Merritt RCMP bust Marijuana Grow-Op by Iron Mountain

MERRITT — On October 5th,2023 the Merritt RCMP General Investigation Section, with support from Front Line and B.C Highway Patrol officers, executed a search warrant on a rural property located on Panorama Drive.

Police seized over five hundred mature marijuana plants and approximately one thousand seedlings.

Growing cannabis plants at home is legal to a certain extent, Adults 19 and above can grow up to four non-medical cannabis plants per household. The plants cannot be grown in a space that is visible from a public place, like parks, streets, sidewalks, sports fields, and K-12 school properties.

The law allows adults to grow up to four cannabis plants per household, those who grow anymore than that could be charged. The charges may result in a fine ranging from $2,000 to $100,000, imprisonment of three to 12 months, or both.

One male was taken in custody in relation to the investigation and later released.

The Merritt RCMP will be forwarding the results of their investigation to the Federal Prosecution Service in support of charges in relation to the Cultivation of Cannabis in a dwelling house under the Cannabis Act.