Jul 6, 2008 7:45 pm US/Eastern
Cops Move In On Marijuana Grow House In Homestead
New Law Toughens Penalties For Grow Houses
HOMESTEAD (CBS4) ―
Miami Dade police move in on a suspected grow house in Homestead.
Police said they discovered the hydroponic marijuana growing operations when they went to the house, at 30001 Southwest 160th Avenue, after some one reported a home invasion in progress.
Miami Dade police spokeswoman Nelda Fonticello said once inside officers found 289 plants – approximate street value of $400-thousand.
The also took two males, described as being in the 30s to 40s, into custody.
The discovery and arrests come just days after the new Marijuana Grow House Eradication Act into law.
Under terms of the new law, it's now a first degree felony to grow 25 or more plants in a home with children present. The new law also loosens the requirements for what can be considered a grow house. Under the old, a minimum of 300 marijuana plants was needed to determine a grow house; under the new law only 25 plants will qualify the structure as a grow house.
The law also makes it a third-degree felony to own a house for the purpose of cultivating, packaging and distributing marijuana.
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