It’s called zoning enforcement. Plenty of tools to deal with illegal grows. Pretty easy for PG&E to find these illegal taps. The real solution is going to be when large agribusiness gets involved, no way can the illegal grows compete with a large scale business. Enforcement is already pretty darn strict regarding the outdoor ones, as those really screw up the environment and NOBODY in California puts up with that.
Fundamentally, it’s an easy crop to grow, very amenable to genetic manipulation to create new and better (and proprietary) strains. As always, it’s just getting the fedgov the heck out of the way that will solve the vast majority of the problems.
There is some false reporting here. Although much of the concrete span came from China, much of the steel bolts, nuts and rods that are defective came from American producers. And construction done by Americans was shoddy (incorrect laying of side barriers that permitted rain water to penetrate into the interior of the decks thereby further weakening the steel).
Reports of Chinese run pot growing labs in houses are correct, there have been a number of busts in San Francisco and the area.
Who is running and financing the illegal Chinese grows? Light bulb! Does the PLA mean anything to these dimwits