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Feds Came and Went - Now What?

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.

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