Sonoma County officials bust illegal cannabis extraction operation

Sonoma County code and law enforcement officials shut down an illegal cannabis extraction operation in southwest Santa Rosa that involved dangerous and highly volatile chemicals.

On Nov. 19, Permit Sonoma Code Enforcement, Fire Prevention, Hazardous Materials Response, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department, and the Sonoma County Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures, performed a joint inspection of a 17,000-square-foot warehouse in the unincorporated area of southwest Santa Rosa. The joint inspection was prompted after the property owner initially denied Code Enforcement and the Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures entry for inspection. Evidence of unpermitted building improvements, past violations, loud machinery, a potent cannabis odor, and neighbor concerns about the operation prompted a Superior Court Judge to issue an inspection warrant.

Inside the warehouse, Sheriff’s deputies and Code Enforcement observed numerous employees working an illegal cannabis extraction operation. An estimated several million dollars-worth of cannabis extract was discovered in the warehouse with multiple dangerous extraction systems in process. The hydrocarbon extraction method involves highly volatile, flammable, and explosive gases and liquids. The quantities of hazardous materials not previously seen in Sonoma County require the highest level of compliance with fire and life-safety codes. The illegal interior construction, non-permitted electrical and mechanical equipment, change of occupancy, absence of fire protection systems inspections and testing, and lack of notification and access for first responders created a life-threatening environment for the employees and the surrounding area.

Permit Sonoma’s Fire Prevention and Hazardous Materials Response Teams worked with the Department of Toxic Substances Control, its cleanup contractor, the business owner, Code Enforcement, and the Sonoma County Fire District to remove the hazardous materials and inspect the warehouse for safety violations.

Working as a team, the agencies involved were proactive, providing a safer working environment, a fair and equitable business model, quick and justified code enforcement, and safety for the community and first responders.

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Media Contact:
Genevieve Bertone
Permit Sonoma Department Program Manager, Outreach
Genevieve.Bertone@sonomacounty.gov
(707) 565- 1231