“It’s just weed!” “They’re not hurting anyone!” “Don’t you have anything better to do?” We hear you. But it’s not just about illegal cannabis being grown in our area. It’s about human trafficking. Fentanyl. Stolen guns. Dried up wells. Dumped chemicals. Ruining the market for legitimate growers who play by the rules. Since 2022, Lane County Sheriff’s illegal marijuana investigations have led to the seizure of: - 3,200 Fentanyl pills - 20+ pounds of Methamphetamine - 1.6 pounds of Cocaine - 1/4 pound of Heroin - 100 pounds of psilocybin - 100+ firearms, many stolen - Multiple recovered stolen vehicles The Marijuana Team’s drug detection K9 Bear has also assisted many area agencies on drug cases not listed here. Sgt. Wallace spoke with KVAL earlier this month about why the Lane County Sheriff’s Office stood up a Marijuana Team with grant funds from the state of Oregon. Listen in to learn more. -- These investigations would not be possible without the ongoing grant funding from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission’s Illegal Marijuana Market Grant (IMMEG). This grant was created in 2018 by the Oregon Legislature to assist local law enforcement agencies and district attorneys’ offices in their efforts to address the illegal marijuana market in Oregon. Illegal marijuana growing operations often violate more than just state's cannabis lawskval.comAn illegal marijuana growing operation in Lane County recently busted up by local authorities serves as a reminder of the larger impact these operations have.