Some residents of Humboldt County were enjoying a beautiful day earlier this week, when they were interrupted by an unwelcome surprise. A National Guard helicopter buzzed the skies right over their homes.
Wendy Kornberg is the owner of a legal marijuana grow in southern Humboldt County. She says she was preparing for a family celebration, when a military style helicopter swooped over her small family homestead.
“It really brought back a lot of traumatic memories from childhood,” she says, “And I just wasn’t prepared to handle those especially on my daughters ninth birthday when we were preparing to have a beautiful family day. My whole morning just went to hell.”
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s office wouldn’t answer questions but released a statement explaining why the helicopter was there. They say it’s part of a collaboration between the National Guard and the Sheriff’s office this summer to bolster their ability to find illicit marijuana grows.
But legal marijuana growers say there hasn’t been enough communication between growers and the Sheriff’s department. Many residents are still traumatized from the drug wars of the 19-80’s and 90’s, which turned parts of Humboldt County into a virtual warzone.
Kornberg hopes the Sheriff’s department will work with cannabis growers and government officials to find better ways to combat illegal grows, or warn residents before helicopters fly right over their homes.
