83 people were arrested earlier today after Federal agents seized close to $1.2 billion worth of pot in Fresno County, California. A total of at least 318,000 marijuana plants were found, all of which were then seized and destroyed by authorities. The massive operation was first discovered from a police helicopter roaming the area, which led to the quick and large raid.
According to initial reports, various members of the notorious Mexican Marijuana Cartel were involved in the illegal operation. Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy, flew out to California on Wednesday after the federal bust went down to check out the scene.
It is unclear how much of a dent this will put on illegal marijuana growing operations, but federal agents believe there’s still a lot more work to do. Last year alone, authorities discovered over 5.2 million marijuana plants in the United States alone.
For those of you thinking you can’t get caught, I’d advise you be careful. Authorities are now using Google Earth to scour fields all over America to discover Marijuana operations.
Comments
larry
July 24th, 2009 - 1:21:24 PM
1.2 billion? Damn, that's some real money right there. Still, this isn't going to do anything or affect anyone other than the 83 guys and gals caught in the operation. Weed is everywhere in California. It's practically the state's biggest cash crop - and we're talking about a state with an economy bigger than most of the world's. Still, it's too bad they destroyed it all. Would have been fun to be invited to that bonfire though.
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left-libertarian
July 24th, 2009 - 4:41:54 PM
The numbers are exaggerated. It comes out to over $3200 a plant. The DEA itself says that outdoor plants yield ~1/2 lb of usable plant matter after trimming and drying. So according to the news report outdoor grown pot goes for $6400 a pound, which is at least $5000 off. Not to mention the cannabis plant has two sexes, a non-producing male and a producing female. 50% of that crop of 318,000 would be non-producing male plants.
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carly
July 25th, 2009 - 6:19:20 AM
Definitely time for legalization. No more harmful than alcohol and the tax revenue will help many states. There is a related post at http://iamsoannoyed.com/?page_id=588
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Mike Franklin
July 25th, 2009 - 9:32:56 AM
Legalizing pot would first mean the release of tens of thousands of nonviolent people, busted for no more than marijuana, from the nation's prisons, saving untold millions of dollars and freeing up space for real criminals. Then, if taxed, there are more millions pumped into the system. Finally, it also frees up untold numbers of law enforcement personnel to combat more serious drugs and other crimes. Of course, there will be those who will fight this tooth and nail... just as there were (and still are) who would again criminalize alcohol and some who would do the same to tobacco. But the bottom line truth is that the money both saved and then generated from legalization and taxation, would go a long way to help cash-strapped states make ends meets. It also means that these same states and municipalities would be less inclined to use traffic tickets as a source of revenue.
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American Farmer
July 25th, 2009 - 9:07:16 PM
The demonization of cannabis smokers is a red herring a diversion from the massive industrial potential of hemp for america. You can burn hemp stalks and non toxic mixtures in a water heater and produce biofuel to run your vehicle just like people are doing with the used fry grease. It represents commerce and green industry pure and simple. The fact that people will smoke something they are smoking tons and tons of already shouldnt kill a huge green industry for America.
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paulo
July 29th, 2009 - 2:42:46 PM
the mexican mafia grows garbage. I wouldn't smoke that.
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Adrian from Canada
August 14th, 2009 - 12:49:33 PM
And to think that California is suffering from near-bankruptcy!
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