Free Republic

In his complaint, as Law360 first reported, McCormick claims that more than 100 deputies and support staff conducted a predawn raid on his farm, East Wind AG, located just north of the Salton Sea on tribal land owned by the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians. The suit says the deputies intentionally ripped down hundreds of greenhouses and other infrastructure due to an “unbridled lust for chaos.”

Four people were found dead and another injured after being held hostage at an Oklahoma marijuana farm. Police responded to a call at around 8.45pm on Sunday about a potential hostage situation at in Kingfisher County - about 50 miles outside of Oklahoma City. Deputies discovered four people dead from gunshot wounds. A fifth victim, who was shot twice, was airlifted to the hospital, but police didn't say in what condition. No arrests have been made, but police issued an arrest warrant at around 11am on Monday, Kingfisher County Sheriff Dennis Banther told a local news outlet. Police haven't identified...

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. — The Dolan fire burning in south Monterey county is one of the most destructive fires in county history and more than two months after it started prosecutors and fire investigators say they know the cause. “Today we did answer that and the testimony that came out today was that Mr. Gomez, the defendant, had told the fire and Monterey County sheriff's officers that he had started the fire,” said prosecutor Meredith

The pooch was found abandoned as deputies busted an illicit marijuana grove containing 5,473 pot plants on Wednesday, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said in a written statement. “(The) small puppy was lying in a pile of plastic, surrounded by fertilizers and hazardous chemicals,” the statement said. “The puppy was slow to respond and lethargic.” No food or water had been provided for the animal, and temperatures were around 90 degrees. Deputies arranged to have the dog taken to the Santa Maria Animal Center. “This little guy made quite the impression on every detective and deputy on scene,” the...

I supported Oakland's initial foray into the large-scale cannabis cultivation business because it placed the city in the catbird's seat in the event of the passage of Proposition 19, the recreational marijuana use initiative on the November ballot. Had the measure been approved by voters, the city's plan to allow industrial-size pot farms, creating a new revenue stream ripe with tax benefits, would have been a wise decision. Because even while the Oakland City Council said the measure was approved for the exclusive use of licensed medical marijuana dispensaries, the city would certainly have been well positioned to take advantage...