Posted on 12/29/2005 11:21:44 AM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist
Last week, Washington County authorities arrested four people for allegedly growing marijuana at three different homes in Saint Paul Park.
The big bust resulted in the seizure of more than 2,000 pot plants.
It began last Monday at 1335 3rd St., where authorities opened the door and found 365 marijuana plants.
Sheriff Steve Pott called it part of the biggest marijuana growing operation in recent memory.
"For some reason people don't see (marijuana) as glamorous as cocaine or methamphetamine, but it's one of the more common drugs," he said, "especially in Washington County."
An anonymous tipster led investigators to the house on 3rd Street, and to two other homes just blocks away. Between the three locations, Pott said authorities collected 2100 plants, with a total estimated street value of $250,000.
"Between the three (locations)," Pott said, "we estimate them (producing) about a million dollars worth of marijuana a year."
Pott said he didn't know if the three operations are linked, even though the three houses are located in the same neighborhood.
Four people now face charges felony drug charges:
James R. Super, of Minneapolis, faces the most serious charges. He was found inside the house on 3rd Street and charged with second- and third-degree felonies for possession and intent to distribute. He also is charged with a firearms violation for possessing a handgun.
Authorities arrested Jennifer L. Rolfing, and Jeremiah Hirman, at 8084 Grey Cloud Island Drive. Both are residents of Forest Lake, and both were charged with fifth-degree manufacturing and possession offenses.
Nicholas A. Lebow was arrested at 1190 Main Street and faces a third-degree manufacturing charge.
When investigators found the plants, they also found elaborate lighting, heating and watering systems.
These were people who took their marijuana seriously, Sheriff Pott said.
Our sheriff is one of my good friends. In front of the District Attorney and the press one day he said he thought we should run electric chairs into homes the way we run cable television into homes. He may have been joking, but maybe not.
Yeah, there's a great idea... execute people for selling weed.
Number of people who die from alcohol poisoning: 1,400
Number of people who die from THC overdose: 0
Number of people who die from alcoholism: 40,000
Number of people who die from marijuana addiction: 0
DUI deaths per year: 16,000
Marijuana driving deaths per year: 23
Yet alcohol is legal and marijuana is illegal.
Looks like a great setback to the libertarian party in that region.
Whoa holy jeez and great googliemooglies.
Now that's a spankin good idea.
"Yes officer, I was just sittin at home in my own personal lectric chair"
You gotta patent that idea, its too good.
Looks to me like they're actually being somewhat realistic in their estimates of street value in this story, which is a change from the usual hype. Looks like they estimated the value at about $120 a plant, which would roughly correspond with a yield of about a half ounce to an ounce of pot per plant, given street prices in the $100 to $300 per ounce territory, depending on quality. Usually they seem to take the highest known price paid for a single gram of pot and multiply that times the total weight of all the plants seized, root balls and all.
You have got to understand. Its about the money. The fedgov goes after stills because they take money out of the pocket of Uncle Sam. He don't like that.
Because of the complicated nature of puttin together a brew and then separating it, its easy for the fedgov to regulate.
Now pot growin on the other hand, the fedgov hasn't figured out a good way to corner that market. Any fool can grow a plant.
So Shazaam, just make it illegal till we get this revenue thingie straight.
And that folks, is the bottom line.
The sarcasm tag was invented because some idiots just can't recognize it when they see it.
I'm ok with that. I can argue either side of the debate. In college I had to debate with someone and I took the keep drugs illegal stance while the person I was debating took the legalize stance. At the end of the debate the professor asked for a show of hands from the class on whether drugs should be legal or illegal.
I so thoroughly won the debate that everyone raised their hand for illegal. I was the only one who voted to legalize. Then I had to argue from the other POV for what I really think, and I convinced the majority of the class to legalize.
Just goes to show, people are easily led by well delivered propaganda.
I have seen clips of Reefer Madness. It's hilarious. And people bought it hook, line, and sinker.
people with mullets need killin' too.
Now that's a defendable position.
Now hey, waitaminute. Here in the Burgh, mullets rule dude.
I saw that way back when I was in the military.
We were stoned at the time.
Willie Nelson Is deeply saddened.
Wonder who it was.
Tino Martino, is that you?
Exactly! One hit off a marijuana cigarette, and your son will come into your bedroom while you are sleeping and hack you with a machette.
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