If you want to see the criminal element taken out of the pot dealing game, you've got to change the law. Make growing/possessing legal. Problem solved.
I agree. The penalties for growing pot in most states are completely asinine.
In Colorado growing a single plant is a class 4 felony. Here are some other class 4 felonies in the state:
*Robbery
*Class 2 Assault (this includes “recklessly causes serious bodily injury to another person by means of a deadly weapon.”
*An auto accident that results in death
*Damage of property from $500 to $15k
*Knowingly assisting a “serious” felony
*Enticement of a child.
So in Colorado, in the eyes of the law growing a pot plant is the same as robbery, beating someone up seriously, killing someone with your car, damaging thousands of dollars worth of property, assisting in armed robbery and the like, and “enticing” a child.
So, who would you all rather live next to? A hippie who grows a few pot plants for himself (and yes, I’ll admit living next to a hippie could be irritating) or a robber/child molester/violent person/etc.