Funding cut to impact agencies fighting illegal marijuana in Fresno County

FRESNO, Calif (KFSN) -- The trillion dollar spending bill signed off by President Barack Obama this week will keep the government operating for the next nine months but it also has some far reaching impacts on federal agencies including those fighting against illegal marijuana grows in Fresno County.

Robert Carpenter has a medical marijuana card which he says under state law allows him to smoke pot legally in California.

"It is my right. We voted for it. The county or the city doesn't have the right for patients such as me," said Carpenter.

Carpenter shared photos of an enclosed pot grow on his property. He says he doesn't sell his harvest and uses the plants to help with his disability.

"It helps alleviate the chronic pain," said Carpenter.

Fresno County has banned both indoor and outdoor marijuana cultivation including Carpenter's grow. Sheriff Mims says the ordinance went into effect because criminals were taking advantage of the state's medical marijuana laws.

"What we had is these large grows, we had murders, home invasion robberies, we had assaults we had thefts, we had people walking around with rifles and gun turrets and guarding these very large marijuana grows," said Sheriff Mims.

Sheriff Mims says under the new federal spending bill agencies like the Drug Enforcement Administration will still be funded to go after anyone smuggling the drug across state lines. But the agency won't have as much money to enforce federal bans anywhere with legalized pot use like California.

"The cut in funding may affect the DEA in being involved with our grows if they meet state regulations," said Sheriff Mims.

Marijuana advocates say the move is a smarter use of taxpayer dollars.

"I think it's wise fiscally to stop wasting money in states that have chosen to have those exceptions and laws in certain circumstances," said Brenda Linder.

The Fresno County Sheriff's office says the number of grow sites are down roughly 38% since the local ordinance went into effect earlier this year and deputies say during that same time period violent crime related to marijuana has been cut in half.