The Somerset County Sheriff’s Office raided an illegal marijuana growing operation Monday at a home on Foss Road in Madison. The bust is the latest in a crackdown on illegal pot farms in central Maine.
Authorities said they seized 449 plants and 52 pounds of processed marijuana from the home.
No one was at the home, but investigators said they found a dog that wasn’t properly cared for and handed it over to animal welfare officials.
It was the second search warrant executed in the past four days in Madison involving suspected illegal marijuana cultivation sites.
In the last month, deputies said they’ve busted six illegal marijuana operations, in the towns of Cornville, Norridgewock, Mercer and Madison, and arrested four people suspected of running illegal marijuana cultivation sites.
To date, the sheriff’s office has seized more than 6,700 live marijuana plants and more than 180 pounds of processed marijuana.
Mainers aged 21 and older can grow as many as six mature and 12 immature cannabis plants, according to the state Office of Cannabis Policy. An unlimited number of seedlings are allowed per resident 21 years of age or older.
These restrictions do not apply to the cultivation of cannabis for medical use by a qualifying patient, a caregiver, a registered caregiver, or a registered dispensary as authorized by the Maine Medical Use of Marijuana Act.
