Thar’s bud in them thar hills!

The marijuana harvest is about to begin, so the pot police are busier than ever.

Locally, sheriff’s deputies flying overhead spied three large grows in the Concow area last week—one with 1,210 plants, another with 2,389 plants and a third with 2,489 plants. All were being watered from nearby creeks, and all showed evidence of being maintained by Hispanics, most likely in the employ of Mexican drug cartels. Nobody was arrested, however.

In a press release, Sgt. Steve Collins estimated the combined street value of the seized herb at more than $24 million.

There was no evidence on the street of any decrease in the availability of marijuana, of course, though the price for good bud remains high. Somebody’s making mucho dinero in this crazy business.