DEA playing Games?

[alflud]

We're supposed to be the tiger and they're not supposed to be poking us. Why oh why do we think that we are subservient to the police? They are our servants, there to serve us. They ought not to be poking us. Man we gotta get around this fucking brainwashing and start seeing things as they really are. One guy get's busted and we begin to think of the police as the tiger, ya know? That's why they busted him in the first place - to make an example of him to all us other lawbreakers. Well who the fuck are they to be be putting the frighteners on us? It us who ought to be keeping them in line. They are there to do a job on behalf of society. As it happens society these days has no problem with people either smoking or growing dope - not so far as I can see anyway - so where the fuck do these pigs get off trying to scare us? Where the fuck do these politicians get off passing legislation that we don't want? Again I come back to the point that money means everything. It's the rich crowd who get invited to these fucking fundraisers and part with their cash who makes the laws the rest of us have to supposedly abide by. Well FUCK THEM. Their fucking money shouldn't make them better than the rest of us but it does and that's completely fucked up. Fucking cops are the thugs of the corporate mafia is what they are.

 

[THCforus]

if they dont start listening to the voice of the people we are going to have to RIOT. and im READY. $100 a pop gps tracking units FUCK ILL TRACK THE WHOLE DEA JUST SHOW ME WHERE THEY AT. then will start playing the real games. ill come kick there door in see how they like it... maybe accidentally shoot and kill there dog... oo woops was that your wife??? sorry assholes. shits going to change one way or the other BETTER BELIEVE IT. the only way to bring change is thru superior fire power i really hope all you peaceful treehuggers are stacking your guns your going to need them if u want to win this war.

lol

 

[Balazar]

Stay within your numbers
don't talk to anyone about growing
don't let those fuckers in your home without a warrant

If they don't have a warrant ask them why they aren't in Englewood busting meth cooks and crack houses like they should be. Point them in the direction of Hampden & Federal and tell them once they start seeing tags on every building and a bunch of kids wearing blue they are in the right place. If they want to harass you ask for their badge number if its not visible.

 

[vta]

DEA Raid A Step In The Wrong Direction

DEA Raid A Step In The Wrong Direction

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n117/a05.html
Source: Aurora Sentinel (CO)

DEA RAID A STEP IN THE WRONG DIRECTION

It doesn't matter whether you think the United States is way overdue to legalize the use of marijuana or if the drug is public enemy No. 1 these days, a stunt this week by local Drug Enforcement Agency officials bodes ill for all citizens.

A top DEA official based in Denver says that local medical marijuana dispensaries are illegal, and his office forced the arrest of one local "provider" that's taken his views on the matter to the media.

The Denver Post and other media agencies reported that DEA agents raided the home of Highlands Ranch resident Chris Bartkowicz on Friday. Bartkowicz had been bragging to local reporters that he has a wildly successful crop of marijuana growing in his basement and is making a big profit from it by supplying it to so-called medical marijuana dispensaries.

After the arrest, DEA agent Jeffrey Sweetin told the Post that medical marijuana is illegal in Colorado. The statement flies in the face of Colorado's constitutional amendment allowing for it.

Even more egregious is that the Obama administration recently said that the federal government would "look the other way" on this matter in states that have legalized medical marijuana and are finding their way through a process of regulation.

Sweetin's comments raise serious questions about just who's in charge of this federal agency, and how inappropriate it is for this agency to usurp state's rights in contradiction to the will of the president.

The Obama administration needs to immediately step in to the matter and clarify whether Colorado will be able to pursue its constitutional mandate to permit the medical use of marijuana.

As to Sweetin's remarks about the medicinal properties of marijuana, he's clearly out of his league as a law enforcer to be taking on the role of a medical research scientist.

All of his comments should be worrisome to state residents, no matter how they feel about the recent medical marijuana controversy.

Of course all of this points to the fact that instead of pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into a useless war against marijuana and sending hundreds of billions of consumer dollars into the hands of murderous Mexican drug criminals, Colorado and the rest of the United States could be taxing and regulating a huge industry that will never go away.

And even numbers created by government officials who've come down closer to Earth on the matter make it clear that, just like alcohol, prohibition only serves to enrich criminals, while regulation and legalization could be made to serve us all.

Until common sense prevails, however, reasonable federal law and chain of command will have to suffice.

 

[Balazar]

I saw on the news that he had over 200 plants and not even close to enough cards to cover them. This makes two questions pop into my mind

Will he be tried in Federal court or Colorado State court?

If he is tried in state court will new penalties be established for being over your count or will they charge him with position of illegal drugs.

 

[~fvk~]

If your intentions and growing operation are based on profit & money this is what can & will happen to you eventually under current federal law. He must have been on a money high and not a weed high when he decided it was a good idea to blab to the news reporter about his business. Not a good idea dude!

Remember, don't tell anyone shit! You yourself knowing is already one person too many!

Lol, this dude... I've only had a quick glace at this thread but do you remember me? This is going to get kind of personal, because I'm going to make an example of you, as a supporter of the bourgeois. Remember when I called you a fascist? Yeah, I felt kind of bad about that afterwards, even with the whole online thing. I thought that you might just be a good intentioned misled individual, but now I truly stand by what I said.

Let me get something straight man, you're telling me that I must face imprisonment for trying to live moderately in a defunct Capitalist market that is imposed on me by a Corporatist State? If I were to currently sell/barter the product of my labor at strict equal labor theory, I wouldn't even have enough funds/resources to cover my monthly overhead. If I worked in the servant industry and lived in a highly urbanized area without the resources to relocate, I would not be able to cover my grow and my living expenses by my slave wage and homegrown equal labor priced Cannabis either. Welcome to America, progressively Orwellian with a ton of Sweet and Sour Sauce to go with it. In your support of the State and the status quo, you advocate the vicious cycle of Capitalist/Corporate Socialism that's currently taking place, while attempting to invent yourself as some sort of Pseudo-Socialist.

You do this from your grow cab, while benefiting from medical cannabis privileges over those who may have similar conditions that aren't "privileged" as you, and are either persecuted or deprived of their liberty to use cannabis medically, hell, recreationally while we're at it. You're just part of the group that got thrown a bone to it to get the rest of us to shut the fuck up (mostly recreational users advocating medical cannabis), just like they did for us with Obama, and just like Obama did when he had his trolls make a public announcement about loosening the grip on medical cannabis. They can't control the already Federally autonomous California, but they sure will make an example of the smaller and non medical states. Regardless of if this dude was flaunting his success or not, anyone who isn't blind can see the Federal Government getting more and more aggressive, and not just with cannabis.

It's time for unity between both medical and recreational users, and in my opinion, there should have never been a split in the first place. The friend of the State is our enemy, and the enemy of State is our friend, and we need you on our side. Look at it this way, as long as there's a "them,"
there's always going to the issue of "us." The probability of hearing a modern politician bitching about how their constituents misrepresent them is more or less nil, but flip the cards and it's an entirely different scenario.

Man, I have so much to say in a bunch of different threads, and probably even in this one. I guess you can say things are starting to get interesting. There's a storm on the front, and it's been brewing for ages. But yeah, I'm probably going to be around for awhile.

 

[donny darko]

Looks like business as usual, for the DEA I guess they are charging him federally of coarse and he is looking at up to 40 years. This is a shitty thing for the big guys trying to be legal, truly legal. It looks like they are going to just charge people and let them try to afford to prove they are legal in a court that does not even give a shit about any medical laws. Stay safe guys. http://www.denverpost.com/news/marijuana/ci_14414774

 

[HOVAH2.0]

you forget whats the make-up of most of our federal agencies, Conservatives. Most Upper FBI management voted Republican, we have new federal guidelines but these people have a problem with anything Liberal. Ive been in the Military, worked for many fortune 500 company s, and its the same thing, the so called conservative management mindset is what most of these organizations practice. Conservatives will do anything for a political advantage, they'll start a war, deny you a job, deny your sister's child a doctor to meet a political agenda. These are the kind of people we are dealing with, a truely cowardly, sickly, nonhuman way of thinking. People of no logic.

 

[EstimatedProph]

If you guys actually knew Chris you wouldn't be bashing him so much. I acknowledge the fact that he used POOR POOR judgment as far as the news story went, especially when he wasn't in compliance with the CO MMJ laws (TO THE T). However, he has been an MMJ advocate for years in Colorado before this whole industry started popping off. I have known him since about 2003-2004 and he always helped me out, gave me good prices and was a dear friend to me. He gave me cuts for free whenever I wanted and got me 30% discounts on lights. Chris was in a horrible car wreck about 6 years ago and MMJ gave him a new lease on life when he was at a point where he couldn't even get out of bed without debilitating pain. All he wanted to do was see his beautiful cannabis plants grow and despite the light that the news story shed on Chris he DIDNT GIVE A FUCK ABOUT PROFIT. He spent years and years barely getting by I would even go as far as to say that he probably hasn't made an actual profit off of MMJ until this year.

Think what you want but that's still a dear friend of mine and fellow grower. Any one of us could be in his same position one day. He is looking at between 5 & 40 years. By the way of those 224 plants I would say about 150 were mature according to federal law. Most of them were clones and mothers. He has a TON of people under his care as he has been doing this for years.

Peace and Love

 

[TheOutlawTree]

OK OK , Am I missing something here?? Didnt Obama pledge to listen to states decisions and not interfere with things like this? I thought he was going to end the raids on dispenseries?

 

[Rusty Shaklford]

I Agree

I Agree

Tired feds? They are tired of the inyourface, marijuana leaf in the window dispensary everywhere atmosphere in Colorado. After all, there are bunches of dispensaries painted loud green colors within a few blocks of every school in my neighborhood. The Feds are carrying out the Federal law about the number of plants that people can grow, even legally. They are carrying out government policy, and they are the swinging pendulum going the other way. They are looking hard at big grow ops, and they don't like the dispensaries, (but probably they are more protected than the grow ops...think 100 plant rule). There is a lot of word on the street that the Feds are going to be coming down hard on the big growers in Colorado. Remember what we used to do before Densterdam got going. We kept our fucking mouths shut, and we didn't talk on Channel 9 news about making $500K a year....or we did time and paid lawyers. I totally want legalization, and have supported it forever, but we have to realize that there is such a thing as being "way too out of the closet." I enjoy growing, but I do not put up billboards with my address or chat with newsmen about my $647,000 suburban farm house. Come on, think! If you want a revolution, remember it will not be televised.

JD, Co.

It's legal to make your own beer at home, But to start advertising you have set up a brewery in your house is another thing.

 

[ColBatGuano]

It's time for unity between both medical and recreational users, and in my opinion, there should have never been a split in the first place. The friend of the State is our enemy, and the enemy of State is our friend, and we need you on our side. Look at it this way, as long as there's a "them,"
there's always going to the issue of "us." The probability of hearing a modern politician bitching about how their constituents misrepresent them is more or less nil, but flip the cards and it's an entirely different scenario.

I agree with this. I have been saying for years that splitting hairs between "medical" and "recreational" cannabis is foolish and self-defeating. Cannabis use, cultivation, or trade should not be a specific issue at all. It should be a part of a broader issue of free choice and personal responsibility.

I warned back in September or October that what was happening in Los Angeles would eventually lead to a "push-back" movement against medical cannabis. I believed at the time that because recreational users were easily obtaining the benefits of Prop 215, that the "squares" were eventually going to view the rule as a thinly-veiled legalization attempt. Because we have generally failed to educate people outside of a medical-bias, it is getting harder to convince people that this should be about liberty--not compassion.

Some people here at ICMAG said I was wrong-headed and didn't know what I was talking about. As it happened, I was right--L.A. is pushing back. The point I tried to make at the time was that by pursuing a medical stance, we were shooting ourselves in the foot right at the starting line. If this had been an individual liberty issue, instead of a compassion argument, then it might have been easier to persuade people that it is really none of their business if other people smoke pot.

I think what we should be doing is arguing in favor of individual choice and responsibility in every aspect of our culture. Ending cannabis prohibition should not have to stand alone.

 

[HydroIndustry]

Well, the Office of National Drug Control Policy has the rules and conditions spelled out pretty clearly on their website:

http://www.ondcp.gov/news/press09/dk_medmj_comments.html

The seven deadly sins that trigger Federal interest are listed at the bottom of the page.

 

[HydroIndustry]

This is the content of said page, for those who would prefer not to visit the ONDCP website:

The Department of Justice on Monday, October 19 issued guidelines for Federal prosecutors regarding laws authorizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

National Drug Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske commented that:

"It is important to recognize that these guidelines provide clarity for federal prosecutors regarding the appropriate use of federal resources. They do not declare marijuana, whether ‘medical' or not, as legal under federal law; nor do they preclude the appropriate prosecution, under federal law, of marijuana dispensaries in those states that allow them.

"The Department of Justice's guidelines strike a balance between efficient use of limited law enforcement resources, and a tough stance against those whose violations of state law jeopardize public health and safety.

"Enforcing the law against those who unlawfully market and sell marijuana for profit will continue to be an enforcement priority for the U.S. government."

The DOJ guidelines state explicitly that;

"...To be sure, claims of compliance with state or local law may mask operations inconsistent with the terms, conditions or purposes of those laws, and federal law enforcement should not be deterred by such assertions when otherwise pursuing the Department's core enforcement priorities."

Typically, when any one of the following characteristics is present, the conduct will not be in clear and unambiguous compliance with applicable state law and may indicate illegal trafficking activity of potential federal interest:

* unlawful possession or use of firearms;
* violence;
* sales to minors;
* financial and marketing activities inconsistent with the terms, conditions or purposes of state law, including evidence of money laundering activity and/or financial gains or excessive amounts of cash inconsistent with purported compliance with state or local law;
* amounts of marijuana inconsistent with purported compliance with state or local law;
* illegal possession or sale of other controlled substances; or
* ties to other criminal enterprises.

 

[Cannalicious]

Hopefully the 10 year study released yesterday from the CMCR will strengthen Washington's resolve to leave us alone, as well as help other states to pass medical marijuana laws.

The CMCR - "The Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research (CMCR) will conduct high quality scientific studies intended to ascertain the general medical safety and efficacy of cannabis products and examine alternative forms of cannabis administration. The Center will be seen as a model resource for health policy planning by virtue of its close collaboration with federal, state, and academic entities."

Well the results are in. There is a pdf link to the study on their home page, http://www.cmcr.ucsd.edu/.

I know this doesn't help Bartkowicz, but maybe the DEA might get another memo, saying, "you better take a step back on this issue." Probably not though

 

[xfargox]

Remember that time the DEA head said that he pot should be decided by the doctors (he was referring to the FDA who banned it and blocked research)? I wonder what he'd have to say after this study.

I know that, in science, one study isn't enough to draw a serious conclusion, but it seems like marijuana was banned off of one study (or at least used one study to ban it), so, I dunno, seems dumb.

 

[TheGreenReaper]

If you guys actually knew Chris you wouldn't be bashing him so much. I acknowledge the fact that he used POOR POOR judgment as far as the news story went, especially when he wasn't in compliance with the CO MMJ laws (TO THE T). However, he has been an MMJ advocate for years in Colorado before this whole industry started popping off. I have known him since about 2003-2004 and he always helped me out, gave me good prices and was a dear friend to me. He gave me cuts for free whenever I wanted and got me 30% discounts on lights. Chris was in a horrible car wreck about 6 years ago and MMJ gave him a new lease on life when he was at a point where he couldn't even get out of bed without debilitating pain. All he wanted to do was see his beautiful cannabis plants grow and despite the light that the news story shed on Chris he DIDNT GIVE A FUCK ABOUT PROFIT. He spent years and years barely getting by I would even go as far as to say that he probably hasn't made an actual profit off of MMJ until this year.

Think what you want but that's still a dear friend of mine and fellow grower. Any one of us could be in his same position one day. He is looking at between 5 & 40 years. By the way of those 224 plants I would say about 150 were mature according to federal law. Most of them were clones and mothers. He has a TON of people under his care as he has been doing this for years.

Peace and Love

You said earlier he was your son-in-law. I cannot defend someone who brings so much negative publicity to the movement when he wasnt even in compliance.

"Yes, 9news, I would like to offer you the chance to come and visit my Meth lab and I want to take the stance that this is my right and that it is legal and medical - even though it isnt. I want to show how much I care about people as I tell you sick people are my fucking "Golden Ticket".

I say meth lab because at his level of compliance it might as well have been. If he "caregives" for "many" people, he should be in compliance with his numbers.

I kinda gave the guy a slide at first, but as more details come out, this guy isnt like any other grower I have worked with over the years. He is a "type" of grower, but again not the type I have worked with - nor desire to. It is clear there is a shit-storm in your family right now, but all this guy had to do was just ask someone if they thought it was good idea first - and he would likely still be taking pics with buds sticking out of his ears.

 

[imwithstupid]

This really gets down to Federal vs. State power... the Federal Gov't needs to justify it's tax revenue and assert control over the peons. It's been going on for centuries

 

[snowschool]

You said earlier he was your son-in-law. I cannot defend someone who brings so much negative publicity to the movement when he wasnt even in compliance.

"Yes, 9news, I would like to offer you the chance to come and visit my Meth lab and I want to take the stance that this is my right and that it is legal and medical - even though it isnt. I want to show how much I care about people as I tell you sick people are my fucking "Golden Ticket".

I say meth lab because at his level of compliance it might as well have been. If he "caregives" for "many" people, he should be in compliance with his numbers.

I kinda gave the guy a slide at first, but as more details come out, this guy isnt like any other grower I have worked with over the years. He is a "type" of grower, but again not the type I have worked with - nor desire to. It is clear there is a shit-storm in your family right now, but all this guy had to do was just ask someone if they thought it was good idea first - and he would likely still be taking pics with buds sticking out of his ears.

I just have to say if you didn't know Chris you probably won't understand why people who did are more forgiving on this. Saying that he was not in state compliance is up for debate as medical necessity has held up in state court before to justify more than 3 and 3 per patient. Even if he didn't have a single medical card involved with the entire grow... comparing it to a meth lab is a pretty ignorant statement. Do you think that growing recreational marijuana is comparable to cooking methamphetamines? I would really like to hear how those two things are the same in anyway!!!!!! What kind of movement do you support? One where the D.E.A. puts a guy in jail for 40 years for growing the bag you used to buy before mmj was around, instead of going after scumbags who cook up rat poison? Maybe I'm warped but I think you need look at the bigger picture here and quit talking shit.

 

[TheGreenReaper]

I just have to say if you didn't know Chris you probably won't understand why people who did are more forgiving on this. Saying that he was not in state compliance is up for debate as medical necessity has held up in state court before to justify more than 3 and 3 per patient. Even if he didn't have a single medical card involved with the entire grow... comparing it to a meth lab is a pretty ignorant statement. Do you think that growing recreational marijuana is comparable to cooking methamphetamines? I would really like to hear how those two things are the same in anyway!!!!!! What kind of movement do you support? One where the D.E.A. puts a guy in jail for 40 years for growing the bag you used to buy before mmj was around, instead of going after scumbags who cook up rat poison? Maybe I'm warped but I think you need look at the bigger picture here and quit talking shit.

Oh, boy. Someone who doesnt understand that if you break the law and get caught you can go to jail. Okay, open your mind and try to understand the analogy I presented without going polarized political. The guy invited a news crew into his home, showed them everything, then bragged about a golden ticket, taked about taking 400g's outta his "surburban home", and had 224 plants according to latest reports, and enough patients for in the 70's (I havent quite seen an exact number yet..I have heard 12 patients, 15, "less" than 15, etc). Is this part of the "bigger picture"?

I have said it before. Those of us that have been around a while are desensitized to the opinions of the general public. I dont give a shit how loud you toot the "medical" neccessity of the herb, to suzy homemaker driving her kids to school in her black on tan conversion Tahoe down in highlands ranch, who is spending the money from her husband the mechanical engineer, who are deacons in the local episcopal church...to them, IT IS THE SAME FUCKING THING AS METH! They dont know any different. Is this getting a "bigger picture" then before"?

There are more sheep then there are of us. If we want to make progress we must educate and go slowly, turn the heat up gradually. The sheep are scared right now, and the sheperds (DEA, Romer, news, etc) are yelling and waving their arms whipping the sheep into a frenzy.

The goddamn news scares everyone, "...in a jungle of plants, electrical cords draped everywhere on top of one another in a high risk fire hazard, sophisticated high powered lights, hundreds of gallons of water and piping, and complex ducting directing heat, gases and smells to various areas of the home finally ending outside in the neighborhood air...". Shit, they think it IS meth.

Of course I dont think it is Meth, I am not defending the DEA, and I was probably the grower of the bag on the street that you mention others buying before mmj. BTW, "before mmj"? A law didnt make it medicine - it has always been medicine my friend. But I think you will not get my point anyway - not due to your inability to understand - but due to your sensitivity to the loss and treatment of your friend. I forgive you for that and understand the humanity of the situation. I mean no offense or desire to start a heated war online. I am merely expressing my viewpoint in a safe forum of like minded individuals.

I know some of you have seen your buddy go down hard, but I dont get it. I dont see ANY possible way that any good could have come from the results of that whole interview "thing". And you are right, I dont know the guy. The first time I heard of the guy was on the news. Unfortunately, I dont think at this point I will get the chance to see if he is different than I consider him now. He also cant help all of the people that were counting on him for their medicine.