cannabisnews.com: Mexican Druglords Grow Pot in Calif. Parks Mexican Druglords Grow Pot in Calif. Parks Posted by CN Staff on June 03, 2003 at 16:48:34 PT By William LaJeunesse Source: FoxNews.com Sequoia National Forest, Calif. -- Mexican drug growers have been seen walking through this famous national parkland, but they're not going camping. In the newest battleground in the war on drugs, some of the cartels from across the border no longer bother to smuggle marijuana into the United States. They simply grow it here, on public lands in California. "They are going into national forests, national parks. And it's a huge problem," says Dave Dresson of the California Bureau of Narcotics. In the past, most of the marijuana smoked in California was grown in Mexico. But that's no longer the case.Police now seize twice as much pot growing in public forests throughout the state as they do at the Mexican border. And the seizures at the Sequoia National Forest alone are up eight-fold.The reason: It's just a lot easier to grow it here.First of all, the land and water are free. There are no boats or planes to buy, and no officials to bribe. And if the drug dealers are unlucky enough to get caught, the penalties are relatively light compared to those faced by cross-border smugglers.Anyone convicted of smuggling drugs from across the border faces a minimum 10-year federal sentence. But jail time isn't even mandated by California state law."It doesn't matter in California if you get caught growing two plants or 20,000 plants," said Eric Wyatt, depute district attorney of Madera County. The punishment in California isn't very severe."Officials say that people convicted of growing pot in California could be sentenced to 16 months in prison and would probably serve only eight months -- even if they're growing large quantities, according to Dresson.It's impossible to tell how much pot is actually being grown on parklands, but the estimates are that it comes to thousands of acres.But even if California takes the issue of marijuana cultivation lightly, it's very serious business for the drug growers and dealers.Officials say pot plants can sell for as much as $4,000 each on the street. And at those prices, the drug growers are taking precautions. They carry firearms into the parks, and have been known to plant booby traps to protect their investments.Their activity has caused a number of problems with innocent passers-by who didn't know they were stumbling upon secret stashes. A number of hikers have been shot by the drug dealers, and the dealers have even traded gunfire with park rangers.No one has been killed – yet. But the ongoing problem has left a number of officials worrying that there may be much more to fear in these woods than hungry bears.Newshawk: markjcSource: FoxNews.comAuthor: William LaJeunessePublished: Tuesday, June 03, 2003Copyright: Fox News Network, LLC 2003Website: http://www.foxnews.com/Contact: foxnewsonline foxnews.comRelated Articles:Marijuana Found Thriving in Forests http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14764.shtmlPolice See Pot Growing Turning Into a Big Business http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14603.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #10 posted by Max Flowers on October 11, 2003 at 20:49:52 PT Mayan You wrote: 4,000 seems like an awful lot for one plant, but if a very high quality plant is big enough I could see it. There are too many people who would be willing to take the risk for $4,000 a plant. Prohibition has created a monster & only outright legalization can slay that monster. ~Trust me, it's usually even more than that. Good high-yielding indica hybrids can yield as much as three pounds (that's per plant) outdoors, without even being very tall, and if they get a typical $3000-3500 wholesale for each pound, you can see it's quite a bit more. Outdoor plants can get huge.MF [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by SoberStoner on June 04, 2003 at 09:43:25 PT BS..reefer madess once again "It doesn't matter in California if you get caught growing two plants or 20,000 plants," said Eric Wyatt, depute district attorney of Madera County. The punishment in California isn't very severe."Officials say that people convicted of growing pot in California could be sentenced to 16 months in prison and would probably serve only eight months -- even if they're growing large quantities, according to Dresson.Tell that to Ed Rosenthal you disinforming bastards. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on June 03, 2003 at 21:15:23 PT Ta Da! Here it is afterburner and Sam!http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread16516.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on June 03, 2003 at 20:56:51 PT afterburner OK I will! With two important votes I'll post it. It is from a Snipped source so it will take me a little while to get it so it's ok but I'm going to start it now! It is a good article. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by afterburner on June 03, 2003 at 20:51:31 PT: Sam Adams and FoM Great story: 22 marijuana possession cases in Ontario dismissed, not just stayed because the cases are "lacking an allegation of any offence known to law," ruled Justice Micheline Rawlins. This is the best news so far in the last two weeks. Definitely a post-worthy article, FoM. [repeating Sam Adam's link 'Parade' of pot cases kicked out: 90 minutes, 22 dismissals http://www.canada.com/windsor/story.asp?id=6CFD7125-7804-4FFC-B8DB-F80A20E4C556 ] [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on June 03, 2003 at 20:09:57 PT Sam I have no idea about drug lords. I sure never met one or even heard of one except on the news.That was a good article and it bummed me out that it is from a snipped source.BGreen, good to see you! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Sam Adams on June 03, 2003 at 20:00:51 PT What exactly constitutes a drug "Lord"??? From Webster's:lord - 1: one having power and authority over others: a: a ruler by hereditary right or preeminence in whom service and obedience are due 2: God a: CHRIST 3: a man in high positionSo, it sounds like John Walters is the "drug lord" if anyone is. If not, it's Jesus - we all know he travelled the countryside administering medical cannabis oil. Are they saying Jesus Christ is a Mexican now growing marijuana in California?This is a great article - MJ cases are being dismissed in Canada:http://www.canada.com/windsor/story.asp?id=6CFD7125-7804-4FFC-B8DB-F80A20E4C556 [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by BGreen on June 03, 2003 at 19:32:50 PT Have You Noticed? Every time this story is rehashed there are lot's of scary "facts" thrown out, like "(p)olice now seize twice as much pot growing in public forests throughout the state as they do at the Mexican border," and they claim it was grown by "Mexican Druglords," but they've apparently NEVER CAUGHT one of these alleged "druglords."When you're losing the battle against truth, throw in the racial card. It worked at the beginning of the war against cannabis. I guess we'll see how much things have REALLY changed as far as race relations go.The Rev. Bud Green [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by mayan on June 03, 2003 at 18:23:00 PT Slay the Monster "Officials say pot plants can sell for as much as $4,000 each on the street. And at those prices, the drug growers are taking precautions. They carry firearms into the parks, and have been known to plant booby traps to protect their investments."$4,000 seems like an awful lot for one plant, but if a very high quality plant is big enough I could see it. There are too many people who would be willing to take the risk for $4,000 a plant. Prohibition has created a monster & only outright legalization can slay that monster.The way out is the way in...Bush trying to hide 9/11 information, Graham says: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/5993628.htmClassified: Censoring the Report About 9/11? http://www.msnbc.com/news/917942.asp?cp1=1#BODYMike Ruppert on Amy Goodman and the 9/11 Latecomers: http://www.questionsquestions.net/docs04/0518_ruppert911.html9/11 Film Draws Overflow Crowd: http://onlinejournal.com/Media/050703Lynn/050703lynn.htmlExposing NORAD's Wag The 9/11 Window Dressing Tale: http://www.standdown.net/index.htmRed Alert - Bush Needs Another 9/11: http://www.sierratimes.com/03/06/03/edhenry.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by delariand on June 03, 2003 at 17:46:06 PT So... I know it's been said, I know I'm flogging a dead horse, and I know this is falling on deaf ears, but IF YOU'D LEGALIZE IT THE MEXICAN GANGS WOULD BE OUT OF THE POT BUSINESS!!! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment