TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum today commended Florida lawmakers for passing the Marijuana Grow House Eradication Act, which enhances penalties for people who grow marijuana in homes throughout the state. The legislation was sponsored by Senator Steve Oelrich (R-Gainesville) and Representative Nick Thompson (R-Ft. Myers).

“As marijuana becomes more and more dangerous, grow houses are creating serious threats to our neighborhoods and communities,” said Attorney General McCollum. “Not only is the new form of the drug much more potent, the grow houses often invite violence from rival operators. I applaud our legislative sponsors and the Florida Legislature for recognizing this threat and giving our law enforcement officers better tools to combat it.”

Once signed, this legislation will make it a second-degree felony to grow 25 or more plants, targeting for-profit growers who exploit Florida’s current threshold of 300 plants. The legislation will also make it a third-degree felony to own a house for the purpose of cultivating, packaging and distributing marijuana and a first-degree felony to grow 25 or more plants in a home with children present. More information is available online at: http://myfloridalegal.com/newsrel.nsf/newsreleases/3394EB5EBFC449068525736800633AE2.