Tennessee Church Housed Massive Marijuana Grow Operation Protected by ‘Booby Traps’: Sheriff – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

The Stewart County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee announced on Friday that it shut down the “largest marijuana grow” operation in its county’s history and that the drug crop was being grown inside a former church.

The investigation was slowed by the “possibility of booby traps,” authorities said.

A search warrant executed on Thursday revealed the grow operation, the sheriff’s office said in a release. Authorities had been investigating the site after receiving information from neighbors and traffic stops in the area. The search came after three weeks of investigation.

“When the search was conducted approximately 2000 plants were found in a very sophisticated growing environment,” the Stewart County Sheriff’s Office said in its release. “Including elaborated growing and watering systems all on timers.”

Authorities also shared photos of the suspected grow operation appearing to show hundreds of marijuana plants growing under lamps. A photo of the outside of the building shows a large cross, and another shows authorities burning the plants for disposal.

One person was taken into custody following the search warrant’s execution and the sheriff’s office said others are wanted for questioning.

Officers who executed the search warrant were “slowed down” in their search thanks to the “possibility of booby traps laid out for law enforcement,” the sheriff’s office said. “A large amount of possibly toxic chemicals were found” the release added.

Officials…