Posted on Jun 30, 2008 - 7:25
DEA FBI IRS raided marijuana growers in June 2008 in Humboldt county

It was the biggest news story in Humboldt County since prop 215 was voted into law. Rumors of federal raids on marijuana growers started way before official announcements were made, and by the time the 450 federal agents executed 29 search warrants in "Operation Southern Sweep" nearly every news outlet had joined the fray.

We at Humboldt County News, not having any direct connection to either end of the federal investigation, professional news media, or any reliable informants, chose to sit back and watch the news happen from a distance. Now that it's over, we have some opinions to share and points to highlight.

The public reaction to both the rumors and the actual FBI took to one of two extremes. Some of the (mostly anonymous) comments on various blogs praised the feds for coming in and at least attempting to clean out some of the large-scale organized crime related to marijuana production. And yet other people criticized the federal action and lack of local backlash in response to hundreds of federal agents "invading" parts of our county.

Here's what we think: Growing pot for profit is illegal, and those who get nabbed for such crimes deserve it. Compassionate use, growing enough for yourself and within the limits defined by the state or county, is a good thing, and people who follow the rules should be protected by state law. The giant ring of suspected organized marijuana growing conspirators that the FBI and State DOJ raided on June 24 was not doing good for the community, they were little more than pot profiteers, consumed by their own greed and too deep into their 2000 acre grow project to maintain any realistic perspective. The feds brought some perspective, and surely the IRS will be slapping some large charges of tax evasion upon the criminals behind the scam.

pot growers in humboldt county like to drive big expensive pickup trucks

To be honest, though, we were disappointed that the "sweep" wasn't more thorough. We still see countless growers around town flashing their black-market cash at stores, speeding down our streets in shiny $80k lifted pickup trucks, and spending their days driving from grow house to grow house to tend gardens and move illegal marijuana from place to place. Small time growers, keep up the small time work. Keep your day job, smoke your medicine, visit your local dispensary, whatever. But you big timers, evading taxes and raking in the black market cash, we wish you a visit from the feds some day, and a trip to court to explain how you managed to buy so many fancy things without ever working a real job or filing taxes.

Our community doesn't like big time crime, and we do not support big time criminal marijuana growing. Disagree? Just look at the local blogs and newspapers. Humboldt County is sick of greed, and we want our neighborhoods back. Even the NY Times covered that story.




<< Marijuana Legalization Could Be on November Ballots DEA Busts Major Marijuana Grows In Willits >>

false reporting

By you prick, on Jul 18, 2008 - 16:17
take that truck down or you will be sued for slander

lawyer

By Sam, on Jul 18, 2008 - 16:18
I know who drives this truck, he is not a grower, he is a good man who provides for his family, stop hating on the cash growers make and move the fuck out of Humboldt!

new reporter

By samPHX, on Jul 18, 2008 - 16:39
whoever wrote this, why do you live in HUmboldt county! I know you smoke pot everyday, so stop hatingon people who make money off it instead of wasting thier life smoking it and dreaming of what it would be like to take your son romping on the beach in an 80,0000 truck! but I would like to know whee is the proof the man who drives this truck is a grower? I will contact the owner of this truck who has more lawyers than your paper, and let him know he is being slandered! try getting your facts str8 befor you go taking pictures of trucks you wished you had but could never afford because you spend all your time and money smoking pot, bitch!

you dont reflect the opinions of Humboldt

By samPHX, on Jul 18, 2008 - 16:46
how many people wanted the feds to raid more peaceful pot growers? very few miniority! people in humboldt wish the feds would have never invaded private homes and disregarded the voters of california!!!!! I can guarantee you that the majority of people within Humboldt county wish the feds never destroyed the lives of the elite sohum growers, this is about land, not pot! the feds want the money and the land!!! so they will imprison fathers, brothers, and sons to get cash!to those who support the raids and have a plant or two in thier closet, guess what your next! dont hate the big timers because you never made it!

By Stealth, on Aug 4, 2008 - 7:24
Big timers aren't supported by prop 215.It isn't what the voters intended when the measure was passed. Get a real job idiots. We are coming for you. Hope you like getting slammed in prison by big Bubba.

By James, on Dec 12, 2008 - 8:55
I hope stealth gets raped.

The writer of this article needs to blow his own brains out with a gun, please: if you were ever considering it, consider again. You will not be missed. I found this site on accident: your entire life revolves around bitching. Thats makes you A BITCH!

By Oh My, on Jan 13, 2009 - 17:05
In all the hoopla, what ever did happen to those investigated? Why doesn't anyone ever mention the rampant welfare fraud that is perputuated by these growers. I know one person involved that is making about 10k tax free dollars a month yet only reporting about $700 a month income and is receiving every kind of state aid possible, she learned it from her buddies. They all do it. Bring in single mothers and help them screw their ex'es out of more child support while living like queens.

------------

By ------------, on Mar 2, 2009 - 21:34
Pot is a plant.It cannot kill you whatsoever. Cocaine can kill you. Marijuana is a fucking herb that God put on this planet, so fuck off cops and let the people grow and let the buyers choose to buy or not..Not the growers fault, its the buyers you should be worried about even though they should be left alone aswell, but i doubt that will happen. Just to let you fucking cops know, watch the the movie humboldt county and you will see what you could be doing. Oh and also look at all the good unsuspected people you think wouldnt smoke pot.. Ahem michael phelps for example.good guy, and a boss.

Fucking Police/dea/gov't

By Jeremy Pot smoker, on Mar 23, 2009 - 8:54
Cant take all of god's plants just keep trying asshole u will be overgrown with weeds soon and I hope that day comes even sooner power to the people and pot smoke on and medicinal use is the same as recreational use if one person has the right to smoke it then i shure as fuck do,I wonder how the cops would feel if me and my pothead friends came in their house with guns blazing taking there valuables. One day the tables will turn god is on my side not the ppl who have fun by killing my buzz oh yeah and Fuck Fuck Fuck all you policemen come on track m e down im ready

DEA huh

By JEREMY BITCHES, on Mar 23, 2009 - 9:01
You must be a damn eager asshole

im soo high right now man im gonna blow my smoke towards the cops we could care less in Tennessee and especially in cali whover first decided that pulling up marijuana plants benefits the economy must have been drunk lol which alcohol is a man made substANCE right along with many other easy legal ways for ppl to kill themselves its kinda funny how i have seizures dont drink and smoke pot and feel 2wice as good about my life than anylaw enforcement agency I mean they only work for the govt cuz they like to do as their told that ok yall can keep sucking off uncle sam im gonna get high and fuck around with ur wife whilst ur busy pulling up pot adios amigios

...

By ..., on Apr 20, 2009 - 21:17
WEED SAVES LIVES.

COPS END THEM.

THEY WILL NEVER STOP THE PRODUCT OF THE GREATEST DRUG!

Everyday, Dont Give A Shit

By Smoke Weed, on Jun 5, 2009 - 9:07
You Stupid Fuckin Bitch, I Think You Should Be Shot In The Back Of The Head.
You Have No Idea What Your Talking About.

my my

By passerby, on Jun 24, 2009 - 11:50
Damn, there are some seriously violent comments here. Who knew pot smokers could be so aggressive and violent?

AGAINST GROWERS

By Humboldt_resident, on Aug 28, 2009 - 15:30
Not everyone is for growing pot in fact most people in humboldt are against weed growers because everyone else is trying to make an honest living and pot growers just cheat their way through life...its not fair to my dad who had his dairy taken away from him where he worked twenty years because of some pot grower who wanted more land...SO TO CLARIFY YES MOST PEOPLE IN HUMBOLDT APPROVE THE MARIJUANA RAIDS

famedstrain89

By 24/7, on Sep 1, 2009 - 10:24
First off; We will always win. Pot will always grow free across this beautiful country we live in, as well as in so many others. We came to this country to be free, Fuck the DEA. Stop wasting your time, money, effort, lives attempting to suppress something that grows from the same earth and natural forces which gave breath to your own fucking children. If one is to build their argument against those who evade taxes, and if one is to say that this business should be fought against because those who grow marijuana cheat the system and should be jailed because they don't pay taxes like those in other lines of work. Their solution is in their own fucking hands. Legalize the shit and tax it if its the money their concerned about. I think the term "freedom isn't free" had been given new meaning. OUT

By victom southern sweep, on Sep 7, 2009 - 15:47
if u all want to beleave the feds the papers then why bother with shit these people where familys afew sour apples doesnt mean the whole tree is bad get agrip 215 says u can be comp 4 time and cost 4 providing meds 4 people that cant read all the 215 laws sb 420 laws and guide lines from ca attorny gen

to the guy with the dairy

By FOR GROWERS, on Oct 12, 2009 - 14:37
tell your dad he should've went to fuckin college. stop sayin shit ya dont even have a clue about...you just have a grudge and therefore no one in this dam forum wants to hear what you have to say

anonamyous

By Anthony, on Nov 20, 2009 - 22:36
first of of all whoever wrote this is an ignorant retard who probably dosent know how much more cannabis is benneficial to society than alcohol or cigarettes. first you need to do your homework and figure out why cannabis is REALLY illegal and stop being an ignorant fool and the fucking DEA is just of bunch of fucking NAZI'S!!!

just a random reader

By kiera, on Dec 14, 2009 - 0:49
You all have very good points. I myself being FOR legalization of marijuana and do not agree with FED's actions in all cases have another point to make. All of you whom are defending the right to grow in major crops, small personal crops, or even the right to smoke it should maybe reconsider the way you present your case. So far nearly every post I have read in marijuana's
(deserved) defense have made pot partakers sound uneducated and ignorant and definately violent. If WE want to show people that marijuana should be legal I believe we should all present ourselves and points in a decent, educated, and most definately NON-VIOLENT manor. After all, most of us who are partakers of pot are definetly peaceful and non-violent. Good luck out there in California, I hope it works out for everyone.

oo ooo

By hefer, on Jan 29, 2010 - 21:21
to "my my" violent coments like send em to prison and let buddah rape em.. thats threatening violent and offensive it would make me reply somthing like you should be shot.. and growing a lot of herb is alot of work that most people except blue collar men wouldnt do alone.. its alot of work especially outdoors.. its deffinetly a real job.. the pay is high cuz its illegal if it was fully legal they would be joes like that milk guy.. and there would be corperations where like ten thousand people have some 40 hour taxed punch card excuse for a job.. sending emails and reaserching compeditor markets etc.. why are do people hate there jobs so much that they vigourously praise home invasion and wish rape on individuals!?!?! fuck legalization is bad enough and its the only sane hope, the hope that will end the greatnes of this era of pot..

wow..

By midwestgrowop, on Feb 28, 2010 - 7:58
youve got to be kidding me! I fully 100% back every grower in the US, these are trying times and its not easy to find a real job. If you live in the area where prop 215 is recognized than MOVE THE FUCK OUT!

awesome

By daddylongstroke, on Feb 28, 2010 - 18:32
I really think its funny that the author was saying how much support the raids got and the reaction in comments was a clear illustration that this was not a fact

weed

By life is yurz, on May 18, 2010 - 12:52
Yea I agree to much violence to make a point,but the feds can make you feel that way. Now as for pot I really think if you legalize it you will take some of the hype from it and also the corporation will take over and pay low wages to grow it and the hustlers and everyday people that want extra cash will push out the game.

weed

By life is yurz, on May 18, 2010 - 13:11
I agree that people p peo

Ganja

By Healer, on May 24, 2010 - 21:09
I think the weed growers in this country have lost the tradition where you grow with love and respect the bud, and in return the bud will give you love back. It's become too much of an operation, it used to be welcomed in all communities, it's the mindset of get rich or die trying that has put it in the spotlight as an unsavory act.

smoker

By smokersmoke smoker, on Nov 12, 2011 - 21:36
DOJ just lost their funding and 200 feds are being fired...Karma is Real!

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