[OldPhart]

Originally Posted by shaggyballs

Hmm? That link states Traffic searches by highway patrols in Colorado and Washington dropped by nearly half after the two states legalized marijuana in 2012
So traffic stops aside.
I was getting boot on the ground reports telling of busting all the illegal grows 1 after another, day after day and they also talked about the mess left by the growers leaving before the cop got there, aprently this is not a secret and some may have even been notified.
This info can be found here on icmag.

The key word there is "ILLEGAL". I know you don't think anyone should have to pay taxes or follow laws, but these ILLEGAL growers are going to f' it up for people that just want to grow and smoke their own. They *the illegal growers* have already made it much more difficult to get high plant count med licences.

[moose eater]

But the article states overall searches are down in number.

Well before Alaska had legalized and taxed sales, we had the Crocker Decision (Anchor Point case), that further bolstered the 1975 Ravin Decision in Ravin V State (Privacy under Article 1, Section 22 of the State's Constitution). The Crocker Decision stated the smell of cannabis or an electric bill, etc., was not sufficient grounds for a warrant. That unless cops had significant evidence that the number of plants involved was indicative of an illegal grow op, they weren't even permitted to -request- a warrant.

IOW, there had to be some credible evidence/testimony from a believable witness that the number of plants involved was excessive (at that time, greater than 24 plants), and/or that there was illegal/commercial traffic going on. (*Crocker had made repeated large cash payments to the bank for a home in Anchor Point)

Of course, that doesn't stop Johnny Law from claiming what ever s/he wants on an affidavit, but it's another circle of protection for 'privacy.'

So here, with the combined effect of Crocker and Ravin bolstered by our most recent layer of legal personal cultivation, whether a grow is legal or not, (assuming we're not talking about an electric bill that makes average persons faint, or obvious evidence of trafficking), the "I smell weed" or "it smells like you have too much weed," become moot issues... Again, in theory, as Johnny Law lies more than the average witness in court, per Alan Dershowitz's testimony to Congress, other testimony to that affect, and anecdotal evidence of such.

Originally Posted by OldPhart

The key word there is "ILLEGAL". I know you don't think anyone should have to pay taxes or follow laws, but these ILLEGAL growers are going to f' it up for people that just want to grow and smoke their own. They *the illegal growers* have already made it much more difficult to get high plant count med licences.

[Jhhnn]

What's happene is that the state patrol has quit hassling regular peeps over weed in the car because it's pointless, a waste of time. Very few will have anything over the legal limit of a zip.

The cops are concentrating their efforts on highly illegal out of state shippers & coordinating with the DEA. The deal is that CO needs to make an effort to keep it in state to protect the whole deal, so they do. Cops in adjacent states are hot to bust transporters & traffickers, & they coordinate with the DEA, as well. They use the data from rat phones collected during busts & general lack of operational security to do their thing on growers.

[St. Phatty]

I read an article about the Obama administration giving grants to police departments that made Cannabis Possession arrests.

Hard to double check it. I think you'd have to work for a police department, or the corresponding office in the federal government, to see the details of a program like that - if it did happen.

[Jhhnn]

Originally Posted by St. Phatty

I read an article about the Obama administration giving grants to police departments that made Cannabis Possession arrests.

Hard to double check it. I think you'd have to work for a police department, or the corresponding office in the federal government, to see the details of a program like that - if it did happen.

There's been an awful lot of whining from neighboring states about being "forced" to bust pot tourists coming out of CO with small amounts. That's what the Nebraska Oklahoma lawsuit was all about, the one the SCOTUS pushed back in their faces w/o comment.

Their wounds are self inflicted.

[OldPhart]

Originally Posted by Jhhnn

There's been an awful lot of whining from neighboring states about being "forced" to bust pot tourists coming out of CO with small amounts. That's what the Nebraska Oklahoma lawsuit was all about, the one the SCOTUS pushed back in their faces w/o comment.

Their wounds are self inflicted.

It would be funny to know how the number of auto searches has changed in neighboring states. I'm sure it pisses of the neighboring states, they have to work their ass off to bust people to make their money; while they know there is a fortune driving down the highway.

[Jhhnn]

Originally Posted by OldPhart

It would be funny to know how the number of auto searches has changed in neighboring states. I'm sure it pisses of the neighboring states, they have to work their ass off to bust people to make their money; while they know there is a fortune driving down the highway.

It costs a fortune to actually prosecute people. Sometimes the cops & the courts end u at cross purpses, depending on who gets to keep the money made from confiscated autos & belongings...

Some cop shops just make it into the best of both worlds- One of my neighbors' sons was busted for some piddling amount nearly a year ago someplace in Texas while he was on vacation. They kept his late model car & everything in it, kicked him loose on PR even though he's a CO resident, never set a court date. I'm sure they would if he tried to get his shit back... Straight up policing for profit. The only answer is to just STFU & never go back.