SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, Calif.- Illegal growing operations are popping up more than ever here on the Central Coast.
"Residential definitely has peaked over the last year or two but now were starting to see quite an increase in some of the smaller industrial complexes," says Detective Greg Beuer, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Narcotics.
The most recent pot bust was less than a month ago where 500 marijuana plants were confiscated inside a warehouse on the 700 block of Fiero Lane in San Luis Obispo.
"The ease in getting the equipment that's needed for it, prices have come down slightly, go on the Internet you can find out how to do it so its easier than before," says Beuer.
Detective Beuer says the Internet is not the only thing that's made it easy for growers. Growers can easily go into any hydroponics store, grab their product and walk out of the door.
"We're all here to make money it's a don't ask don't tell we learn by our government," says Jon Umpierre, the owner of Santa Maria Hydroponics. "There's a lot of worse things that I think they need to be chasing then the guy getting stoned eating kitty liter sitting on the couch watching cartoons."
Umpierre says he's seen his share of growers.
"A lot of people try to remain anonymous, you can tell who are the ones doing illegal stuff," says Umpierre.
The products sold are more common than we think.
"High-powered grill lights, you have carbon filters air purifiers, timers," says Beuer.
Beuer says he's seen a lot of growing operations in rented properties where the owners have no idea what their tenants are doing.
Photo Courtesy: Detective Greg Beuer
