cannabisnews.com: Pricey Marijuana Gains Popularity in Howard





Pricey Marijuana Gains Popularity in Howard
Posted by CN Staff on June 27, 2003 at 07:43:20 PT
By Jason Song, Sun Staff
Source: Baltimore Sun 
In Howard County, Maryland's richest locality, residents have money to burn. So it is no surprise that when it comes to marijuana, residents prefer "kind bud" over "skunkweed." "We live in a society that wants the best things," said Lt. Keith Lessner, who heads the Howard County Police Department's vice and narcotics division. "Kind bud," a potent form of pot, is the marijuana of choice for Howard's users, according to police and experts.
The drug can cost $400 an ounce and gives users a gentler high than lower-grade marijuana such as "skunkweed" or "swag," which costs less than $200 an ounce and gives smokers a "harsh" high. The tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content - which gives users their high - is nearly 15 percent in "kind bud," while lower grades can have as little as 2 percent. "Kind bud" use in Howard County is not easily quantified. Police cited 899 people last year for drug violations, about the same number cited in 2001 and 2000. Police estimate that at least 65 percent of the violations were for pot, and Lessner said that nearly 95 percent of all marijuana busts made by the narcotics team are for "kind bud." "Everyone uses it," said Thomas Cargiulo, Howard's director of substance abuse services. Police in other areas are also seeing the trend. Baltimore County police have noticed an upswing in "kind bud" over the past several years, primarily in the wealthier areas such as Pikesville and Owings Mills, said Bill Toohey, a department spokesman. A police sting operation late last year provides a glimpse into Howard County's "kind bud" culture. Police arrested 10 people in late November for having nearly 3 pounds of "kind bud." Two of the suspects were juveniles who attended Mount Hebron High School and both were charged with drug possession with intent to distribute, among other counts. Police investigated the ring for nearly four months, eventually tracking its supply from Canada to Philadelphia to Ellicott City. When police raided the suspects' homes, they found an electronic scale and plastic baggies, which police said could be used to distribute marijuana and other drugs. Seven of the eight adults have come to trial, and the last is expected to reach a plea agreement with prosecutors within the next month. The two juveniles were disciplined by Mount Hebron officials, said schools spokeswoman Patti Caplan, who said she could not describe the punishment because of confidentiality concerns. "Kind bud" is relatively easy to obtain or cultivate. "Anyone with a subscription to High Times could grow it," said Lessner, referring to a magazine dedicated to marijuana. The difference between "kind bud" and "skunkweed" is mainly in the way it is cultivated, according to experts. While "skunkweed" is generally grown without high-tech equipment, many pot farmers use high-powered lights and enriched soils. The result is a densely leafed, dark green, fragrant "bud" of marijuana that stands in stark contrast to a patchy, small brown nugget of commercial marijuana that does not have a sophisticated nose - hence the name "skunkweed" - and often falls apart and becomes "swag." It is not surprising that "kind bud" is affordable to adults in Howard County, where the median household income is $74,000 a year and many residents have plenty of discretionary cash. But the practice also extends to Howard County children. "Just look at the school parking lots," said Cargiulo. "Kids have plenty of money." In the November case, one of the boys sold drugs to an undercover police officer. Lessner said the suspects were selling drugs to other students at the school. Mount Hebron High School Principal Veronica Bohn did not return calls for comment, but spokeswoman Caplan said the school district does its best to keep drugs off campuses. Each high school has a school resource police officer and offers education to parents and students. Still, "we would be extremely naive if we didn't believe drugs are in our high schools," Caplan said. All suspects in the alleged ring are young, with no one older than 26. Lessner and experts said the group, which was not violent, is typical of Howard County in many ways. "They are not a hardened group of people," said Lessner, who has worked on the county's narcotics team for nearly 16 years. The powerful marijuana could also lead to addiction to other, more potent drugs. "You can use the best marijuana but, eventually, it never cuts it for you. And people won't waste their time with a lower drag; ... they find better highs," said Rich Giantonio, an addictions counselor at ReVisions Behavioral Health Systems, a nonprofit agency in Catonsville. Giantonio said that there are relatively few suburban residents who have a ready supply of drugs in their homes and that many will venture into Baltimore or other urban centers to get drugs. And when people go to drug dealers, they begin relationships with "illegal sources, which make it easier to get other drugs," Cargiulo said. As much of a headache as "kind bud" is for police, Lessner expects even more potent forms of marijuana to become popular. Hydroponic marijuana, which is grown in tanks of water, is more powerful than "kind bud" and can sell for $7,000 a pound. Hydroponic marijuana is rare in Howard, but that will probably change, Lessner concedes. "There's always something else out there," he said. Note: 'Kind bud' linked to 95% of pot busts, official says.Source: Baltimore Sun (MD)Author: Jason Song, Sun StaffPublished: June 27, 2003Copyright: 2003 The Baltimore SunContact: letters baltsun.comWebsite: http://www.sunspot.net/Related Articles:Marijuana Law Makes a Humane Distinctionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16383.shtmlEhrlich Signs Marijuana Bill http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16364.shtml 
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on June 27, 2003 at 16:17:15 PT
The GCW
You're welcome!
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Comment #8 posted by The GCW on June 27, 2003 at 15:04:30 PT
FoM
Thanks for the poll.It's up to 82% Yes, now.
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Comment #7 posted by ekim on June 27, 2003 at 14:36:05 PT
Gee Ralph and Dennis only ones for reform
where is the story on what Ralph and Dennis said last nite. the only two out on the stump today calling for change in the drug laws. This story is allabout the money only Ralph has said tax it.Ralph Nader has invited Dennis to speak at a mass rally in Baltimore, >Thurs. June 26. >http://democracyrising.org/baltimore/ 
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Comment #6 posted by darwin on June 27, 2003 at 10:47:26 PT
Jason Song info
I did a little searching. As far as I can tell, this guy worked for Sunspot.net doing mostly immigrant stories, and was pretty respectable. 
Now he seems to be beholden to the Baltimore police. Check out his previous story, 2 days before this one in the Baltimore Sun, he worte this one inthe Sunspot.nethttp://www.sunspot.net/news/local/howard/bal-md.ho.police25jun25,0,4777490.story?coll=bal-local-howardLooks like he made a deal with the devil. We should write some letters so he knows what exactly he's gotten himself into and to choose his sides carefully.
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Comment #5 posted by TecHnoCult on June 27, 2003 at 10:06:31 PT
Same old crap
The powerful marijuana could also lead to addiction to other, more potent drugs. "You can use the best marijuana but, eventually, it never cuts it for you. And people won't waste their time with a lower drag; ... they find better highs," said Rich Giantonio, an addictions counselor at ReVisions Behavioral Health Systems, a nonprofit agency in Catonsville. -How often does this really happen? Such a cliche. I know that the overwhelming majority of pot smokers are plenty satisfied with the high of pot, even of the less potent variety. As for those that can never find a good enough high, that minority of drug users has a problem, and substance abuse is only a symptom, not a cause.THC
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Comment #4 posted by BigDawg on June 27, 2003 at 08:34:43 PT
What a gas
I used to live there not long ago. The locals certainly know that skunkweed is good stuff.Just goes to show how far outta touch these guys really are.
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Comment #3 posted by Lehder on June 27, 2003 at 08:24:48 PT
"everyone uses it"
>>Mount Hebron High School Principal Veronica Bohn did not return calls for comment,
   but spokeswoman Caplan said the school district does its best to keep drugs off
   campuses. Each high school has a school resource police officer and offers education to
   parents and students. It's no surprise at all that children enjoy marijuana. Their natural curiousity abut the world has not been fully stifled by school drudgery and government proaganda, and marijuana helps them to keep their minds open and active. Marijuana is the perfect antidote to the system of forced feedback of ready-made and simple minded values that the 
government calls education and uses to strip children of all mental facility.>>But the practice also extends to Howard County children. "Just look at the school
   parking lots," said Cargiulo. "Kids have plenty of money." >>In the November case, one of the boys sold drugs to an undercover police officer.
   Lessner said the suspects were selling drugs to other students at the school. Confronted by the stultifying education system, kids are only fighting for their own lives and intellectual dignities. Marijuana helps them, prisons and piss tests don't. That's why,>>"Everyone uses it," said Thomas Cargiulo, Howard's director of substance abuse
   services.Everyone, eh. There must be something good about marijuana. Can the cop in the school, sent to educate the children whose parents smoke the most expensive weed they can find, hold the truth alone while "everyone" is wrong?
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Comment #2 posted by TroutMask on June 27, 2003 at 08:02:27 PT
Uhhhhh......
Another brilliant article by someone without a clue. At least everywhere I go, skunkweed = kind bud. Schwag (swag, whatever) is garbage, but skunkweed refers to the smell of usually very good pot. In fact, the Skunk variety is often sought after for it's potency. Maybe things are different where this person lives, but I'd bet it's more likely just an assumption on the author's part that "skunk" = bad.-TM
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on June 27, 2003 at 07:49:13 PT
Poll: Legalization of Marijuana
Now that you've seen the facts, do you think the government should legalize marijuana?Current Results:Yes -- 76 % 
I guess -- 5 % 
Not likely -- 3 % 
No -- 16 % Please Vote: http://www.e-thepeople.org/article/20806/view
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