cannabisnews.com: Up in Smoke Up in Smoke Posted by FoM on March 11, 2001 at 13:26:16 PT Press Democrat Editorial Source: Press Democrat In the popular lore of Mendocino and Humboldt counties, the typical marijuana grower is a refugee from the 1960s who simply wants to do his own thing -- grow a little weed, live peaceably in the woods, drive the kids to school in a battered VW van with peace symbols in the windows.Reality isn't so groovy. Drug agents last week reported raids on elaborate shells, 11 of them, designed to look like houses, but which were actually costly disguises for high-tech greenhouses -- complete with thousands of plants, diesel generators, sophisticated security systems, guns and ammunition. Far out, man. Welcome to for-profit ventures on a very large scale -- operations that have the potential to be dangerous.Mom-and-pop growers may shrug their shoulders if a stranger stumbles on their pot gardens, but, with millions of dollars at stake, the heavies employed by a big-time drug syndicate will not be so benign.Marijuana laws often defy common sense. Partisans would happily debate from now until the end of time whether grass, an illegal drug, is more harmful than the booze that fills supermarket shelves.Still, until Americans figure out a more coherent approach to marijuana (and to all drugs), there remain reasons to discourage the drug bosses who occupy the most remote corners of California's North Coast.Note: Not all marijuana growers believe in peace, love and a Volkswagen van.Source: Press Democrat, The (CA) Published: March 11, 2001Copyright: 2001 The Press Democrat Address: Letters Editor, P. O. Box 569, Santa Rosa CA 95402 Fax: (707) 521-5305 Contact: letters pressdemo.com Website: http://www.pressdemo.com/ Forum: http://www.pressdemo.com/opinion/talk/ Feedback: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/opinion/letform.htmlRelated Articles:Sheriff: Bust Sends Message To Growershttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8960.shtmlBusted Indoor Marijuana Grows May Be Organizationhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8959.shtml29,518 Pot Plants Seized Near Laytonville http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8951.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by jAHn on March 11, 2001 at 15:23:03 PT Appropriating to the title... ...I can't resist letting all you Cannabis_Heads in on this little Eastern Coast of America Secret. About two to three weeks ago, Channel 11 aired "Cheech and Chong's: Still Smokin'". They Censored ALL images of The Cann. and replaced them with video footage !?#!Of Diamonds!!!!#?! What a sham!!! They couldn't even use Parsley or Oregano!?! Or maybe some of the imposterous "Hydro" sham that's sold in HighTimes, Cannabis Culture, or Heads magazines!?! How Funny!!! I feel utterly full of pity for the people that cannot afford VCR's, Cable Tv, Satellite Dishes, HDTV, Internet Connections, etc...That have to settle watching Pub. Tv...Especially adolescents!And Teenagers! I couldn't Imagine the Magnitude of Censorship that "Conservatively, Concerned Parental Figures" Dish out to their Offspring these days. I'm sure if I were back in 4th/5th grade, I'd be getting a "REAL learning lesson!" I remember, suprisingly vivid, the details of the Personality structure that made up my 5th grade class' individuals. A male kid, Ben, had parents that held her creeds, strictly adhereing to the Ratings Charts applied to media/entertainment contents. Back then, it was only movies. His parents would only let him watch G movies until he turned 13, in which case, he became entitled to watch Pg-13 flicks, and nothing Higher. This boy had been restricted from coming over to my house because of First Impression of me at a PTA meeting. His folks, on the other hand, had NO problems with me coming over to hang at his house though. (WHich I, unappropriately pointing out, found 20$ in a pile of leaves gathered in the street while walking to his house.)I didn't like hanging out Inside. I'm mostly an Outdoors kind of Human. Excuse me..Worthless piece of Pot-stenched, Jail Decor. As you could probably imagine, Ben wasn't even allowed to watch rated:R flicks until he was 18. This type of "Etiquette" is still taught these days, I just wonder to what high of a degree it's taking. After all, some people could really learn a thing or two from watching "Material suited for Mature Audiences" while keeping your eyes fixed as an "Immature Human." They're being..intellectually Screwed Over! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: