Police investigate North Spokane marijuana grow

Police are investigating the owner of a North Spokane home after finding over 100 marijuana plants growing in his house. According to a search warrant filed Nov. 14, officers visited the property at 5400 N. Lee St. on Nov. 6 after two girls living there reported to the Spokane Fire Department that they were afraid to go home because they felt the house was an unsafe environment. The girls told officers there was a large marijuana grow in the house. When contacted by police, the home’s owner, James Martin, told officers he had a medical marijuana card which allowed him to possess up to 15 mature plants. He said the other plants in the house were not mature, so he believed he was complying with state law. Strider J. Catlow, a tenant at the house, showed officers the grow operation on Nov. 6. It spanned three rooms and included over 100 plants. A responding officer noted at least four children lived in the home, but did not believe it was an unsafe environment for children. The report was forwarded to Child Protective Services. By law, a medical marijuana patient in Washington may possess no more than 15 cannabis plants, and collective gardens may have no more than 15 plants per patient or a total of 45 plants. Martin told officers he would reduce the plant count to comply with state law, and officers found no criminal history related to distribution of controlled substances for any people contacted at the house. On Nov. 14, officers obtained a search warrant to investigate manufacture of controlled substances and seized two burlap bags full of green plant matter, grow lights, grow hoods and other materials from the home. Martin has not been arrested or charged with a crime.