California Authorities Seize 36,000 Illegal Marijuana Plants in Drug Bust

Law enforcement in California seized more than 36,000 illegal marijuana plants in a single drug bust last week.

The marijuana plants reportedly were part of drug cartel operations, and were planted among legitimate crops.

We have written time and again about how marijuana’s legalization in other states has actually emboldened drug cartels and organized crime.

Since January, authorities in California have confiscated more than $120 million worth of illegal marijuana — including more than 150,000 illegal plants.

Some of these illegal marijuana operations are tied to labor trafficking and violent crime, and some may actually have connections to foreign interests like the Chinese Communist Party.

A CBS News segment last year highlighted how Chinese investment is driving illegal marijuana production across the U.S., and CBN reported last October that Chinese investors with “suitcases full of cash” are buying U.S. farmland to grow black market marijuana.

Stories like these have significant implications for Arkansas, where the group Arkansans for Patient Access is working to pass an amendment drastically expanding marijuana in the state.

You can watch news reports regarding the California drug bust below.

Arkansas Homeschoolers Recognized as 2025 National Merit Scholar Semifinalists

Last week the National Merit Scholarship Program recognized 135 high school seniors from Arkansas as National Merit Scholarship semifinalists.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports the students will go on to compete for nearly 7,000 scholarships worth approximately $26 million.

Among the semifinalists named this year were two home schoolers: Eli Colton of Bella Vista and Charles D. Raith of Siloam Springs.

Students vying for the National Merit Scholarships apply by taking the PSAT exam in the fall of their junior year.

The Arkansas Department of Education has taken steps to increase home schoolers’ access to the PSAT.

To be named as a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist is a tremendous honor. Please join us in congratulating these two home school students on their achievement!