NEVADA COUNTY

The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO), serving as the lead agency in partnership with the Nevada County Community Development Agency’s (CDA) Cannabis Compliance and Recreation programs, has been awarded a $4.5 million grant that will support the creation of the Enforcement and Prevention of Illicit Cannabis in Nevada County (EPIC-NC) team, a collaborative initiative designed to strengthen public safety, protect environmental resources, and expand youth prevention and education programs throughout Nevada County.

Despite the legalization of recreational cannabis in California in 2016, illicit cannabis cultivation poses significant challenges in Nevada County. The county’s remote terrain, extensive river watersheds, and proximity to public lands have made it a target for illegal cultivation operations that have been associated with violent crime, property crime, and environmental damage. At the same time, Nevada County continues to experience elevated rates of youth cannabis use, underscoring the need for both enforcement and prevention efforts.

The grant will fund two deputy sheriff detectives, one sheriff’s crime analyst, one regional parks public safety and youth prevention coordinator supporting the county’s recreation program, three enforcement vehicles (two for NCSO and one for the county’s Cannabis Compliance Division), specialized investigative software and training, digital forensic tools, and enhanced compliance and enforcement technology to strengthen Nevada County’s response to illicit cannabis activity and its impacts on public safety, the environment, and local communities.

~ Nevada County Sheriff’s Office press release