PROPERTY OWNERS MANY TIMES UNAWARE OF ILLEGAL MARIJUANA GROWS

The husband of Cathedral City councilmember Rita Lamb owns two parcels in Twentynine Palms that have—or had—illegal marijuana grows on them. One parcel was recently raided by the Sheriff’s Department who removed 700 plants, nearly 9 pounds of processed bud, and arrested two caretakers. Managing editor Tami Roleff spoke with the property owner, and files this report…

If you are selling property on a contract for deed, or if you are an absentee owner or landlord, do you know what’s happening on your property? David Lamb of Cathedral City has learned that property owners are liable and responsible if someone does something illegal on their property. Lamb is a mortgage broker who buys and sells property for a living. He said the two properties in question—on Anaheim Road and in the 68000 block of Winters Road in Twentynine Palms—have been sold on a contract for deed, in which he retains the title until the property has been paid off in full. He’s said he has received a notice from County Code Enforcement about the illegal grows on his property. When he gets an abatement notice from the county, he said he goes to the property and tells the people on scene to take down the grows. Lamb said the detective who was in charge of the raid on his property on Anaheim Road is currently working on 500 cases.