Шериф округа Хамбольт заявил, что легализация каннабиса в Калифорнии не снизила, а трансформировала преступную активность

Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal told federal officials last month that California’s cannabis industry remains overwhelmed by illicit grows, labor trafficking and diversion, warning that legalization has not reduced criminal activity but instead reshaped it. Testifying July 15 during the Drug Enforcement Administration’s hearing on the proposed federal rescheduling of cannabis, Honsal described a region where legal and illegal markets operate side by side and where criminal networks have adapted quickly to regulatory gaps. The transcripts were released by a judge last week. He began by introducing himself and explaining why he entered law enforcement. “My father was in law enforcement. I grew up in a law enforcement family. My grandfather was a World War II pilot, and service was always just a part of who I was,” said Honsal. “I fell in love, and I needed a job. So I got married, got a job, and the rest is history.” Honsal detailed his early career as a peace officer in Madera, later serving in Sunnyvale as a police officer, firefighter, EMT, SWAT team leader and field training officer. He returned to Humboldt County to work for the Eureka Police Department, then spent six years as a felony crimes investigator with the District Attorney’s Office before joining the sheriff’s office. He became undersheriff in 2013 and sheriff four years later, overseeing a $65 million budget, 330 employees and a 417‑bed jail. “Being sheriff means I’m beholden to the people,” said Honsal. “I manage a jail, a coroner’s office, a drug task force, a marijuana enforcement team, and all search and rescue for our county.” Illicit market After Honsal shared his credentials with the panel, the conversation shifted to cannabis legalization. Honsal said legalization did not eliminate the illicit market in Humboldt County. “The work, despite legalization, is still very active within our county,” said Honsal. “There is still illicit marijuana being grown in our county, and all of Northern California is affected by it. … It is something that we must address to maintain public safety.” The Marijuana Enforcement Team, he said, handles 100 to 120 major cases a year, including cultivation, transportation, labor trafficking, environmental violations, robberies, child neglect, assaults and homicides. “All those things are tied to illicit marijuana and what we have experienced over the years,” said Honsal. Honsal told the DEA that trespass grows operated by cartels on private and public land have persisted for decades. “Trespass grows occur in Northern California, and we used to see a whole lot more of these when marijuana was illegal,” said Honsal. “Cartels would set up shop on private property or state or federal land. They would be dropped off in the middle of Humboldt County with seeds intact and ready to be planted. Legalization, he said, has not stopped cartel activity. “Cartels do not have to hide. They can hide in plain sight because there is sheer volume everywhere in Northern California.” ‘Track-and-trace system has failed’ Diversion is when legal cannabis enters illegal markets and is now one of the state’s most significant problems, he told the panel. “Our track-and-trace system has failed,” said Honsal. “Legal growers believe they cannot make it when marijuana is only being sold for $300 or $400 a pound. The black market is still alive and well. Humboldt’s marijuana is still very lively on the East Coast. Our marijuana can go for up to $1,000 a pound.” His office frequently receives calls from agencies across the country who have arrested an individual in their state for possession. “We get phone calls from a wide variety of jurisdictions talking about Humboldt County marijuana being intercepted somewhere across the United States,” said Honsal. “If it is tied back to a location in Humboldt County, we do our research and conduct a rollover search warrant.” Honsal told the DEA that labor trafficking has become one of the most significant issues tied to cannabis production. “Labor trafficking and human trafficking have come into view when it comes to marijuana,” said Honsal. “We have seen this over the last couple of years. We have hosted classes and taken online training regarding labor trafficking in the marijuana industry. It has become a major issue across the United States.” He serves on the Northern California Coalition to Safeguard Communities, a six‑county group focused on labor trafficking and the Marijuana Impact Group, a HIDTA‑affiliated committee that tracks national cannabis trends. “The mission of the coalition is to target marijuana growers who are trafficking labor within Northern California,” said Honsal. “It is the exploitation of labor that becomes the bigger target. We track cartel influence, environmental impacts and national trends.” Honsal said legalization also changed how law enforcement interacts with growers. “We have a lot of open conversations now,” said Honsal. “Legal growers come up to us and talk about their past and where they are now. They are happy they are legal and do not have to fear law enforcement coming on their property.” His team even attended a trimming class to understand labor conditions. “So our whole team went through a trimming class and provided us the opportunity to really understand, when it comes to labor, how labor-intensive trimming marijuana is,” said Honsal. “It is very labor-intensive, and we wanted to understand that firsthand.” Humboldt County cannabis Honsal gave a brief history lesson on the Emerald Triangle as well as the myriad of cannabis products being created and the growing methods being utilized to increase yields of cannabis from legal and illegal growers. He was asked to describe how much marijuana a pound equates to visually, as well as how many joints can be rolled from a pound of marijuana. He told the panel that Humboldt County has a notorious reputation for growing marijuana. “Across the United States, there’s a demand for Humboldt marijuana. Humboldt marijuana is notoriously probably the best marijuana in the world,” said Honsal. “Our growers have been doing it for a long time. They’ve refined the process, and they’re known worldwide for, you know, the different strains, the growing techniques.” Honsal said the California Department of Cannabis Control is overwhelmed and is understaffed, managing over 7,000 farms and 1,400 dispensaries in the state. “They only have a couple hundred employees. They cannot keep up,” said Honsal. “They are underfunded and understaffed. They have hardworking people, but they cannot keep up with the demand.” He also described environmental destruction from illegal grows, including deforestation, erosion and pollution from pesticides and herbicides. Untested illegal products, he said, may contain harmful chemicals and pose health risks to consumers. There were also discussions centered around drug addiction and mental health that suggested marijuana use correlates with rising mental health issues and suicide rates in Humboldt County. Honsal mentioned Teen Challenge and the benefit it has had on the Humboldt community. “I’ve seen people radically change their lives being a part of it,” said Honsal. “I’m a staunch supporter because I see the benefits.” He also addressed Humboldt’s portrayal in documentaries such as Netflix’s “Murder Mountain,” noting the history of violence in the Rancho Sequoia neighborhood and the continued presence of cartels in Humboldt County. Honsal told the panel that the problem now is all-encompassing throughout the state of California, and Humboldt County is not unique in the issue of illegal marijuana grows. “Marijuana still makes an impact within our county,” said Honsal. “All of Northern California is affected by it. These issues are not isolated. They are part of a larger picture. All 58 counties have a marijuana issue, and we’re all facing that issue. It’s not just a Northern California problem now.” Maranda Vargas can be reached at 707-441-0504