End of marijuana permit program means big hit for Mendocino County, Calif.

(CBS/AP) UKIAH, Calif. - A major source of funding for the Mendocino County Sheriff's Department is going up in smoke over a decision to cancel the county's medical marijuana permit program.

The permits allowed cannibis collectives to grow up to 99 plants at a time for medicinal purposes, but also required deputies to conduct monthly inspections that brought in more than $600,000 last year, according to one report.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that sheriff's officials collected $663,230 last year in fees for the inspections.

The Mendocino Board of Supervisors voted last week to end the permit program for the cannabis collectives.

They took the action after representatives from the U.S. Attorney's Office warned that Mendocino's law was at odds with federal law.