Police Use Google Earth to Find and Bust a Medical Marijuana Garden

Police in Grants Pass, Oregon say that they used a satellite image service to spot and bust a medical marijuana farm in Southern Oregon.

Authorities reportedly received a tip that 50-year-old Curtis W. Croft was bragging about all the marijuana he grew on his property outside of Grants Pass. Rather than issue a search warrant for his house, police investigators turned to the free service Google Earth to see if they could spot Croft’s marijuana farm.

Satellite images taken in June of this year revealed dozens of plants growing in neat rows, so the Rogue Area Drug Enforcement Team sent up an aircraft to investigate the scene further. Investigators also looked into Croft’s medical marijuana records.

According to the state’s medical marijuana database, Croft was registered to grow the drug for five people, which is the equivalent of 30 mature marijuana plants. However, authorities believed Croft was growing far more than that, and a search warrant executed in September turned up 94 plants.

Croft has been arraigned on marijuana drug charges and released from prison.

Oregon passed medical marijuana legislation in the past presidential election cycle.

Reportedly, police are using the same tool as marijuana growers themselves. Guerrilla marijuana farmers have used Google Earth and other satellite map services to find ideal spots to grow their crop for years.

Twenty states currently allow the use of medical marijuana, but in order to ensure safety and regulated use, each one has passed strict legislation about how many plants farmers are licensed to grow. Even states like Colorado and Washington, which have legalized the use of recreational marijuana, are working hard on creating strict rules for marijuana farmers and dispensaries.

Marijuana Distribution, Including Medical Marijuana, Is Still a Crime in South Carolina

Marijuana distribution, including medical marijuana, is a serious offense and can carry stiff penalties depending upon how much marijuana was seized by law enforcement and whether it was your first offense or a subsequent offense. If you have been charged with marijuana distribution or any other drug related offense, it is important that you contact a South Carolina drug crimes attorney.

Marijuana Distribution Penalties:

• If you are found guilty of distribution more than one ounce and less than ten pounds of marijuana, you may be subject to a $5,000 fine and imprisonment of up to five years.
• If you are found guilty of distributing no less than pounds and no more than 2,000 pounds, it is considered a marijuana trafficking offense and punishable with a one year mandatory sentence and fine of up to $10,000.
• If you are found guilty of distributing/trafficking 2,000 to 10,000 lbs of marijuana you may be subject to a 25 year minimum prison sentence and a fine of up to $50,000.
• If you are found guilty of distributing/trafficking over 10,000 lbs of marijuana you may be subject to a 30 year prison sentence and fines up to $200,000.

If You Face Marijuana Charges, Including for Medical Marijuana Use, The Strom Law Firm Can Help

If you or a loved one have been found with medical marijuana, you could face criminal charges ranging from misdemeanor to felony, depending on how much marijuana was on your person, and what your intent was with the drug. The drug crimes attorneys at the Strom Law Firm can help. Do not let drug charges for medical marijuana hurt your reputation or your future aspirations. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case. Contact us today for help. 803.252.4800