Illegal Marijuana Operations Often Go Unprosecuted: Report

BELLEVUE, WA - An analysis of illegal marijuana grow operations uncovered in the Bellevue area shows that many cases don't make it to court.

The Bellevue Reporter took a look at a number of recent illegal grow operations uncovered in Bellevue, Edmonds, and Kirkland, and found that the cases are still under review - although authorities have seized plants and other items.

"In nine uncovered marijuana grows from the last two years investigated by the Reporter, charges have only been filed in two cases. Though law enforcement uncovered thousands of plants, processed marijuana, processing equipment guns, money and other evidence, King and Snohomish County officials said that many cases are still under review and some are not moving forward because they do not meet the prosecutor’s standards for prosecution," the paper reported. "Three Eastside cases from 2016 — two from Bellevue, one from Kirkland — are sitting on the King County prosecutor’s desk."

Two weeks ago, firefighters uncovered a marijuana grow operation after a fire in a home in the Woodbridge neighborhood. The fire broke out around 7 a.m. on Feb. 21 at a home along the 1300 block of 121st Avenue Southeast.

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