'Marijuana grannies' charged after police find 800 pot plants in their home



Two women described as "marijuana grannies" are in jail awaiting trial after police allegedly found 800 pot plants in their house.

Aleen Lam, 72, and Virginia Chan Pon, 65, of San Bruno, California, were arrested Friday after neighbours called police to report a burglary.

When officers arrived, they found the door had been kicked in and nobody appeared to be home.

Still in jail: Bail is $100,000 for Aleen Lam, 72, left, and Virginia Chan Pon, 65



Through the broken door, police could see marijuana growing inside the house, said San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.

Police obtained a search warrant and found what they believe to be 800 marijuana plants, $3,000 in cash and an electrical bypass that allowed the women to tap into a Pacific Gas and Electric Co. power line to allegedly steal electricity.

Describing the operation and the suspects' ages, Mr Wagstaffe said: 'This has not happened in the 34 years that I've been here.

'I certainly hope it is aberrational rather than a trend.

'I suppose profiteering in illegal enterprises crosses all the generations."

During an arraignment on Monday Lam and Pon pleaded not guilty to cultivation of marijuana, maintaining a house for the sale of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale and unlawful theft of electricity from a utility.

The prosecutor described them as "marijuana grannies." Both were ordered to return to court May 13 for a preliminary hearing.



Cultivating conditions: Marijuana plants need lots of light and heat from electricity in order to flourish

Neither woman had a lawyer, so they wil be represented by a court-appointed attorney, the Associated Press reports.

With bail set at $100,000 each, Lam and Pon were still in custody Wednesday, Mr Wagstaffe said.

It's not Pon's first run-in with the law.

She is already facing charges in Yolo County for allegedly passing more than $40,000 in bad checks over a three-day period at Cache Creek Casino.

The two men accused of breaking into the home were arrested nearby.

When officers pulled over the BMW that fit the description that neighbours had provided, they found Kitae Chae, 38, and Kenny Kong, 34, with more than $12,000 in cash, marijuana packaging material and seven pills they believe to be ecstasy.

Both men pleaded not guilty to burglary and drug charges Monday. Bail was set at $100,000 each.

Chae and Kong were also expected to be provided with court-appointed attorneys.