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Outlaw Pot Farmers in Calif. Fear Legalization
Posted by CN Staff on March 24, 2010 at 15:41:12 PT
By Marcus Wohlsen, Associated Press
Source: Associated Press
Redway, Calif. -- The smell of pot hung heavy in the air as men with dreadlocks and gray beards contemplated a nightmarish possibility in this legendary region of outlaw marijuana growers: legal weed.If California legalizes marijuana, they say, it will drive down the price of their crop and damage not just their livelihoods but the entire economy along the state's rugged northern coast.
"The legalization of marijuana will be the single most devastating economic event in the long boom-and-bust history of Northern California," said Anna Hamilton, 62, a Humboldt County radio host and musician who said her involvement with marijuana has mostly been limited to smoking it for the past 40 years.Local residents are so worried that pot farmers came together with officials in Humboldt County for a standing-room-only meeting Tuesday night where civic leaders, activists and growers brainstormed ideas for dealing with the threat. Among the ideas: turning the vast pot gardens of Humboldt County into a destination for marijuana aficionados, with tours and tastings — a sort of Napa Valley of pot.Many were also enthusiastic about promoting the Humboldt brand of pot. Some discussed forming a cooperative that would enforce high standards for marijuana and stamp the county's finest weed with an official Humboldt seal of approval.Pot growers are nervous because a measure that could make California the first state to legalize marijuana for recreational use could appear on the ballot in November. It appears to have enough signatures.The law, if approved, could have a profound effect on Humboldt County, which has long had a reputation for growing some of the world's best weed.In recent years, law enforcement agents have seized millions of pot plants worth billions of dollars in Humboldt and neighboring counties. And that is believed to be only a fraction of the crop.Source: Associated Press (Wire)Author: Marcus Wohlsen, Associated PressPublished: March 24, 2010Copyright: 2010 The Associated PressURL: http://drugsense.org/url/PYuGykuoCannabisNews  -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #22 posted by BGreen on March 26, 2010 at 00:12:01 PT
Bravo! Well said, Universer
I'm sure domestic terrorist Poteet will take this criticism as a badge of honor, but it's just another worthless badge on a very sick man who knows no honor and has no shame.Evil can never defeat the righteous!The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #21 posted by Universer on March 25, 2010 at 23:21:28 PT
For Deputy Poteet
Hello,With tremendous sentiment I read recently of actions supposedly taken by Garvin County K-9 Deputy Jeff Poteet as he accosted a non-Oklahoma traveller in the morning's wee hours without stated reason or purpose, spoke condescendingly and insultingly to him, dismissed attempts at explanation with vague accusations of non-cooperation, and proceeded to perform an unlawful, unwarranted, unhurried and ultimately unsuccessful search -- in the name of "courtesy."These reports do not auger well for Deputy Poteet, Garvin County, or Oklahoma -- a state I have yet to have the misfortune of setting foot in, but one which I feel I know via a good friend of advanced years who considers himself lucky to have escaped its backward culture despite having been born and raised there.These purported actions by Deputy Poteet, if even partially true, are beyond despicable. They are sufficient reason to doubt the credo that police officers desire peace, that they are selected to uphold an honorable profession of protection and service.Such acts as those alleged to Poteet show him to be an officer of dishonor, unworthy of his title, a schoolyard bully with governmental cover.Indeed, for reasons that need not be expounded upon here, it is easily conceivable to consider that such quasi-terroristic acts of malice of forethought committed by a militarized police force comprised to a high degree of control freaks and megalomaniacs are in their final throes, the dying wails of a corrupt ideology by a bygone and brainwashed mindset.We're winning, and your kind, sir, can't stand it. We're peaceful, and that -- as is customary of bully behavior -- draws you to fight. And worse, we're right, and increasingly in the majority, and you lack the maturity to deal with it.Grow up, you small man with the big gun. We'll sort you out yet. Your kind is a dying breed, and though I wish you a long life, I hope no one like you ever again comes along to disgrace our America of grace and liberty. I hope yours is the last generation to ruin what once was and should be a vocation of distinction.Thank you.(Normally I'm not loathe to sign my name, but hearsay teaches that retribution is not difficult to sufficiently immoral and connected police officers, so I consider it a reflex of safety to be anonymous at this juncture.)
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Comment #20 posted by BGreen on March 25, 2010 at 16:29:36 PT
Thanks everybody
I managed to make it into my mid 40's before I started getting hassled by LEA terrorists. I never believed these punk-ass bitches could get any more corrupt and evil than they already were, but leave it to the dill weeds in Oklahoma like Deputy animal and people abuser Jeff Poteet to prove my wildest nightmares true.runruff, I hope you extended the same "courtesy" to them as they so graciously extended to my wonderful wife and me. I'm sure you did nothing more than give them another violence-related orgasm, the same feeling a murderer or rapist or wife-beater feels, and the same way Jeff Poteet and the Garvin County Oklahoma Sheriff department feels by terrorizing innocent travelers.Fom, thanks for your concern. I share your feelings about the south.Hope, thank you, too. Being from Texas you know why I was obeying every traffic law on my journey. Little good that did but I still tried. Yes, Osama bin Poteet was trying to get me going but his neanderthal-level lack of intelligence made our battle of wits a one-sided fight with me winning hands down. Idiocy and bullying will never stand a chance against intelligence and education.JoeCitizen, thanks and I agree with you 100%. Oklahoma has lost a lot of credibility and commerce because we're not only boycotting that back-assward waste of space, we're telling our story to everybody we can. Everybody Mrs. Green has told has not only been appalled, every one of these women, regardless of economic or political standing, have offered up stories of their own. Great job in your public relations, you worthless bunch of immoral and lawless cops.Steve, you have suffered greatly, much more than most of us have, so I'm still sorry for the way you've been mistreated by these barbaric scum bags. I long for the day when we're all finally free.I really believe that our collective karmic energy is a major factor in our protection against the evil of the drug warriors and other domestic terrorists. Evil will never defeat the righteous.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #19 posted by runruff on March 25, 2010 at 15:53:23 PT
BGreen
I wrote to the contact info on your URL. I expect there to be an Oaklahoma squad car in my driveway any minute. 
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Comment #18 posted by herbdoc215 on March 25, 2010 at 11:06:47 PT
BGreen, sorry bro
But that is also why I am a virtual prisoner on the west coast also as those incidence are MUCH rarer than east of here...they do occur but not as visceral? 
JoeCitizen is righter that most here would ever allow themselves to believe and only by traveling a lot and being in the business I am have I gotten to see the underbelly of that beast and it looks the same everywhere...this militarization of the police is going to bite us all in the ass before it's over and God only knows how to reverse this whole process once it gets so far? peace, steve 
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Comment #17 posted by JoeCitizen on March 25, 2010 at 08:47:20 PT
Sorry for you, BGreen
I have considered Oklahoma to be enemy territory for about 12 years now. When I was still active with NORML, the George Singleton case came up. He was pulled over basically because he was black and had dreadlocks and had the temerity to drive through Oklahoma looking like that. He had no illegal drugs, but he did have a bag of legal herbs (rosemary and mullein) that he used to treat his tuberculosis. The cops thought it was pot and put him in jail.The kicker for me was when they discovered it WASN'T pot, and continued to keep him in jail for 25 days. Apparently in Oklahoma it is legal for them to arrest you for carrying anything that looks like pot, even to a dumbass uneducated deputy.That was when I decided to stay the hell out of Oklahoma, and to boycott any business that's in that backward state. I was forced by bad weather to drive the interstates through there one time since, and I was nervous the whole time I was there. It's a bad place, not really part of the America I choose to live in.I'm so glad you and Mrs. Green got out of that hellhole and weren't stuck in a cage for 25 days (or more.) You have every right to be angry, and I'm angry with you. Take my advice, and keep out of that state if at all possible, it's bad news.JC
George Singleton case from 1998
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Comment #16 posted by Hope on March 25, 2010 at 07:01:46 PT
BGreen Comment 13
I'm sorry that happened to you'll, BGreen.It sounds like Deputy Poteet really is a troublemaker and wanted to start some trouble. Probably was more about self stimulation, hoping to stir up "a situation", than rational interaction. "Courtesy"? Doesn't sound like it. Sounds like an opportunity for him to be confrontational to me. A simple "Confrontational" stop instead of a "Courtesy" stop.How dare he just touch you like that, without saying a word... until it was done? I guess his badge, to him, gives him the right to just dispense with common decency.There was a time when more law enforcement acted more like people, well mannered and civilized people. There was a time when they were more well liked, respected, and appreciated by the common citizen, because of that, than they are now.I guess it's really hard for someone to be nice and behave decently when they're confrontational, a trouble maker and bully from the get go.I'm sorry. 
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Comment #15 posted by FoM on March 25, 2010 at 04:46:24 PT
BGreen
I am so sorry. I am afraid to go much further south then we are. Things change and become very scary.
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Comment #14 posted by konagold on March 25, 2010 at 03:24:04 PT
  comment #9
"Such recreations as cannabis must be reserved for those with fully-formed hippocampi."I invited Hippos into my camp but they only trampled the tent and pissed on the fire
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Comment #13 posted by BGreen on March 25, 2010 at 00:44:51 PT
The people of Oklahoma should be ASHAMED!
Outlaw Cops Everywhere Fear Legalization!I really can't believe that nearly three years after being terrorized by Missouri law enforcement I have now been terrorized by the cops in Oklahoma.Mrs. Green and I were coming back from her folks house in Texas. We had driven down during the daytime but the stop and go traffic in Texas was so bad we decided to drive back at night.It was about 3 a.m. and Mrs. Green was asleep. We were about forty or so miles south of Oklahoma City on I35. I had the cruise control on and was driving OK. I came around a curve and a vehicle was shooting around a long entrance ramp and came flying up behind me. I know he hadn't seen me before I saw him so it was just an incredibly horrific happenstance that he ended up behind me.After a short distance of him tailgating me with his bright lights on, he lit up his blue and reds and pulled me over.Mrs. Green woke up as I was pulling over and said 'what did you do?'"Nothing" I told her.This cop came up to my car and knocked loudly on the window. He yanked my door open and demanded to see my license. He then ordered me out of the car and told me to stand in front of his SUV by his partner. He grabbed me around my pants pockets and then asked if I had any weapons on me. He asked where I was going and where I was coming from. He asked who was in the car with me.He then went up to Mrs. Green and got our insurance card and questioned her, too.He came back and told me 'your insurance is expired.' I said "no it's not, we have a valid card in the car." We always put our new card in the car before the old one expires. I just forgot to get rid of the old one and that's what Mrs. Green inadvertently gave him.This is where it really starts going horribly downhill.'Whoa, boy, don't you go losin' your cool with me. This is a courtesy stop."(WTF!!!!!)"I'm not losing my cool, I'm just telling you we have valid insurance and the proof is in the car."'Hold on, this is a courtesy stop, don't you go getting agitated."OK, this cop is about a foot taller than me and is posturing over me in an incredibly threatening manner, lying through his teeth about the words coming out of my mouth. I was getting pissed. Besides that, it was 41 degrees with a 10 mph wind and I was dressed in only jeans and my incredibly stylish hemp t-shirt from Hempworks in Amsterdam so I was COLD but trying not to shiver or else I knew he'd accuse me of being nervous.Jesus Christ in Heaven what did I do to deserve this?'I told you this is a courtesy stop. Are you going to calm down and cooperate?'I said nothing.'Answer me!'I felt as if my life was in danger so I said "yes."He went inside his warm SUV to run my license. Nearly 10 minutes had already passed and I was still stuck out there with an unknown law enforcement agency. Besides telling me at least three times it was a "courtesy stop," they neither identified themselves nor told me why I was pulled over.I told the terrorist standing out with me "you know I haven't done anything wrong."Then, and the only time it was ever mentioned, was I told the reason I was pulled over for this "courtesy stop" was that my license plate wasn't illuminated.OMfreakin'G!!! All of this because of something that is not and has never been a safety issue in the history of the automobile?I knew my license was clean so I hoped I would soon be on my way for the 6 hour drive still ahead of me. That was not going to be the case.After another 5 minutes or so I saw the tall unknown terrorist go to the back of his SUV and pull out an abused animal. This was a beautiful German Shepherd whose only desire in life is to play and please it's human.(Again, WTF?)This tall narco-terrorist then proceeded to do two walk-arounds of my car. I was freakin' livid by this point. I wasn't afraid of the dog smelling anything. I was afraid that this lying bastard would cause the dog to false-positive on my car as demonstrated by Barry Cooper in his video, "Never Get Busted Again." Mrs. Green and I remembered all of the times we've seen innocent people left on the side of the road after the cops had completely removed and searched everything, leaving the innocent victims to clean up the mess after the terrorists seek another victim."Why are you doing this to us?" I asked the cop watching me.'It's OK, he runs the dog around every car he stops.'(WTF?) Is that supposed to make it OK just because he terrorizes everyone he stops? WTF is wrong with the people of any state who allow their law enforcement to pull this kind of assault on the innocent just in hopes of possibly finding somebody with a little cannabis?After the tall terrorist and animal (and people) abuser found NOTHING, he put the abused animal back in it's cage and got back in his warm SUV.'You'll be out of here in a few minutes after he gets done writing down all your information' I was told.(WTF!) Write down my information? For a "courtesy stop" regarding a burned out license tag light?Jesus Christ in Heaven what did I do to deserve this?After another 5 minutes (and 25 minutes total of freezing terror) I was given my license back and thanked for my cooperation. I said nothing.I've tried hard not to use bad language but I guarantee you that I am as pissed off as I have been since August, 2007 when I was last terrorized for no reason by the so-called "good guys"I did a little investigative work after I got home. Since the tall terrorist who pulled me over never identified himself or told me why I was pulled over I had to figure out for myself who they were.Here's the Oklahoma terrorist who violated every standard of decency, morality, ethics and humanity. He is a bully, a liar and a spawn of Satan.http://www.garvincountysheriff.com/web/modules.php?name=K-9His name is Deputy Jeff Poteet. He's the tall animal abuser on the right kneeling next to the two other spawns of Satan animal abusers working for the Garvin County Oklahoma Sheriff department.Mr. Poteet, I know you don't give a damn about all of the innocent people you bully and terrorize, but you are a pathetic waste of your daddy's sperm. You are one of the most despicable son of a bitches I've ever met and I've met some real trash in my life.I don't know what you think you accomplished but I really, REALLY HATE you and your state. I apologize to the people of Oklahoma who don't support this terrorism (albeit very few I'm sure) but I don't care if I ever set foot in your filthy state again.I have once again looked the beast directly in the eyes and persevered but I'm really getting sick of these sick bastards fighting this so-called "war on drugs."BTW, we paid attention after this and noticed that most cars don't have working tag lights so almost anybody is at risk of being terrorized by scum such as Garvin County Oklahoma Deputy Jeff Poteet.You have been warned!The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #12 posted by Universer on March 24, 2010 at 23:55:52 PT
FoM
I hope you're right, and I'm not passionate enough about my point to mount a counterargument. I would like to see the unit price of quality cannabis come down appreciably, especially in my ultra-expensive region of Northern Virginia.But I don't want my larger point to be washed out. If regulation takes hold, one of the meritorious benefits would be the ability to regulate who can make a legal purchase -- i.e., adults, i.e., not kids.We hear constantly that we can't legalize weed because then kids will think it's okay. (Which, to me, is a perfect argument for illegalizing alcohol, but for some reason that is rarely the response.)Wellssir, if you want to keep cannabis out of the hands and heads of children -- whose underdeveloped brains, in general, simply are not capable of dealing with the effects of the neurochemical inducements that cannabis offers -- then make it so's I can go down to the corner store, flash my valid ID, and pick up a pack. And send to jail anyone who sells to a minor child. Regulation.We all know that dealers don't ask for ID.It's unfortunate -- and a direct effect of Prohibition -- that high schoolers have easier access to cannabis than I do.We must make it part of our suite of rebuttals that legalization/regulation would make it harder, not easier, for kids to get ahold of it. And it would give pushers one less product to push at those kids.Won't someone please think of the children???
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on March 24, 2010 at 20:28:44 PT
An Example
Competition and better quality have driven computer prices down. Computers are more stable so you don't need to be replace them as often. That's the way business goes so Cannabis should follow a similar path.
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on March 24, 2010 at 20:24:07 PT
Universer
I think that when a person can grow cannabis themselves many people will and will be willing to share it with friends like people share garden vegetables. City people might not be in that position but many people will. That will help drive demand down. That's when the prices will fall.
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Comment #9 posted by Universer on March 24, 2010 at 20:19:07 PT
I hasten to add
Lower prices due to a regulated market (the logic of which I do not fully agree with -- but I hope that eventual practice will prove me wrong) is a boon to us adults who choose to responsibly consume cannabis.But I believe it behooves us to say in the same breath that that same regulation, despite its cost pressures, will prevent non-adults, i.e., minors, from having the ridiculously easy access to "marihuana" that they so regrettably enjoy now.Such recreations as cannabis must be reserved for those with fully-formed hippocampi.
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on March 24, 2010 at 19:56:02 PT
John Tyler
In any business change comes. It doesn't matter if it's legal or illegal. If people don't adapt then they won't be able to continue. Big money days might soon be gone and prices affordable for people. There will be all kinds of new opportunities that will develop under a legal system. People just have to figure out what they will be and how they can get involved if they want.
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Comment #7 posted by John Tyler on March 24, 2010 at 19:51:17 PT
ideas
A legal cannabis industry would bring down prices. The current growers will have to readjust to be sure. For one thing their overhead would be lower. They could grow more and charge less.  Humboldt is a great brand.  They should get some marketing and development people to work with them. This could be great for them. They did all of the pioneering work, and the research and development. They are the founding fathers and mothers of this industry. They should form a farmers’ cooperative now if they haven’t already done so to protect their interest.
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on March 24, 2010 at 19:38:42 PT
afterburner
I agree some Cannabis would be worth a little more then other strains but the industry has become so broad that good is really good everywhere. There will be no need for inferior Cannabis.
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Comment #5 posted by afterburner on March 24, 2010 at 19:32:06 PT
Good Idea - Go for Quality & Affordability
"Among the ideas: turning the vast pot gardens of Humboldt County into a destination for marijuana aficionados, with tours and tastings — a sort of Napa Valley of pot."At one time Dom Pérignon was the most expensive champagne at $100 per bottle. Now, Johnnie Walker Blue scotch whiskey goes for $200 per bottle (Canadian $ 245.95 currently).That doesn't mean that "Joe Six-pack" can't get his bottle of beer for $1-3 dollars.The market for legal cannabis could be as flexible.
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Comment #4 posted by Canis420 on March 24, 2010 at 19:13:28 PT:
I believe it!
But can't wait for prices to come down around the country!
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Comment #3 posted by HempWorld on March 24, 2010 at 17:07:37 PT
"Humboldt County, which has long had a reputation
for growing some of the world's best weed."This is true for those that never traveled outside of CA.
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on March 24, 2010 at 16:44:11 PT
konagold 
I hope I live to see the day when cannabis is so affordable anyone who needs it will be able to get it.
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Comment #1 posted by konagold on March 24, 2010 at 16:06:52 PT
pot: real value
if pot were grown as legally as tomatoes its wholesale value would be profitable to regular farmers at two dollars a pound for un-manicured budsprofiteering is not a reliable economic philosophyeven tho there is an economic factor benefiting a whole local economyprofiteering[the cost of prohibition] has sold out my rights and I will weep no tears for their passingtwo wrongs do not make a rightbut 3 lefts will 
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