An entire five-story building in New York City was raided by the police this week, and authorities claimed the entire structure was being used as a multi-floor marijuana farm.

The North Metro Drug Task Force is leading the investigation into what Jace Larson of 9News described as "the large-scale grow operation." The cops are claiming all the raided homes were somehow connected.

SWAT teams began knocking down doors Wednesday morning at about 6 a.m.

At least 12 and possibly 16 people were arrested in what law enforcement officials are calling "Operation Sweet Leaf." (Since when did the narcs start naming raids after 1971 Black Sabbath songs?)

​The California Legislature will soon be voting on two marijuana reform bills that seem to be more popular with the public than with the politicians in Sacramento: SB 129 by Sen. Mark Leno, which would prohibit employment discrimination against medical marijuana patients, and AB 1017 by Rep. Tom Ammiano, which would allow for reduced, misdemeanor charges in marijuana cultivation cases.

Both bills have strong public support according to a newly released poll of state voters by EMC Research [PDF]. However, both have had trouble getting through the Legislature, where they must be approved by January 31 in order to stay alive.

With the support of Agriculture Commissioner James Comer, Kentucky lawmakers filed a bill on Thursday to put Comer at the head of the long-dormant Kentucky Industrial Hemp Commission and renew a drive to bring the crop back, reports Janet Patton at the Herald-Leader.

Twelve Kentucky House members -- including a former speaker -- signed on to support the bill to promote industrial hemp production in the state, reports Gregory A. Hall at the Courier-Journal.

Hemp -- also known as cannabis sativa -- is one of the world's oldest cultivated plants, but it was consigned to outlaw status when marijuana prohibition was implemented in 1937, even though hemp strains of cannabis have almost no THC, the principal ingredient that gives users a high.

"We're waiting to hear something," said Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman, reports Glenda Anderson at the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.

The permits -- popular in the medical marijuana community for the peace of mind they fostered -- allowed medicinal cannabis collectives to grow up to 99 plants, with a fee structure including inspections and zip-tie identification markers for each plant.

​A post on Craigslist.org had some North Carolina folks pretty excited Tuesday morning when someone claimed to be giving away free marijuana plants.

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It's summertime in Australia, and our friend Moose has given us a crop update, where the pretty sativas are at the height of veg.

In the photo above, Mullumbimby Madness, Oaxacan x Mazar, Mullumbimby Madness x Super Silver Haze, Oaxacan x Super Silver Haze, and Early Mullumbimby Madness plants are flourishing in the summer heat.

The 35-year-old man admitted to the court he had grown the marijuana plants at home for his personal use, and stored them in the attic, reports Joel Linde at English-language Swedish newspaper The Local.

Before reaching a successful harvest, the harsh Swedish climate had killed the cannabis crop. In a last-ditch desperation effort, the determined grower tried trimming away the dead weed, but to no avail.

Since under Swedish law the entire cannabis plant is considered a drug, the man was still found guilty of possession -- but the fact that the weed sucked so bad, kept him out of prison.

"That's an evaluation that the court will make," said Sara Malmhester at the Swedish Prosecution Authority. "If (the drugs) don't work, it could lead to a milder sentence."

The marijuana strain Mad Scientist, grown by first-time entrant Ray Bowser, captured top honors at the 10th Annual Oregon Medical Cannabis Awards on Saturday, December 10, at the World Famous Cannabis Cafe in Portland.

The ceremony also included the presentation of the Freedom Fighter of the Year awards to Lori Duckworth of Southern Oregon NORML, and presentation of the Dr. Ric Bayer Award to Paul Loney, legal counsel for Oregon NORML, for his years of service to the medical cannabis community.

The most liberal member of the board of supervisors, Green Party member Dan Hamburg, joined the most libertarian member, Supervisor John Pinches of the American Independent Party to cast the two votes against the "consent calendar" item at Tuesday's board meeting, reports Jennifer Poole at The Willits News.