Meg Loucks/ Houston Chronicle
Blair Davis with his Texas Star hibiscus plant. Posted on 07/29/2004 12:33:10 PM PDT by Cagey
Meg Loucks/ Houston Chronicle Blair Davis with his Texas Star hibiscus plant. |
Davis said he hadn't even gotten his hand on the doorknob when it flew open and he was looking at the barrel of a pistol.
Behind the gun were about 10 members of the Harris County Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force, who burst into the home, guns drawn, and began shouting at him to get down on the floor.
There on the floor, Davis said, it took a while to figure out that what had caused the swarm of lawmen to descend upon him was the hibiscus in his front yard.
That's right, hibiscus.
The foliage of the Texas Star hibiscus, a native plant that's growing in popularity, vaguely resembles that of marijuana.
But: "It's got white buds on it," Davis said. "Hello."
Davis had several of the plants in his yard, where he grows stock for his business.
"They were in containers," he said: "I don't want to say potted plants."
Evidently, some well-meaning but horticulturally challenged citizen turned Davis in. Davis said the team of narcotics officers combed his house for about an hour, at one point discussing whether red and gold bamboo growing in his window might be marijuana. They also asked what he did with the watermelons and cantaloupes growing in his back yard.
"What would I do with them?" Davis said.
Finally the officers gave up and left, leaving Davis only a "citizen's information card" with "closed-report" written on it.
"No apology, no nothing," Davis said. "I realize they have a job to do, but this seems a little bizarre."
Calls to the task force were not returned Wednesday.
Davis hasn't let the episode put him off the Texas Star hibiscus. "It tolerates heat and drought and our rains," he said. "It's a great plant, except for the police."
Our tax dollars at work in the "war on drugs."
This line ALMOST makes this story funny!
War on Drugs lack of common sense bump!
He should just count his blessings that he ain't dead.
Somebody needs to ask a few questions about this "raid."
"...10 members of the Harris County Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force..."
Wannabe Rambos with too much time on their hands. Save it for real criminals-terrorists. Learn the difference.
Sad thing is that he was raided the next day in a prostitution sting because of his hoe.
I am still trying to figure out what you could do with a watermelon other than eat it.
ROTFL! Poor guy!
Carve it into a bong?
"Evidently, some well-meaning but horticulturally challenged citizen turned Davis in."
No, some ignorant busy-body with nothing better to do than potentially ruin someone's life turned Davis in.
And cantelopes are a gateway melon. They might lead to consumption of bigger melons like honeydews or watermelons.
Next time Mr. Davis, tell the narcs you're an illegal alien. Then they'll leave you alone.
LOL! Maybe that's what the melons were for.
Halfway through it, so far you've got The Line Of The Day. Congrats.
Start 'em out young, man, and you've got 'em hooked for life.
Who is going to pay for his front door?
Stories like this remind me why I (a solid, never-used-illegal drugs, Church-going, Republican) am for the de-criminalization of drugs.
This guy nearly got killed -- for nothing.
We could balance the budget and pay for Social Security by cutting out the DEA, etc., and taxing the heck out of the stuff.
Plus, all these raids do little to stop the supply and use of drugs. Indeed, it just creates an illegal market so that groups like the Taliban can make a bunch of money.
I bet he was going to make a bong out a watermelon..
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