta 
islands that are ripe for growing the drug.

Marijuana producers may also conceal their crop by growing it in tall corn 
fields or with other plants.

Manteca police officers, acting as part of the county-wide M-Cops task 
force, recently raided a field near Escalon and seized about 12 pounds of 
marijuana.

Other producers hide marijuana by altering the direction that their illegal 
plants grow. San Joaquin County Sheriff's deputies and narcotics detectives 
have found marijuana tied down so it grows sideways along the ground.

Sheriff's detectives find most marijuana patches via tips. Leads have 
helped investigators uncover fields ranging in size from one to 3,000 
marijuana plants, Brunmeier said. Most growers harvest marijuana on land 
that doesn't belong to them and use armed guards to protect their crop.

"We've had some homicides committed over marijuana," Brumeier said. "People 
guard the fields and they get into fights and wars."
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