Carpinteria cannabis farm investigated by detectives for suspected illegal sales

CARPINTERIA, Calif. - The Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office Cannabis Compliance Team, investigators from the California Department of Food and Agriculture Cal Cannabis and the Department of Fish and Wildlife served a search warrant at a cannabis farm in Carpinteria.

The farm was located on the 5300 block of Foothill Road. The warrant location includes four parcels, of which only one has a license for the cultivation and processing of cannabis.

The Sheriff's Office said it is suspected that the farm was growing and processing marijuana outside of the licensed parcel as well as potentially possessing and selling cannabis crude (oil) without a license.

During the investigation, detectives found black market marijuana sales connected with the farm. During the warrant service, the detectives reported also finding a small volatile extrication lab along with extracted oil that are outside of the grower's license.

Detectives seized about 20 pounds of illegally stored cannabis as well as over 1,000 pounds of cannabis crude.

The farm's owner, Barry Brand, was issued a citation for illegal possession of marijuana for sales. This is an ongoing investigation.