June 18, 2025 Your Source for Brentwood News

Pacific Palisades Mom Accused Of Running Multimillion-Dollar Pot Grow House in San Bernadino Sues City

A Pacific Palisades woman who made the rounds on the internet late last year as the alleged mastermind behind a multimillion-dollar Inland Empire marijuana growing operation is suing the city where the grow house was found.

Stephanie Smith, who describes herself as a real estate developer by way of Boston College and UCLA, was accused of running a weed “fortress” from three San Bernardino buildings.

In January, she said she was just the owner of the properties, insisting her tenants’ activities were legal under California law.

Now, she is suing the city of San Bernardino, claiming the city’s marijuana licensing ordinance adopted earlier this month “creates a monopoly for certain cannabis license types and bans ‘any person who has ever had anything to do with cannabis … from entering the legal market,’” The San Bernardino Sun reported.

Smith, a 46-year-old mother of five, said this violates California’s recently adopted recreational marijuana legalization law and others, the paper said.

Smith entered the limelight after a $67,000 electricity bill at the former Pacific Bell warehouse, as well as neighbors’ complaints, caught law enforcement’s attention. Eight people were arrested in connection to grow house operation in raids Smith said “inconvenienced” her and “devastated” her tenants.

At the time, her attorney released a statement which read, in part, “As a professional real estate developer with several million square feet of commercial and industrial space throughout California, I provide the infrastructure for all types of industry to operate and prosper, including the cannabis industry. I am a well known and recognized leader in large-scale cannabis real estate development and I am proud of the state of California’s position on cannabis.”

Police seized 35,000 marijuana plants totaling roughly 18,000 pounds during the raids. However, Smith was never arrested or charged with a crime.

Stephanie Smith.
Related Posts

Tyler Malek Celebrates New Ice Cream Cookbook With Sweet Pop-Ups in Los Angeles

June 16, 2025

June 16, 2025

Chef to Appear at Book Soup and Debut Limited-Edition Matcha Sandwich at GGiata Tyler Malek, co-founder and head chef of...

US Marines Temporarily Detain Civilian Near Federal Building in West Los Angeles

June 16, 2025

June 16, 2025

Military Confirms First Known Detention by Active-Duty Troops Deployed by Trump U.S. Marines temporarily detained a civilian near the Wilshire...

Cedars-Sinai Seeks Public’s Help Identifying Unconscious Man Found in Beverly Grove

June 16, 2025

June 16, 2025

Man Remains Hospitalized After Being Discovered Near Cedars Sinai Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying...

Second Doctor to Plead Guilty in Matthew Perry Ketamine Case, Faces Up to 40 Years

June 16, 2025

June 16, 2025

Doctor Admits to Illegally Supplying Ketamine to the Actor and His Assistant One of the physicians charged in connection with...

Brentwood Beat: Stopping to Smell the Roses

June 16, 2025

June 16, 2025

I’m generally not a “stop and smell the roses” type.  I’ve always got something to do, and smelling roses takes...

(Video) Home Front Build Maintains Original Architectural Vision For Modern Homes

June 16, 2025

June 16, 2025

For More Information, Go to homefrontbuild.com For More Information, Go to https://t.co/7jyMonayj0 pic.twitter.com/9QIwClGyfh — BrentwoodNewsLA (@BrentwoodNewsLA) June 16, 2025

Tribeca Premiere Honors Carl Bean, Musician, Activist, and LGBTQ+ Faith Leader

June 16, 2025

June 16, 2025

New Doc Features Interviews With Lady Gaga, Billy Porter, and Dionne Warwick The life and legacy of Archbishop Carl Bean,...

Americans Split on Immigration and Tariffs’ Impact on Housing Affordability, Survey Shows

June 15, 2025

June 15, 2025

Survey Finds Over Half Believe Less Immigration Could Drive Up Home Prices  A new Redfin-commissioned survey reveals that U.S. homeowners...

Two Suspects Arrested in Fatal Stabbing of Elderly Man in Hancock Park

June 15, 2025

June 15, 2025

LAPD and FBI Apprehend Palmdale Pair Accused of Killing 84-Year-Old LAPD West Bureau Homicide has arrested two suspects in connection...

Brewers Co-Owner Robert Beyer Slashes Price of Brentwood Estate to $54.9 Million

June 15, 2025

June 15, 2025

Nearly 20,000-square-foot Mediterranean-Style Villa Relisted After Multiple Price Cuts Financier and Milwaukee Brewers minority owner Robert Beyer has relisted his...

Senator Alex Padilla Forcibly Removed, Handcuffed at DHS Press Briefing in Los Angeles

June 13, 2025

June 13, 2025

Security or Censorship? Padilla Removed After Questioning Secretary Kristi Noem U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., was forcibly removed Thursday during...

Federal Court Halts Order Requiring Trump to Return Control of California Guard to Governor Newsom

June 13, 2025

June 13, 2025

Court Showdown Looms Over Trump’s Federalization of State Troops Late Thursday, a federal appeals court paused enforcement of a lower...

Harden Your Home, Protect Your Family: Fire Safety Experts Gather in Brentwood

June 13, 2025

June 13, 2025

Local Officials and Fire Experts Will Offer Live Demonstrations, Expert Advice Residents are invited to a comprehensive fire safety event...

‘No Kings: National Day of Defiance’ Protest in LA to Run Counter to Donald Trump’s Birthday Military Parade

June 13, 2025

June 13, 2025

Giant Trump Balloons, Pride Flags, and Community Speakers Will Fill the Streets on Flag Day Thousands of demonstrators are expected...

(Video) Senator Alex Padilla Being Forcibly Removed at Secretary Kristi Noem’s DHS Press Conference for Attempting to Ask Questions

June 12, 2025

June 12, 2025

In a disturbing and unprecedented move, FBI agents grabbed the sitting California Senator, dragged him out of the room, and...