Where’s the public outrage? People’s homes are being threatened by fire and flood all over the country and they spends thousands of dollars and send hundreds of FBI, DEA etc persons to raid gardens?!?
So much money, man power, effort….and all for the WRONG DRUG. METH HOUSES are everywhere, obvious to drive by. Meth is killing people, ruining property, lives and families. Our County officials know it, as does everyone, if ONLY THEY HAD PUT THE EFFORT INTO STOPPING METH, we’d be much better off. Speak to any Humboldt County officer, meth is the real problem, and no one seems to care, least of all our government and the police. Stupid as hell and i’m pissed off about it.
101 North glassblowers learned the hard way that being in HighTimes mag. is the kiss of death.The branded name”HUMBOLDT” & all the media pub. about grows will haunt Humboldt for months if not years to come.This is just the “gentleman start your engines” part; the race will last a while.Feds with their minimum mandatory sentences will turn even good bros bad & 10yrs to life will bring a many man to his knees.God bless Humboldt & Blessings to her children! Just in Dispensaries have been visited!
Hold up, people. We don’t know the whole story yet. As much as we all value our Humboldt Way of Life, there ARE powerful forces out there that are a big problem. Namely, large organized operations run by outside entities that exist through fear and violence, with absolutely no regard for our community. These aren’t everyday folks just trying to make a living. If these are the people being targeted, then maybe – just maybe – this could be a good thing.
Continuing to set marijuana as an enforcement priority, compared to going after the manufacturing of far more dangerous and debilitation substances such as meth, or focusing on other classes of crime and public safety, does seem to be more of the same Suits vs. Sandals culture war that’s been going on since the 60s. Still, I’m not so sure living next to some of these bathtub horticultural Einsteins that have been causing all the conflagrations and oil-extraction propane explosions of late is as sublime as some would hold. Until the laws change, as long as the investigations and search & seisures are being conducted legally (unlike, say, Operation Green sweep back in 1990), I really can’t see a reason to cry foul too loud. “Chickens coming home to roost” and all that…
why do people keep mentioning big grows? the only bust reported so far has yielded 20-30 plants. CAMP is obviously much more efficient and knowledgeable than the feds.
The FBI are pawns. All the growers know that heavy enforcement will only drive the price of weed higher, which is ultimately good for business. People have been complaining about low prices for years now. If there is no regulated tax on weed, you eventually get the random tax.
I believe they are here due to large scale growers from south of the border that brings illegals, maybe forced labor for those illegals to ‘work’ the large grow and along with that, violence to not only protect that grow site on federal land, but also to be effective in keeping thier laborers captive. Then there is the fact that certain people like to come into this area and commit armed robberies. They think since the transaction is illegal that the people they rob at gun point will not report it. WRONG!. It happens much too often to ignore. It is not an isolated incident anymore. It will of course drive the price up, but at what cost? The actions taken by the FBI, DEA and lcoal law enforcement will leave locals feeling threatened, violated in some cases and paranoid to grow medically for fear they will be survailed and mistaken for profiteers. We now reside in a fishbowl thanks to ugly greedy and violent organized criminals that don’t even have citizenship. Think about this when you vote.
This sting has been in the works for 2 years now THEY CLAIM, so the actions taking place now would be just to gather hard evidence to back up the information they have been compiling for the last ‘two years’. They don’t need to find large amounts of product, just the equipment to grow it and probably paper trails to prove profit. They have more than likely already made undercover buys and videotaped transactions. They also have obviously leaked this sting to the press for more effect. The rumor has been going around warning of this sting for more than a week now. I don’t think that is protocol for the average drug bust. They have always been covert as far as I know. I believe they have gone public because this is an election year. Jeez, everyone knows government entities take advantage of every opportunity to look like heros. Saving us from wicked villians AND ourselves, thus proving the ‘need’ for them in the first place. I just wish they could be effective where we need them to be (like on the borders) so these large scale grows didn’t happen in the first place to warrant this HUGE drain on tax payers to foot the bill on this so called sting. How many millions did this two year investigation take? They could have put that into building a wall dividing us from the ‘foriegn drug cartel’ as the Eureka Reporter called them a couple weeks ago. Doesn’t the ER know how to spell Mexican? Who would they offend by calling a spade a spade? Well they would offend the Mexican drug cartel and the corrupt Mexican government.
Not all grows are harmless. There are huge criminal grow operations going on in this area, and they definitely do not contribute to the economy in the way traditional grows do.
If this is who the feds are targeting (lets hope it is), then maybe both sides of this argument can be happy for once.
Kevin Hoover should try walking around Eureka serving letters to suspected meth houses. Oh wait, he doesn’t live there, I forgot, it’s quite alright then, isn’t it Kevin?
Or you, 5:55 could step up to the plate. Why leave it all to Kevin. He has shown you the way, shown you that it can be done.
You care about the meth houses? Do something about it.
It’s interesting reading the comments all over today – the overriding theme is “How dare they!” Well, it is ILLEGAL. You know it. That’s why you hide your grows in growhouses. It’s no surprise. You took the risk. You thought you were willing to pay the price. Now you’ll get a chance to prove it. (speaking generically, 5:55, the collective “you”).
You can’t just pick and choose the laws you like and want enforced. This – and the illegal workers – you don’t like the law, fine, but you can’t ignore them and bust someone else for some law you do like. That is not EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW.
For those of you complaining about the feds going after growers instead of the meth problem in this area, you are talking apples and oranges. What has one got to do with the other? Thats like saying they should go after burglers instead or murderers instead. The meth problem in this area does not compare to the marijuana industry. Just because marijuana is more socially acceptable than meth doesn’t mean meth is more illegal than marijuana grown for profit. If you look at the meth industry you would see it does not generate as much profit, its use is not shared by as many people and there is not as many meth labs as there are commercial grows. The law is written to prosecute ALL law breakers even meth users, manufacturers and distributors. Right now they are concentrating on the marijuana industry. Growers in this county have been publicly bragging for years through the media about ‘the ganga’ that they grow here. I can’t go anywhere it seems and tell anyone where I reside without a comment about what is believed to be Humboldts main and maybe only remaining industry ‘marijuana’. While I support medical marijuana growers, It’s embarrassing when this happens or for people to assume I use marijuana because I live here. You growers that wanted infamy for what you produce now have it. You have lured the mexican drug cartel to exploit this area for thier gain through your constant and continued bragging and THAT brought the feds in. You don’t see magazines published bragging about meth labs with photos of the manufacturers ‘product’ for bragging rights on who makes the best, most potent meth. (well maybe because meth makes them paranoid), but you get my point. And no I am not a supporter of meth manufacturing. I think they are the scum of the earth, but again one has nothing to do with the other and the meth industry (if you can call it that) is not as big, widespread or profitable. In fact its not even an industry. Its more of a disease that is self inflicted by select few in this county. I do hope the feds are here to ‘bust’ the Mexican cartel and hopefully not just deport them, but try them as drug king[ins and sentence them accordingly. I also hope this will be a lesson to all you growers out there and you will rethink sending your grow pics into high times magazine. Nothing good ever comes from being a braggert. You put us on the map. Thanks a lot. We have made national news to say the least and we are world renowned for an illegal industry. Nice.
hopefully its the mexicans the F.B.I. is pertaining to when they say they’re only targeting “one single group of individuals”. If thats the case, then more power to their out of control cause. Could the rest of us please get a lifetime prescription of valum so we can try to subdue the side effects from this invasion. Plus I swear every S.U.V. looks like a damn un-marked law enforcement vehicle. I didn’t notice that until today. They are everywhere. WOO-HOO!!!!!!!!
I just wish they could be effective where we need them to be (like on the borders) so these large scale grows didn’t happen in the first place to warrant this HUGE drain on tax payers to foot the bill on this so called sting. How many millions did this two year investigation take? They could have put that into building a wall dividing us from the ‘foriegn drug cartel’ as the Eureka Reporter called them a couple weeks ago. Doesn’t the ER know how to spell Mexican? Who would they offend by calling a spade a spade? Well they would offend the Mexican drug cartel and the corrupt Mexican government.
Let me put this in small words for you: the feds aren’t here for the Mexican cartels. (Stay tuned for the military on that count.)
Our Army guys built a big fence along a lot of the Mexican border, just like you want. That made it cost more to drive many truckloads of weed across the border. That’s why the cartels have started growing on our public lands instead.
You might as well build a great wall against the weather.
i live in eureka, and they hit me last night. i was scripted for everything and they still took me to jail! unless you are running A light i would cut and run.
Humboldt county needs this shakedown. This county used to a friendly area to live,to play,but the new people ,attracted to the pot culture moving into this county,are almost as bad as yuppies.And like yuppies,they are here from out of California,{or the state of Southern California},to make profit,exploit, and foul the beautiful north coast. Though I am not a supporter of slob law enforcement,or overgovernment,I am agaist the abuse,miss use of the land, both private and public -owned.Our Habitat for salmon ,steelhead,and all other wildlife is degrading,every year,and this is on the taxpayer’s dime.Houses and neighborhoods are devauled,as well ,due these operations.I say bust these for profit grow operations,send em packing back where they came or to jail.This county has enough free -loaders,and leeches{Hippies and government officials}. Pot should be legal and treated like wine ,beer,and cigarettes,over 21 and taxed. This will rid the county of the criminal ,and for profit groups and let Joe and Joanne Putjuilli grow a few plants for personal use.{Taxed of course}. When that happens the land can heal,people can hike where they like ,with out fear of walking into a illegal grow. If we love this county this is what needs to be done,otherwise it will soon be as SOCAL is. FUBR. Bring on more raids,enforce the law, for the people ,the wildlife and the land.
what a crock marijuana growing is not harmful but helpful to the land and the environment of the planet, the rainforests are being plundered and the atmosphere trashed by this hemp puts tons of oxygen back in the atmosphere and if people want to smoke it to giggle and get some temporary pain relief, what it the big deal? If the George bushes can make millions on polluting oil then why can’t a few hippies who don’t want to work grunt slave jobs nine to five make some money selling giggles too? Yeah let’s get more police and get closer to the facism where we are rapidly heading. some of these idiots should go to the Anne Franck museum in Amsterdam where they have an exhibit on the development of facism in a country and society,. I guess people have forgotten all about ww2 and Hitler,. well I have not
I’ll allow that cannabis, where responsibly cultivated (not involving energy-intensive artificial lighting, generators, sensitive vegetation removal, diesel spills into anadromous creeks, trashing of natural areas, or wannbe Rambo’s boobytrapping their patches) may very well have a legitimate role in carbon sequestration, as an alternative fuelstock, and, arguably ought be be either fullly legalized or at least decriminalized for personal use and appropriate commercial uses. However, I fail to see where valid critiques on the dubious reasons for and benefits of interdiction against it warrants being conflated with the historic genocidal events you cite.
Ok…here is the real scoop as to how all of this went down. Sure, the investigation has been going for 2 years, but so have lots of others so here is the sequence which triggered it. It is August in the little city of Arcata. The dictator,er, director of the Humboldt Cooperative is running all over town blabbing his big mouth about how THC is the only fully compliant medical pot dispensary in the state of california. Well, somebody knows otherwise, and tired of the sick old man’s mouth, Eric of HMS,LLC threatens to turn THC in for code violations in their nursery. So the CEO of THC tries to beat Eric to the punch by calling the city of Arcata “preemptively” to get the site inspected (not his idea, but he takes credit for it.) Then he runs all over town telling everyone how proactive THC is by making sure everything is in compliance. This, my friends, is what triggered the federal action. Because the CEO of THC had such a big, uncontrollable mouth, the city had to address this industry in an official capacity, thus all the ensuing uproar. The point being: don’t blame the Arcata Eye for something some sick old man did. If the nut had just kept his mouth shut and made THC about serving the community and not about serving his ego, this whole thing would never have happened. But really, the fact THC is shutting down the house grow is part of serving the ego of the CEO. What? They are shutting down the house grow? That’s right. Why? Because the CEO can’t micromanage what is beyond his ability to comprehend, and the CEO of THC hasn’t the particular mental facilities required to understand, much less practice, indoor floriculture. Thus begins the plan of setting up black box greenhouses, reducing the quality of the house medicine available to the patients. The CEO has the tools to handle putting a plant in a pot of dirt and giving it sun, but that’s about it. I feel very sorry for the clients of THC, because it seems the CEO is going to shut the dispensary down if he can’t exert complete control over it and everyone who works there. It is apparent he would rather see the dispensary shut down than to turn over administration to someone sane and competent. This is how unable to comprehend basic not for profit law the CEO is: California law has required, since 2004, not for profits to register, within 30 days of incorporation, with the Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable trust. If one chooses to check the registry, one will find the absence of either The Humboldt Cooperative or The Humboldt California Association, which is doing business as The Humboldt Cooperative. Another question is, since THC is making so much money, why isn’t there an attorney on retainer to help the employees in the case of a bust? Yet another question: non-profits are not allowed to arbitrarily switch directions, which is exactly what THC is doing by shutting down the indoor operations in Arcata and opening up in an older, previously used medical pot warehouse in Crescent City and exploring black box greenhouses. One would assume the product produced there, out of the eye of the green city of Arcata, is what would be dispensed to the unknowing clients, and the nursery jobs, as well as the other local economic benefits associated with production, will leave Arcata with the grow. All in the name of the CEO feeding his ego and exerting power and control over people. Every client and beneficiary of THC and THCA is, because THC is a not for profit (allegedly), a stake holder in the business. If there is a corrupt, dysfunctional, or other grossly incompetent “controller” of a non-profit, the public has tools, through the Attorney general of California, to remove the offending board member. Since THC has no bylaws to remove board members with cause, it is left to the public to do so. THC would benefit greatly from competent management. There is also a grey mustang, owned by the company, which word on the street says is for personal use. I suggest verifying this rumor before accusing anyone of inappropriate use of non-profit property.
jackie mango, QUITE snitching. pointing fingrs isn’t going to help the situation. if anything we should be pointing the finger at the editor of the arcata eye… i hope he doesnt feel comfortable in his own home! i hope he is as scared as the rest of the community for his safety!
It seems y’all are still freakin out on your own personal tangents. “It’s Kevin Hoover”, “It’s T.H.C.” “Mexican/Outsider Cartels” Yatta yatta yatta.
Well, my tangental opinion is that every few months we have a new set of catch phrases in the media/community conversation that become the buzz. Diesel Dope. Oil Spillage. Trash in the woods. Mexicans (always good for fear generation)So. Cal. Outsiders. Pit Bulls. I get tired of trying to keep up with the fashionable dialogue of division.
They know where the meth labs are, yet they harass a bunch of harmless pot growers. It’s been reported there are as many as 50 meth labs near the mouth of the Klamath River, yet law enforcement never takes any action there:
According to the Del Norte Sheriff’s Department, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department and Larry Hand of the California Conservation Corps (CCC), a CCC crew run by John Buttons discovered several large glass flasks used for cooking methamphetamine on Ohpah Creek, a tributary of the Klamath River just 21 miles from the mouth of the river. The flasks were found in the summer of 2002 and were left on Simpson Timber Company land above the Ohpah Creek Ranch. It now turns out the flasks were part of what is known as a “meth dump.” That is where the unused residue and cooking utensils from labs are discarded. A Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department official used a recent dumpsite at Colusa, to explain, “Mexican nationals had dumped their old chemicals and supplies into an irrigation canal.”
Two persons interviewed claimed there are five meth labs between Weitchpec and the river mouth. One of the labs is known to both civilian and law enforcement as the “Crystal Palace.” When asked, one Siskiyou County law enforcement official said, “If the truth were know, there are probably 50 labs.” … The entire 41 miles of river between Weitchpec and the river mouth has no roads and is completely isolated from any civilization.
There are dozens of documented cases of Mexican and Asian drug cartels using remote areas to both grow marijuana, and manufacture meth. These cases include the Klamath River area. This has resulted in concerns for the safety of all users; either national forests and/or Bureau of Land Management lands or those who simply explore for recreation.
these people are not a “corporation”.they are landowners and families with MEDICAL GARDENS.the whitethorne house was completely scripted with no connections to ORGANIZED crime!one mans dogs were shot and many others abandoned as the feds herded everyone off the land.there are animals starving and dying of thirst RIGHT NOW because of the feds actions.in addition, people were forced to leave w/ the clothes on their backs.these r not criminals theyre ur neighbors!!!!!!!!
no threat intended. just frustrated that law abiding citizens are scared for their safety cause this guys knocking on doors of “grow houses” with people from the ny times and video cameras all in their faces. when will these people realize. THE CITIZENS OF CALIFORNIA VOTED ON THIS OVER A DECADE AGO! GET OVER IT! its only an issue because you want to force your opinion on to others.
You will have free showers, Please follow `the yellow ruber line and (do not talk the people.) Make up your mind what happened. (you dont need the facts )lets blame anyone “who was near. This has very little to do “with the war on drugs wake up and smell `the storm troopers. 5 millon $ operation `2yrs `over 400 SS officers 75,000 a plant? `Under stand_ most of the people on that `parcel could not aford to buy land else `where with inflated prices everyone money `grabing even the great honorable grape `farmers who provide for drunk killers. `So a good ole boy takes some land he has `and forms a corp to do split by, done all `over north here, Kids come in becase `afordable low down and the only way to get `to the american dream. Because they are on `the same parcel as a few biggies they `should have to forfeit their rights and be `lumped together. `This is a test you do not have to do `anything but stick your head in the sand. `You might laugh but you are next I have been speaking with lots of vets and `we are goig to cancel the nap and start to `organize. I am sorry to our youth who have `had to go thru this. `It is tme to lock and load our arms our `human arms. phone tree to come `I spoke with two people from India who are `now living in G ville and they said this `could not happen in their country because `250,000 people would be on the street the `next day, They are amazed that we except `the fuel prices ect, just shocks them the `apathy, they can not understand why. `ORGANIZE LETS ORGANIZE STAND UP FOR OUR `RIGHTS!!! `POLICE ORGY Everyone was there< I even saw `Jay Edgar with the face of death. Read wake up before its to late
I forgot to say what the raid was about here it is. Fiscal budget, You have a budget for the `year. and in Govterment the fiscal budget `ends at the end of June. If you still have a mil or what ever left over, that money will be that much less for the new budget that starts on July 1st. So pick your target and spend all leftover. Thats why we buy $500.00 toilet seat covers for the military. Our schools broke no money for fire fighters or to police Meth or murders unsolved and we have 4mil to spend on happy smoke. You tell me is this criminal??? Do the math somebody put it in black and white figures and you will bust the feds for throwing our money in the air. Budgets are pubic info, the math tracks are in those figures. Time to indict Govt!
well well I know first hand what it feels to be ripped off for my hard work. I was basiclly scammed all the way to the finish line. I was offered to buy land that i would not offically own until 2012 I paid almost 100000 over four years for a bunch of grief. What did I get, lets see… A piece of property with no roads, lots of water and serious assholes for neighbors that didnt want me there who tried to run me off because my legal amount of plants would invite cops in to bust the rather large greenhouse operations, and finally my personal residence was raided and my legal operations eradicated pushing me into near bankruptcy. I feel used. What next, well colective cannabis growing is the future of legal marijuana. You can pay yourself a salary as long as all the members benifit, maybe the two house bills on the floor pick up with obama as prez both rescedule canabis to class three allowing medical canabis nation wide. What orher industry in america produces a real product and creates as many jobs and revenue as marijuana. According to the california state bord of equilization they gladly take tax money for sales between collecteve members. We need to be more orginized in the future and quit tring to keep up with the “Joanses” and work together tieing this industry that creates jobs and helthcare for americans together.
much kudos to you and everyone else who is trying to provide good coverage on this.
tune into KHUM for lots of updates.
thanks again.
a little quickie deconstruction:
“Southern Sweep”
1 – insert Nixon/Rove joke here.
2 – see Lynyrd Skynyrd’s advice to Neil Young.
3 – “sweep” ? targeted operation
Hey, I thought it was FBI Fever. It has everyone shaking and sweating around here.
Does anyone know anything about the bust in Whale Gulch?
It should have everyone shaking and sweating.
That includes all of us law-abiding, peace-loving citizens that don’t think or believe they (we) have anything to hide.
Where’s the public outrage? People’s homes are being threatened by fire and flood all over the country and they spends thousands of dollars and send hundreds of FBI, DEA etc persons to raid gardens?!?
So much money, man power, effort….and all for the WRONG DRUG. METH HOUSES are everywhere, obvious to drive by. Meth is killing people, ruining property, lives and families. Our County officials know it, as does everyone, if ONLY THEY HAD PUT THE EFFORT INTO STOPPING METH, we’d be much better off. Speak to any Humboldt County officer, meth is the real problem, and no one seems to care, least of all our government and the police. Stupid as hell and i’m pissed off about it.
But officer, why are you stopping ME??
That other guy was going faster. You should go after real criminals and ticket him, not me.
I’m a good person, love my mom, have two dogs. He’s a bad person, cuts off bicycles and pedestrians.
JUST PLEEZE, ANYONE ELSE
NOT ME! NOT ME! NOT ME!
2.13, fuck off.
err 2.31 (dyslexia)
101 North glassblowers learned the hard way that being in HighTimes mag. is the kiss of death.The branded name”HUMBOLDT” & all the media pub. about grows will haunt Humboldt for months if not years to come.This is just the “gentleman start your engines” part; the race will last a while.Feds with their minimum mandatory sentences will turn even good bros bad & 10yrs to life will bring a many man to his knees.God bless Humboldt & Blessings to her children!
Just in Dispensaries have been visited!
Hold up, people. We don’t know the whole story yet. As much as we all value our Humboldt Way of Life, there ARE powerful forces out there that are a big problem. Namely, large organized operations run by outside entities that exist through fear and violence, with absolutely no regard for our community. These aren’t everyday folks just trying to make a living. If these are the people being targeted, then maybe – just maybe – this could be a good thing.
I’m just sayin’.
p.s. Jackie Greene is a jerk. 😉
Continuing to set marijuana as an enforcement priority, compared to going after the manufacturing of far more dangerous and debilitation substances such as meth, or focusing on other classes of crime and public safety, does seem to be more of the same Suits vs. Sandals culture war that’s been going on since the 60s. Still, I’m not so sure living next to some of these bathtub horticultural Einsteins that have been causing all the conflagrations and oil-extraction propane explosions of late is as sublime as some would hold. Until the laws change, as long as the investigations and search & seisures are being conducted legally (unlike, say, Operation Green sweep back in 1990), I really can’t see a reason to cry foul too loud. “Chickens coming home to roost” and all that…
why do people keep mentioning big grows? the only bust reported so far has yielded 20-30 plants. CAMP is obviously much more efficient and knowledgeable than the feds.
The FBI are pawns. All the growers know that heavy enforcement will only drive the price of weed higher, which is ultimately good for business. People have been complaining about low prices for years now. If there is no regulated tax on weed, you eventually get the random tax.
I believe they are here due to large scale growers from south of the border that brings illegals, maybe forced labor for those illegals to ‘work’ the large grow and along with that, violence to not only protect that grow site on federal land, but also to be effective in keeping thier laborers captive. Then there is the fact that certain people like to come into this area and commit armed robberies. They think since the transaction is illegal that the people they rob at gun point will not report it. WRONG!. It happens much too often to ignore. It is not an isolated incident anymore.
It will of course drive the price up, but at what cost? The actions taken by the FBI, DEA and lcoal law enforcement will leave locals feeling threatened, violated in some cases and paranoid to grow medically for fear they will be survailed and mistaken for profiteers.
We now reside in a fishbowl thanks to ugly greedy and violent organized criminals that don’t even have citizenship. Think about this when you vote.
This sting has been in the works for 2 years now THEY CLAIM, so the actions taking place now would be just to gather hard evidence to back up the information they have been compiling for the last ‘two years’.
They don’t need to find large amounts of product, just the equipment to grow it and probably paper trails to prove profit. They have more than likely already made undercover buys and videotaped transactions. They also have obviously leaked this sting to the press for more effect. The rumor has been going around warning of this sting for more than a week now. I don’t think that is protocol for the average drug bust. They have always been covert as far as I know.
I believe they have gone public because this is an election year.
Jeez, everyone knows government entities take advantage of every opportunity to look like heros. Saving us from wicked villians AND ourselves, thus proving the ‘need’ for them in the first place.
I just wish they could be effective where we need them to be (like on the borders) so these large scale grows didn’t happen in the first place to warrant this HUGE drain on tax payers to foot the bill on this so called sting. How many millions did this two year investigation take? They could have put that into building a wall dividing us from the ‘foriegn drug cartel’ as the Eureka Reporter called them a couple weeks ago. Doesn’t the ER know how to spell Mexican?
Who would they offend by calling a spade a spade? Well they would offend the Mexican drug cartel and the corrupt Mexican government.
Not all grows are harmless. There are huge criminal grow operations going on in this area, and they definitely do not contribute to the economy in the way traditional grows do.
If this is who the feds are targeting (lets hope it is), then maybe both sides of this argument can be happy for once.
Kevin Hoover should try walking around Eureka serving letters to suspected meth houses. Oh wait, he doesn’t live there, I forgot, it’s quite alright then, isn’t it Kevin?
Or you, 5:55 could step up to the plate. Why leave it all to Kevin. He has shown you the way, shown you that it can be done.
You care about the meth houses? Do something about it.
It’s interesting reading the comments all over today – the overriding theme is “How dare they!” Well, it is ILLEGAL. You know it. That’s why you hide your grows in growhouses. It’s no surprise. You took the risk. You thought you were willing to pay the price. Now you’ll get a chance to prove it. (speaking generically, 5:55, the collective “you”).
You can’t just pick and choose the laws you like and want enforced. This – and the illegal workers – you don’t like the law, fine, but you can’t ignore them and bust someone else for some law you do like. That is not EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW.
For those of you complaining about the feds going after growers instead of the meth problem in this area, you are talking apples and oranges. What has one got to do with the other? Thats like saying they should go after burglers instead or murderers instead. The meth problem in this area does not compare to the marijuana industry. Just because marijuana is more socially acceptable than meth doesn’t mean meth is more illegal than marijuana grown for profit. If you look at the meth industry you would see it does not generate as much profit, its use is not shared by as many people and there is not as many meth labs as there are commercial grows.
The law is written to prosecute ALL law breakers even meth users, manufacturers and distributors. Right now they are concentrating on the marijuana industry. Growers in this county have been publicly bragging for years through the media about ‘the ganga’ that they grow here. I can’t go anywhere it seems and tell anyone where I reside without a comment about what is believed to be Humboldts main and maybe only remaining industry ‘marijuana’. While I support medical marijuana growers, It’s embarrassing when this happens or for people to assume I use marijuana because I live here. You growers that wanted infamy for what you produce now have it. You have lured the mexican drug cartel to exploit this area for thier gain through your constant and continued bragging and THAT brought the feds in. You don’t see magazines published bragging about meth labs with photos of the manufacturers ‘product’ for bragging rights on who makes the best, most potent meth. (well maybe because meth makes them paranoid), but you get my point. And no I am not a supporter of meth manufacturing. I think they are the scum of the earth, but again one has nothing to do with the other and the meth industry (if you can call it that) is not as big, widespread or profitable. In fact its not even an industry. Its more of a disease that is self inflicted by select few in this county.
I do hope the feds are here to ‘bust’ the Mexican cartel and hopefully not just deport them, but try them as drug king[ins and sentence them accordingly. I also hope this will be a lesson to all you growers out there and you will rethink sending your grow pics into high times magazine. Nothing good ever comes from being a braggert. You put us on the map. Thanks a lot. We have made national news to say the least and we are world renowned for an illegal industry. Nice.
hopefully its the mexicans the F.B.I. is pertaining to when they say they’re only targeting “one single group of individuals”. If thats the case, then more power to their out of control cause. Could the rest of us please get a lifetime prescription of valum so we can try to subdue the side effects from this invasion. Plus I swear every S.U.V. looks like a damn un-marked law enforcement vehicle. I didn’t notice that until today. They are everywhere. WOO-HOO!!!!!!!!
Let me put this in small words for you: the feds aren’t here for the Mexican cartels. (Stay tuned for the military on that count.)
Our Army guys built a big fence along a lot of the Mexican border, just like you want. That made it cost more to drive many truckloads of weed across the border. That’s why the cartels have started growing on our public lands instead.
You might as well build a great wall against the weather.
what makes me laugh is that they have a 7.5 million $ truck / command center for busting pot heads. and they still cant get it right
Maybe I’m just bitter, but I wonder how a blog that does nothing but post a link gets to be featured on Wordpress.
i live in eureka, and they hit me last night. i was scripted for everything and they still took me to jail! unless you are running A light i would cut and run.
Can anyone say Josh Hedlend??????????????
Humboldt county needs this shakedown.
This county used to a friendly area to live,to play,but the new people ,attracted to the pot culture moving into this county,are almost as bad as yuppies.And like yuppies,they are here from out of California,{or the state of Southern California},to make profit,exploit, and foul the beautiful north coast.
Though I am not a supporter of slob law enforcement,or overgovernment,I am agaist the abuse,miss use of the land, both private and public -owned.Our Habitat for salmon ,steelhead,and all other wildlife is degrading,every year,and this is on the taxpayer’s dime.Houses and neighborhoods are devauled,as well ,due these operations.I say bust these for profit grow operations,send em packing back where they came or to jail.This county has enough free -loaders,and leeches{Hippies and government officials}.
Pot should be legal and treated like wine ,beer,and cigarettes,over 21 and taxed.
This will rid the county of the criminal ,and for profit groups and let Joe and Joanne Putjuilli grow a few plants for personal use.{Taxed of course}.
When that happens the land can heal,people can hike where they like ,with out fear of walking into a illegal grow.
If we love this county this is what needs to be done,otherwise it will soon be as SOCAL is.
FUBR.
Bring on more raids,enforce the law,
for the people ,the wildlife and the land.
what a crock marijuana growing is not harmful but helpful to the land and the environment of the planet, the rainforests are being plundered and the atmosphere trashed by this hemp puts tons of oxygen back in the atmosphere and if people want to smoke it to giggle and get some temporary pain relief, what it the big deal? If the George bushes can make millions on polluting oil then why can’t a few hippies who don’t want to work grunt slave jobs nine to five make some money selling giggles too? Yeah let’s get more police and get closer to the facism where we are rapidly heading. some of these idiots should go to the Anne Franck museum in Amsterdam where they have an exhibit on the development of facism in a country and society,. I guess people have forgotten all about ww2 and Hitler,. well I have not
frick, I’m calling “Godwin’s Law” on you.
I’ll allow that cannabis, where responsibly cultivated (not involving energy-intensive artificial lighting, generators, sensitive vegetation removal, diesel spills into anadromous creeks, trashing of natural areas, or wannbe Rambo’s boobytrapping their patches) may very well have a legitimate role in carbon sequestration, as an alternative fuelstock, and, arguably ought be be either fullly legalized or at least decriminalized for personal use and appropriate commercial uses. However, I fail to see where valid critiques on the dubious reasons for and benefits of interdiction against it warrants being conflated with the historic genocidal events you cite.
Oops, I meant “Rambos” not the possessive… Lynne Truss (“Eats, Shoots, and Leaves”) would cane me if she saw that…
Ok…here is the real scoop as to how all of this went down. Sure, the investigation has been going for 2 years, but so have lots of others so here is the sequence which triggered it.
It is August in the little city of Arcata. The dictator,er, director of the Humboldt Cooperative is running all over town blabbing his big mouth about how THC is the only fully compliant medical pot dispensary in the state of california. Well, somebody knows otherwise, and tired of the sick old man’s mouth, Eric of HMS,LLC threatens to turn THC in for code violations in their nursery. So the CEO of THC tries to beat Eric to the punch by calling the city of Arcata “preemptively” to get the site inspected (not his idea, but he takes credit for it.) Then he runs all over town telling everyone how proactive THC is by making sure everything is in compliance. This, my friends, is what triggered the federal action. Because the CEO of THC had such a big, uncontrollable mouth, the city had to address this industry in an official capacity, thus all the ensuing uproar. The point being: don’t blame the Arcata Eye for something some sick old man did. If the nut had just kept his mouth shut and made THC about serving the community and not about serving his ego, this whole thing would never have happened. But really, the fact THC is shutting down the house grow is part of serving the ego of the CEO. What? They are shutting down the house grow? That’s right. Why? Because the CEO can’t micromanage what is beyond his ability to comprehend, and the CEO of THC hasn’t the particular mental facilities required to understand, much less practice, indoor floriculture. Thus begins the plan of setting up black box greenhouses, reducing the quality of the house medicine available to the patients. The CEO has the tools to handle putting a plant in a pot of dirt and giving it sun, but that’s about it. I feel very sorry for the clients of THC, because it seems the CEO is going to shut the dispensary down if he can’t exert complete control over it and everyone who works there. It is apparent he would rather see the dispensary shut down than to turn over administration to someone sane and competent. This is how unable to comprehend basic not for profit law the CEO is: California law has required, since 2004, not for profits to register, within 30 days of incorporation, with the Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable trust. If one chooses to check the registry, one will find the absence of either The Humboldt Cooperative or The Humboldt California Association, which is doing business as The Humboldt Cooperative. Another question is, since THC is making so much money, why isn’t there an attorney on retainer to help the employees in the case of a bust? Yet another question: non-profits are not allowed to arbitrarily switch directions, which is exactly what THC is doing by shutting down the indoor operations in Arcata and opening up in an older, previously used medical pot warehouse in Crescent City and exploring black box greenhouses. One would assume the product produced there, out of the eye of the green city of Arcata, is what would be dispensed to the unknowing clients, and the nursery jobs, as well as the other local economic benefits associated with production, will leave Arcata with the grow. All in the name of the CEO feeding his ego and exerting power and control over people. Every client and beneficiary of THC and THCA is, because THC is a not for profit (allegedly), a stake holder in the business. If there is a corrupt, dysfunctional, or other grossly incompetent “controller” of a non-profit, the public has tools, through the Attorney general of California, to remove the offending board member. Since THC has no bylaws to remove board members with cause, it is left to the public to do so. THC would benefit greatly from competent management. There is also a grey mustang, owned by the company, which word on the street says is for personal use. I suggest verifying this rumor before accusing anyone of inappropriate use of non-profit property.
jackie mango, QUITE snitching. pointing fingrs isn’t going to help the situation. if anything we should be pointing the finger at the editor of the arcata eye… i hope he doesnt feel comfortable in his own home! i hope he is as scared as the rest of the community for his safety!
It seems y’all are still freakin out on your own personal tangents. “It’s Kevin Hoover”, “It’s T.H.C.” “Mexican/Outsider Cartels” Yatta yatta yatta.
Well, my tangental opinion is that every few months we have a new set of catch phrases in the media/community conversation that become the buzz. Diesel Dope. Oil Spillage. Trash in the woods. Mexicans (always good for fear generation)So. Cal. Outsiders. Pit Bulls.
I get tired of trying to keep up with the fashionable dialogue of division.
@Anonymous 8:59
Are your Kevin Hoover safety comments a threat?
They know where the meth labs are, yet they harass a bunch of harmless pot growers. It’s been reported there are as many as 50 meth labs near the mouth of the Klamath River, yet law enforcement never takes any action there:
http://goodneighborlaw.com/articles_GNL/2007/7-18CauseSalmonDeaths.htm
Excerpts:
According to the Del Norte Sheriff’s Department, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department and Larry Hand of the California Conservation Corps (CCC), a CCC crew run by John Buttons discovered several large glass flasks used for cooking methamphetamine on Ohpah Creek, a tributary of the Klamath River just 21 miles from the mouth of the river. The flasks were found in the summer of 2002 and were left on Simpson Timber Company land above the Ohpah Creek Ranch. It now turns out the flasks were part of what is known as a “meth dump.” That is where the unused residue and cooking utensils from labs are discarded. A Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department official used a recent dumpsite at Colusa, to explain, “Mexican nationals had dumped their old chemicals and supplies into an irrigation canal.”
Two persons interviewed claimed there are five meth labs between Weitchpec and the river mouth. One of the labs is known to both civilian and law enforcement as the “Crystal Palace.” When asked, one Siskiyou County law enforcement official said, “If the truth were know, there are probably 50 labs.” … The entire 41 miles of river between Weitchpec and the river mouth has no roads and is completely isolated from any civilization.
There are dozens of documented cases of Mexican and Asian drug cartels using remote areas to both grow marijuana, and manufacture meth. These cases include the Klamath River area. This has resulted in concerns for the safety of all users; either national forests and/or Bureau of Land Management lands or those who simply explore for recreation.
these people are not a “corporation”.they are landowners and families with MEDICAL GARDENS.the whitethorne house was completely scripted with no connections to ORGANIZED crime!one mans dogs were shot and many others abandoned as the feds herded everyone off the land.there are animals starving and dying of thirst RIGHT NOW because of the feds actions.in addition, people were forced to leave w/ the clothes on their backs.these r not criminals theyre ur neighbors!!!!!!!!
no threat intended. just frustrated that law abiding citizens are scared for their safety cause this guys knocking on doors of “grow houses” with people from the ny times and video cameras all in their faces. when will these people realize. THE CITIZENS OF CALIFORNIA VOTED ON THIS OVER A DECADE AGO! GET OVER IT! its only an issue because you want to force your opinion on to others.
You will have free showers, Please follow `the yellow ruber line and (do not talk the
people.) Make up your mind what happened. (you dont need the facts )lets blame anyone “who was near. This has very little to do “with the war on drugs wake up and smell `the storm troopers. 5 millon $ operation `2yrs
`over 400 SS officers 75,000 a plant?
`Under stand_ most of the people on that `parcel could not aford to buy land else `where with inflated prices everyone money `grabing even the great honorable grape `farmers who provide for drunk killers.
`So a good ole boy takes some land he has `and forms a corp to do split by, done all `over north here, Kids come in becase `afordable low down and the only way to get `to the american dream. Because they are on `the same parcel as a few biggies they `should have to forfeit their rights and be `lumped together.
`This is a test you do not have to do `anything but stick your head in the sand.
`You might laugh but you are next
I have been speaking with lots of vets and `we are goig to cancel the nap and start to `organize. I am sorry to our youth who have `had to go thru this.
`It is tme to lock and load our arms our `human arms. phone tree to come
`I spoke with two people from India who are `now living in G ville and they said this `could not happen in their country because `250,000 people would be on the street the `next day, They are amazed that we except `the fuel prices ect, just shocks them the `apathy, they can not understand why.
`ORGANIZE LETS ORGANIZE STAND UP FOR OUR `RIGHTS!!!
`POLICE ORGY Everyone was there< I even saw `Jay Edgar with the face of death.
Read wake up before its to late
I forgot to say what the raid was about
here it is.
Fiscal budget, You have a budget for the `year. and in Govterment the fiscal budget `ends at the end of June.
If you still have a mil or what ever left over, that money will be that much less for the new budget that starts on July 1st. So pick your target and spend all leftover. Thats why we buy $500.00 toilet seat covers for the military.
Our schools broke no money for fire fighters
or to police Meth or murders unsolved
and we have 4mil to spend on happy smoke.
You tell me is this criminal???
Do the math somebody put it in black and white figures and you will bust the feds for throwing our money in the air.
Budgets are pubic info, the math tracks are
in those figures.
Time to indict Govt!
well well I know first hand what it feels to be ripped off for my hard work. I was basiclly scammed all the way to the finish line. I was offered to buy land that i would not offically own until 2012 I paid almost 100000 over four years for a bunch of grief. What did I get, lets see… A piece of property with no roads, lots of water and serious assholes for neighbors that didnt want me there who tried to run me off because my legal amount of plants would invite cops in to bust the rather large greenhouse operations, and finally my personal residence was raided and my legal operations eradicated pushing me into near bankruptcy.
I feel used. What next, well colective cannabis growing is the future of legal marijuana. You can pay yourself a salary as long as all the members benifit, maybe the two house bills on the floor pick up with obama as prez both rescedule canabis to class three allowing medical canabis nation wide.
What orher industry in america produces a real product and creates as many jobs and revenue as marijuana. According to the california state bord of equilization they gladly take tax money for sales between collecteve members. We need to be more orginized in the future and quit tring to keep up with the “Joanses” and work together tieing this industry that creates jobs and helthcare for americans together.
til next time Maj. Resin