United States of Anthony

Haaa, can't tax my marijuana!

2009-10-28T15:55:00.000-04:00

Legalization/Taxation

The fight to legalize marijuana seems to be making major inroads as politicians, greedy for funds of any kind, find ways to get those tax revenues without a direct increase to the taxpayer. While there are some politicians have a more honorable reason for promoting the legalization of marijuana, there are many others who have no interest in the welfare of their own friends, family, and community; they're in it for the money.

At any rate, I could care less about their reasons for legalization. All I care about is that it get legalized.

However, what I do care about is how legalization takes place, particularly in the way of taxation, for now. I assume that quality control will be an issue in the future as I am sure companies like Altria, makers of smokable poison like Marlboro cigarettes, would find ways to weaponize marijuana as they did with tobacco.

But, I have a solution for all of that.

The problem with taxation are the high expectations for tax revenues. These politicians believe that the current pricing for marijuana will be stable. For them, that high cost equals high tax revenues. But, they don't recognize that these high costs are in part due to prohibition. Once prohibition is repealed, marijuana prices will drop considerably and those major tax revenues will drop with it.

This is why legalization is not a particularly great solution for the economy. And, here I am making that prospect even worse.

The reason I intend to make it worse is because there's a segment within the marijuana community that believe in absolutely no taxes for marijuana use. This is because they consider marijuana a medicine and you simply don't tax medicine. However, it stands in the way of legalization because it if we're to get it legalized for everybody, taxation has to be a reality.

Besides, medicinal users are already being taxed by having to pay upfront fees for licenses, doctors prescriptions, and the ability to grow if they are providers.
Side Note
I call that the Republican way to tax. See, Democrats tax you from the front so you see it coming - income tax, sales tax, etc. Republicans reduce face-front taxes. They just wait for you to turn around and bend over so they "tax" you up the behind with increased fees for anything you want to do. Democrats will rather tax your income to pay for roads. Republicans rather put tolls at every street intersection they can find. For example, in NYC, Mayor Bloomberg has sought to lower "face-front" taxes, yet proposed fees for entering the Manhattan below a certain street. Hey, you'll pay either way so just laugh about this now, think about it later.
The real issue is that medicinal marijuana users don't like the idea of being taxed at the rates proposed under complete legalization. It truly is their medicine and they shouldn't be taxed for it. And, let's be honest, those rates are incredibly ridiculous no matter who's paying. Not even alcohol or tobacco are taxed as heavily as what's proposed for marijuana. So, I don't blame people for getting upset.

Proposal

As a consumer, I propose that, under legalized and severely overtaxed marijuana, users, for whatever purpose, do not buy any marijuana until competition increases supply causing prices to come down and the tax rates are reasonable, at least within comparable levels with alcohol and tobacco.

The question at this point is how can this be done.

First of all, the politicians will do most of the work for this effort to be a success. By promoting prohibition level pricing, even after the repeal of prohibition, it wouldn't make sense for a marijuana grower to sell his product at wholesale prices when he can still operate and compete as though prohibition still exists. In fact, it can be considered as prohibition-plus since taxes are going to be a major factor. As a consumer, it would make sense to simply go directly to the grower and avoid any taxation whatsoever.

Side Note
While this may not be desirable, the politicians will have to learn a hard lesson here. It's not a lesson that wasn't already anticipated in history. During the repeal of alcohol prohibition, politicians, then, knew that the legal market would have to price-compete with the illegal market. Otherwise, it would be impossible to regulate and collect taxes. If today's politicians are too stupid to anticipate such competition and too arrogant to listen to the people, then they deserve to look like fools when their ridiculous taxation scheme doesn't produce the kind of tax revenues expected.

The second and most favorable method is self-reliance - grow your own marijuana. I am always promoting growing your own marijuana for personal use, so nothing new here. If marijuana is legal, who's going to come looking for you if you're growing a few ounces. Even though that marijuana is illegal, it's still safer because you completely remove yourself from law enforcement radar. You're not a Mexican drug cartel. You're not out trafficking bricks of marijuana. And, you're not out dealing on the streets. The only problems you may have is if smell gives you away or someone you tell decides to snitch on you. So, limit your exposure by investing in heavy odor control and not telling anyone.

Final Side Note
Personally, the only reason I would ever get caught is because of this blog or perhaps the few people that know about me. And, I know what I am doing by exposing myself. But, if I can motivate more people to grow their own, I can help limit the violence injected into the lives of peaceful people by careless drug dealers and aggressive law enforcement as well as reduce the profits of violent drug cartels that most law enforcement protect with their support of prohibition. It's worth it if I can save another life.

Obama's Medical Marijuana Memo Means Nothing

2009-10-19T13:44:00.003-04:00

Background

Today, President Obama released a memo in regards to states with medical marijuana laws. Basically, this memo is telling federal prosecutors along with the DEA and FBI not to waste their time and energy on [destroying the lives of] medical marijuana patients and their suppliers IF they conform to the state's laws.
Feds Can't Touch This
Justice shifts course on medical marijuana prosecutions
Feds: Medical marijuana prosecutions not a priority

Reality

This memo is nothing more than a piece of paper. It doesn't change anything. Think of this policy change as a mother asking her child to do his chores five minutes earlier at 5:55 PM instead of 6 PM. Although, it would be nice if you did it five minutes earlier, it's not anything you have to take into consideration. It just would be nice.

Think about it.

What laws were changed with this memo? Did marijuana, all of a sudden, become legal? Was marijuana removed from the Controlled Substances Act? Will the federal government begin recognizing marijuana's medicinal utility?

NO!

This memo hasn't changed anything. As long as prohibition remains the denominator in the nation's marijuana equation, this memo is nothing more than words on paper. Without the protections and consequences that come with actual changes to the law, nothing has changed.

Problem

President Obama has failed to alleviate or even address the problems that millions of marijuana users, medicinal and recreational, face against violent law enforcement. Well over 800,000 people are arrested and incarcerated yearly. Billions of dollars are burned by law enforcement officials that are only interested in playing 'Judge Dredd' with the lives of nonviolent people. When President Obama has the courage to face these gun toting animals, that's when the memos and speeches will stop. That's when laws begin to change.

Until then, I'd rather President Obama just shut up and leave it alone if he doesn't plan on truly changing anything or helping us. I'm used to the status quo and it's how I operate. It's how thousands of us operate on a daily basis. I won't change how I do things because of some useless memo. I would hope that my grower friends, especially those in medical marijuana states, keep their heads low as well. I don't want them falling for this nonsense.

Just know one thing. Marijuana is not going anywhere. No matter how hard the prohibitionists push against us, we'll still be here - growing, smoking, and teaching!

Marijuana: Legalization vs Prohibition and Children

2009-10-18T09:30:00.000-04:00

Children as a tool for prohibition

One thing that prohibitionists use to keep marijuana illegal is the fear that legalization will be a danger to children. Children seems to be the door into the heart of a parent. Prohibitionists lie about marijuana's use, effects, and its users. One on side, you have the local, state, and federal authorities who get people to believe that marijuana users are dangerous. On the other side, you have organizations who want you to believe that potheads are lazy, unemployed, losers. In both of these ways, they strike fear into parents about what their children will become if they started using marijuana.

What mother wants to hear that her child will become from raving maniac after using marijuana? What father wants to hear that his son might end up lazy and worthless in the home after trying marijuana? If you're a parent that doesn't know anything about marijuana, you'd play it on the safe side doing what you can to keep your children from using marijuana. It makes sense to me. I'd do the same thing if I were walking in their shoes.

But, the difference between myself and these parents is that I know all about marijuana. I know the good and I know the bad. Although this is not about the safety of marijuana, I'd be foolish to not at least mention this once: Marijuana is safe! The point of this is to present the argument to a parent who believes that marijuana is dangerous.

I prefer to compare prohibition to legalization as it pertains to the safety of children.

Prohibition vs Legalization

We know what prohibition brings us. We're living it. Every year, billions of tax payer funds are spent fighting this war on drugs. Millions of marijuana plants are eradicated every harvest season. Hundreds of thousands of people are arrested and/or incarcerated for anything from a joint to pounds of marijuana. Hundreds of indoor grow ops are torn apart.

That all sounds good. If you pay attention to what law enforcement is doing, you'd feel they were doing a lot. But, how does this all factor into the protection of your children?

Well, if it's fair, we can say that the amount of marijuana that gets into the United States is directly related to the ease of access by your children. The more marijuana in the US, the more available it will be in your area. To get a good idea of how much marijuana gets into the US, we have to look at what law enforcement's eradication efforts really mean as a total of all marijuana. In other words, how much does law enforcement shave off of the total supply? The answer - law enforcement's eradication efforts account for only 5-10% of all the marijuana that gets into the nation. In other words, the remaining inventory of marijuana in the US is about 90% and higher. That means your children have a much better chance of finding marijuana than law enforcement is admitting. The point is that marijuana is free flowing and freely available in the United States.
Anecdotes
The first time I ever tried marijuana was when I was 14. I didn't get high so I didn't think about it again. The next time I smoked marijuana was when I was 16. I got very high but it wasn't something that would stay with me. My friend got that marijuana from a dealer both times. I didn't smoke again until I was 23.

I am now 30 years old. About 3 weeks ago, I was on Flatbush Ave. in Brooklyn, NY. I went into the store with friends to buy cigars (used for rolling marijuana blunts) and the clerk asked me for ID. I found it hilarious. I hadn't been carded in a long time. My friends told me that I still have a baby face. It reminds me of times when I go into ask for an alcoholic drink in a restaurant and the server asks for my ID. They ask for IDs in clubs, bars, and lounges. If it's got an age requirement, they want to see ID.
If you're a parent, like my own parents, my friends' parents and some of my friends now, you know you can not be there all of the time. The best you can do is teach your children right from wrong and hope they don't get into any trouble. But, they do. You were once a child, as I was, and the one thing we did was get into trouble.

The question that I have for parents: When your children are introduced to marijuana, do you want it to be from a dealer on the street or store clerk that will ask for ID?

Think about it.

How many children have you seen walk into a liquor store? Even in regular grocery stores, what are the chances that a baby-faced kid can walk out with a bottle of beer or a pack of cigarettes?

Under legalization, regulation is necessary. That means, the same controls in place for adult items - tobacco, alcohol, pornography - is the same controls that would be placed on marijuana. Chances are it would be sold alongside tobacco products in a tobacco shop. Maybe, marijuana would be sold in grocery stores. The common thread here is that all these locations offer control, more control than what is offered by a dealer on the corner.

Prohibition won't protect your children

Prohibitionists claim that marijuana is dangerous to children. How can they advocate for a system that gives control of such a dangerous substance to criminals? How can they claim that they want to protect children while promoting a black market that don't have a reason to care about children?

You can believe that marijuana is the most dangerous substance in the world. It doesn't matter how you feel about marijuana. What matters is that we protect children. Prohibition didn't protect me then, it doesn't protect your children now, and it won't protect your children tomorrow.

It's All About The Magic Beans

2009-10-10T16:30:00.000-04:00

Of Growers and Genetics

A lot of marijuana growing is in the genetics - the magic beans or the seeds - that you use. Quality genetics matched with a competent grower can bring you very incredible marijuana.

Check out this picture of the Deep Chunk strain:
If you don't know what you're looking at, it's definitely marijuana that's producing THC at an amazing rate. But, also notice the deep green and waxy reflection of the leaf. That's a sign of incredible plant health which is a sign of how an incredible marijuana grower was matched with incredible genetics. Even if the genetics were sent by God, it takes an amazing grower to push that plant to its best. Yeah, that's just nice!

Usually when you smoke marijuana, you're smoking the clusters of flowers or the buds which usually contain the most THC. Sometimes leaves will produce a little THC but nothing serious and that Deep Chunk is serious.

What to do with quality genetics?

So, you want some of those quality genetics - Deep Chunk, Cinderella 99, Black Domina, Mazar, Afghani Bullrider. Maybe, you're already growing and you've got some quality genetics - Jack Herer, Sour Diesel, Super Silver Haze, Grand Daddy Purple - but you're running low or you want something different.

So, you go get those magic beans, now what - just grow them out, dump the males, let the females flower so you can smoke?

HELL NO. YOU MAKE MORE MAGIC BEANS.

Female marijuana plants are the ones that produce high levels of THC. Males produce THC at incredibly low levels; so low, they're not worth keeping around. Therefore, marijuana growers are taught to cull or destroy the males once identified. Males, just like humans, will pollinate the females. A pollinated, or "knocked up", female will produce seeds. The problem is that the energy the female plant would use to produce THC is diverted into producing seeds. So, it makes sense to get rid of the males.

However, anyone who has purchased seeds knows how troubling it can be to get those seeds in the US. You can lose your money in many ways or even go to jail if the delivery is intercepted by federal authorities. And, the amount of money you lose can be substantial. Seeds can cost between $50 and $400 per pack with only 5 to 10 seeds each. The higher the THC, the more popular the strain, the higher the price.

With all of that in mind, wouldn't it make sense to make more seeds when you get your pack of quality genetics? It's not hard to do. You simply have to let the males and females do what they've been doing for thousands of years. That 10-pack of Jack Herer you purchased from Sensi Seeds for well over $200 can easily turn into 200+ seeds.

From that point on, you can start a seed collection of your own, share with friends to increase your collection, and give seeds to other people. Get a large enough collection of seeds and you might be able to start your own seed business. I sure as hell need to boost my own collection and I'd be more willing to buy locally than from afar.

Marijuana Growers Were Newbies Once Too

2009-10-09T17:00:00.003-04:00

Usually when we hear about these marijuana grow operations,. we hear about, or see video, of the good ones. With indoor grow ops, we see these complicated setups - tubing, meters, lighting, buckets or tables. With outdoor ops we see these huge trees, some standing upwards of 9 feet tall or 9 feet in diameter.

When I first started growing, I got excited and inspired by these setups, especially indoor grow ops. It gave me encouragement but I still didn't have all the know how. I had the access to information but nothing will ever replace the knowledge you gain from experience. You don't gain experience from growing perfect marijuana every time. You learn more by making mistakes and grower error.

I want to show people - that are interested in growing marijuana and even those that may have lost faith in their ability - that we all make mistakes because we were all new at this job at some point. Even the professionals, some with 5 to 30+ years of experience still make mistakes.

Here are some great errors admitted by marijuana growers [I'll let you know why, if it's not obvious]:

"I remember my brother's first attempt at hydro. It was a damned mess. He was hot gluing everything instead of using grommets and tubing. Eventually, it ended up with him flooding the damn bedroom and you could see wet spots in the ceiling of the garage above the room lol."

"My big error was using tape on a water pump that was too damn strong for one dripper ring. I walked into the room and just heard that empty water pump sound. I ran to the closet to see an empty bucket. Luckily it was only about 2 gallons of water total. I unplugged everything just in case and used a lot of towels."

"First several times I tried to grow with 100W incandescent bulbs. Other'n that, I got nothin'."
[Incandescent bulbs, or regular light bulbs, do not have the right spectrum of light that will promote plant growth]

"I've heard of people that are convinced their herb tastes like grapes not because of the strain but because they pour in a gallon of grape Koolaid the last week of flower."
[Usually people who don't know much about marijuana either make up or believe made-up stories of how marijuana gets its scent or flavor. Different marijuana strains have their own natural scents and flavors. Sometimes some scents match those already in nature, some desirable, some not. For example, who wants their marijuana to smell and taste like a skunk?]

"When I first went indoor, I couldn't fer the life of me get em to flower. Mel Frank and High Times helped me feel like an idiot. 12/12 huh...who knew???"
[12/12 refers to the light cycle of 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark to mimic the changing season. 12/12 signals the plant to start flowering or growing buds. Marijuana won't show buds indoors unless you signal it to do so.]

"I remember my first 'real' indoor grow (8 x 4' flouros mixed cool/warm) back in 93 or 94. "You can tell if you have a female by the sets of two white hairy pistils that originate at the base of a branch in a calyx" "preflowers can be seen much sooner, and you might need a magnifying glass"...was what the text read. Little did I know you couldn't see them when the plant was two or three sets of leaves tall! LOL. My god, I was right in there with my face looking for the 'preflowers' trying to figure out if I had boys or girls! After a few weeks of wondering, I saw my first sets of preflowers and I was hooked! Thanks, now I have to go back to my corner..." [Preflowers]

"I got a couple good stories about a buddy of mine out here. I gave up on trying to help him because he just doesn't like to listen. 1# He use to stab the dirt through out his whole grow to aerate the soil. I told him don't do that you are killing the roots. Still didn't listen, **** knew best!!!! 2# He use to cut off all the leaves in about the 5th week of flower. Said lets more light reach the bud. Said this way he would get bigger buds, Because the buds need more light than the leaves. Don't want big leaves just big buds. I love this guy but his head is thicker than the walls out here."
[First problem is obvious, I think. The second problem is that the buds do not support themselves. The fan leaves are the light gatherers and process the light, air, and nutrients for the buds, THC, seeds, etc. In other words, YOU NEED FAN LEAVES]

"...sold a newb a 10" can fan that he wanted to use to exhaust a 10'x10' bedroom.. Told him it was overkill for the room and he needed at least double the surface area of the fan for intake.... A big f'n hole lol. he didn't think so, thought the small gaps around the door was fine. Couple days after runnin the fan it sucked the bedroom window right off the frame into the room onto his plants hahahahaaa.. best lessons learned are the hard way I guess."
[Negative Pressure]

"When I first got my 1k set up going...I was trying to cut corners an had a vast supply of boxes that were 10 inches deep an were 7x7inches around...they were cardboard so I lined with 2 thats right 2 plastic grocery store bags....was my first encounter with black mold....lol"
[Cardboard and moisture is a breeding ground for black mold which can cause/aggravate asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia]

"I was told by a friend, that shwagg seeds grow shwagg plants, dense, compressed brown nugs......according to him....he saw a shwagg plant lol."
[example of what can be done with schwag seeds]

"I once thought that a 2k room didn't need any cooling in the summer, with temps hitting the mid 40s Celsius. Had a nice bubba S1 clone that produced great looking buds with no smell and practically no high, musta cooked all the volatiles and cannabinoids right out of them...lol"
[2k refers to 2 kilowatts of light which gets pretty hot. This could have been worse than what occurred. Please make sure to use proper ventilation in any grow room.]

"Heres one I heard few years ago....some dude was going out of town for a week an asked a buddy to feed an water his girls...second day into it the friend mistakes ph-up for being a nute an gave em all a healthy dose of ph-up...couple days later entire dead crop..lol"
["pH up" is used to balance the pH (acidity/alkalinity) of hydroponic solution. Proper pH is important to aid in the plants uptake/absorption of nutrients. Too high or low will cause "nutrient lockout".]

Don't think you can't do it because you don't have a green thumb. Don't get discouraged because your first, second, or even third attempt failed. It's the mistakes that teach you the most important lessons. So, don't be afraid to admit your humanity by asking questions or getting information if you need help. Tens of thousands of growers around the world go in and out of marijuana growing forums just so they can help others. And, it's all free of charge. Dust yourself off and get dirty again.

Don't Fall for Marijuana Legalization War Hype!

2009-09-29T07:25:00.006-04:00

So, recently, I've been coming across this article on marijuana forums.

War breaks out within the marijuana legalization movement

Here's my comment to the article on the Examiner site:

This war is fake, made up. It's meant to disrupt and disturb efforts of the marijuana legalization movement with totally outrageous claims and fear mongering.

In my opinion, it sounds more like a government initiated program to disrupt the funding to marijuana legalization efforts of groups like NORML, MPP, and others who've been in the trenches for marijuana legalization for a long time.

It's almost Nixon-like.

Set up a fake "legalization" organization, use the media to get the word out, and then use this org. to dilute funds away from REAL legalization efforts while clawing at the social fabric of the marijuana movement.

The efforts of groups like NORML and MPP seek complete legalization of marijuana and the freedom to smoke at will. Regulation and taxation only occur at the commercial level as is the case with ANY product.

I would hope that people have the sense to read the words of this article and see right through it for what it is - NONSENSE.

Since I have more space, let me point out some problems.

First, let me break down the characters and plot in this fairytale article. First, we have the evil "Cannabusiness Community" - the antagonist. Then, we have their henchmen - NORML, MPP, and DPA. Finally, we have the hero of this tale - MRPP. The plot of the article is that our fabled henchman are driving marijuana policy in such a way that it helps to develop the cannabusiness community. Now that we have the characters and plot set up, let's commence to root out the nonsense.

Who is this "cannabusiness community"?

This community evolved after the first Medical Marijuana Initiative, Proposition 215, gave Californian citizens the right to consume Cannabis in November 2006.

It is comprised of "reform organizations" including the "Marijuana Policy Project," NORML and the "Drug Policy Alliance." It is also comprised of dispensary owners, "Medical Marijuana" growers and distributors of "Medical Marijuana Cards" such as Paul Stanford. And what do they all have in common? They do not want you to ever have the right to grow your own Marijuana: even as an adult.

What is MRPP or MERP?

Simply put, they are the Marijuana Re-Legalization Policy Project run by Bruce W. Cain who is also the author of that fairytale article, go figure. He pushes "his" "MERP" model which is nothing more than Jack Herer's California Cannabis Hemp & Health Initiative minus any plant restrictions.

Even Cain says on his own page
I do fully support Jack Herer's CCHH Initiative for California. This is the only initiative that largely conforms to the MERP Model. The only fly in the ointment is that it restricts the number of self cultivated plants to 100. MERP allows unlimited numbers of self cultivated plants.
By the way, no one knows what "MERP" stands for exactly. I still don't get why it isn't just MRPP. I'll use MRPP to refer to this organization.

So, why is this all nonsense?

It's nonsense because all of it is unfounded. Think about it. What medical marijuana dispensaries have a problem with the legalization of marijuana? Last time I checked, the DEA was busy shutting down these dispensaries. Marijuana legalization would keep these businesses open and operating. As it stands, they are targets of the prohibitionists. Legalization is the goal of NORML, MPP, and the DPA.
NORML's mission is to move public opinion sufficiently to achieve the repeal of marijuana prohibition so that the responsible use of cannabis by adults is no longer subject to penalty. [link]

Because MPP believes that the greatest harm associated with marijuana is prison, we focus on removing criminal penalties for marijuana use, with a particular emphasis on making marijuana medically available to seriously ill people who have the approval of their doctors. [link]

The Drug Policy Alliance Network (DPA Network) is the nation's leading organization promoting policy alternatives to the drug war that are grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights. [link]

The Real Problem: Bruce W. Cain.

He creates this illusion of conflict by trying to make us believe that these organizations are somehow working against legalization efforts. He misconstrues the concept of medical marijuana as the end all to the marijuana movement. In his mind, he believes this "cannabusiness community" is somehow driving all of the marijuana policies to create this quasi-legal atmosphere where marijuana prices can remain high thus preserving profits.

It's delusional at best.

What really pisses me off?

The thing that truly pisses me off comes towards the end of the fairytale article.
Withdraw all financial support to NORML, DPA, MPP and the rest of the Cannabusiness community.
First of all, the so-called cannabusiness community desires legalization because they desire openness and profit at the same time. They don't get charity. Even Cain admits, they make "literally millions of dollars each year". Even if that's a call to stop buying from them, how else are people going to get their medicine - go back to the black market?

At the same time, NORML, MPP, and the DPA get their funds from donations. In my opinion, they're doing an awesome job with those donations in this current sociopolitical climate.

Gaining Perspective

Prohibition is the problem. I am sure we can all agree to that. Prohibition is what's causing the high price of marijuana. I don't think anybody can disagree with that. Folks like Jack Herer and Dennis Peron along with groups like NORML, MPP, and the DPA have been promoting legalization for a long time with success.

Raw legalization is not going happen and it's not going to happen overnight.

Unfortunately, we live in a nation where common sense and intelligence are NOT prized, obviously. We live in a nation where money and greed rule supreme. The man with the brilliant mind is only as useful as the amount of money his ideas generate not the benefit those ideas may bring to the people. And unfortunately, we have to operate within that environment.

That means we have to play that game.

To get legalization of marijuana, we'll have to make it sweet to the people while at the same time making prohibition bitter. The great thing about that struggle is that all we need is to promote the truth. Marijuana prohibition was founded on and perpetuated through myths and lies since 1936. It is one of the largest drains on taxpayers, soaking up billions every year. It is the most socially devastating policy that promotes arresting and incarcerating millions of people who most likely wouldn't hurt a fly.

Now, is not the time to weaken these organizations by diluting their funding to other non-organizations like MRPP whose ideas for legalization belong to someone else and whose ability to confront prohibition is nonexistent.

Why I compare this article to a government ploy?

When I read some of the misinformation and unfounded delusions in that fairytale article, all I can hear is the propaganda during the Civil Rights movement. The US government, during that time, was guilty of wiretapping various leaders of the Black community. They were responsible for flooding Black communities with crack cocaine. The government lead major propaganda campaigns to demonize and discredit Civil Rights leaders. It was an ugly time.

I know that the legalization efforts of NORML, MPP, and the DPA are working - slowly, but surely. Prohibition rhetoric is at all time high. The people who benefit from prohibition - local, state, federal authorities and criminals - don't want prohibition to end. The Byrne Grant Program provides too much funding to authorities and they're addicted to the money. They're addicted to having people believe they're heroes. Busting potheads is just too easy. And, the criminals appreciate the ability to markup prices due to high risks.

But, the truth prevails so that rhetoric promoting prohibition is NOT working. Besides, the prohibitionists contradict themselves constantly. For example, why does it take a SWAT team to arrest a pothead when potheads are shown in ads to be lazy, weak, etc. Do you really need a 7-man paramilitary force to put a pothead like that in prison? DOUBTFUL.

So, what's a good tactic for prohibitionists?

Dig into the old playbook. Disrupt the marijuana legalization movement from within. Sabotage and espionage are the tools of war. The greatest defense is to simply seek the truth and not fall for the nonsense from a guy like Bruce W. Cain, the Freeway Ricky Ross of the marijuana movement.

DO NOT SMOKE HIS CRACK!!

Did US Tobacco Industry Hire FDA to Kill Competition

2009-09-26T09:00:00.005-04:00

I want to show how much influence and power the US tobacco industry has over the government and the people of the United States and how it affects marijuana legalization efforts.

Candy and Fruit Flavored Cigarettes Now Illegal in United States

"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today a ban on cigarettes with flavors characterizing fruit, candy, or clove. The ban, authorized by the new Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, is part of a national effort by the FDA to reduce smoking in America. Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in America."

According the FDA, flavored tobacco is being used by teens more and more, even though tobacco use among teens has fallen. Well, the "protect the children" concept doesn't pan out. On top of that, the FDA is not banning menthol cigarettes, America's #1 flavored cigarette.

With that info, I thought perhaps it's protectionism at work. The FDA specifically mentions clove cigarettes which are mainly imported by Djarum, an Indonesian company. It would make sense since they specifically left out menthol cigarettes. That would protect the American tobacco industry. I think I hit the nail on the head.

Kretek Sues FDA Over Flavor Ban

"Kretek International Inc., importer and distributor of Djarum clove cigars, filed Wednesday a request for declaratory judgment against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), following what it claimed was the FDA's intention to exceed its legislative authority to regulate flavored cigarettes by banning other tobacco products as well"

Tobacco Cos. Reassure Retailers Ahead of FDA Flavor Ban

The nation's largest tobacco manufacturer, Altria Group, issued a statement saying that the ban "does not affect any of Philip Morris USA's cigarettes, cigarette tobacco and smokeless tobacco products; U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co.'s smokeless tobacco products; or John Middleton's cigars and pipe tobacco products," and all of the company's products would remain for sale after the Sept. 22 deadline.

The second-largest tobacco company in the U.S., R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., also issued a statement that the ban does not apply to any of its current portfolio of cigarette products, all of which "are in compliance … and will remain available."

That is incredible. How is it that the FDA could issue a ban on flavored cigarettes that totally excepts American flavored cigarettes? Perhaps, I missed a few of the smaller American cigarette manufacturers that will get hurt. Also, why not include flavored cigars as well? Or, have they just not gotten around to it yet? Also, how can they specifically cite clove cigarettes when it's not

Unfortunately, there's not enough proof to connect the US tobacco industry with this severely one-sided legislation besides the fact that they benefit from it. It's like blaming the husband for the wife's death because he is named as the beneficiary on her insurance policy. It doesn't prove who did it. But, he sure is the #1 suspect in the case, so far.

Money is a hell of a drug.

Dumb Cops, Ignorant Media Exaggerate Marijuana Value.. AGAIN

2009-09-24T10:34:00.002-04:00

Did you guys think I was lying about dumb ass cops and the media that help them spread their garbage in my last post?

Read: Marijuana, the New Gold Rush

Here's another one to sink your teeth into. Let's go...

Marijuana operations shut down

It seems cops in Texas have found the ultimate marijuana grow operation in the world to date. Even I've never heard of marijuana grown this way. You won't believe what the cops said..

"Plants grown this way shoot up rapidly and produce plants free of stems and seeds. The dried leaves produce a high dollar drug. "Street value would be around $6,000 an ounce," explained Kerss, who also invited in the DEA and Texas Rangers into the investigation."

Well, slap my ass and call me Susan.

I'll be damned if the idiots actually found a marijuana plant with NO FUCKING STEMS. And, if you think that's a misquote or typo, the cops continue to say that it will be worth "$6,000 an ounce". Yeah folks - leaves, roots, and no stems. Technically, they didn't say anything about roots or even buds. It's no wonder this marijuana has a street value of 6,000 per ounce. It doesn't have any damn stems. The THC level must be around 200% too.

INCREDIBLE.

And, your tax money was spent saving us from whom?

"So far, deputies have charged Charles Thomas Smith, Timothy Gillispie,63 and Daniel Poirier,54 all of Nacogdoches County with engaging in organized criminal activity."

Yeah folks, the DEA and Texas Rangers were called into this "amazing" haul by the local idiots to save the American people from 3 senior citizens! Ok, I'll be fair to the local, state, and federal authorities here - 2 senior citizens and 1 almost senior citizen. I wonder if that makes the "authorities" feel better about what they're doing with their lives.

And, what exactly did they find at this amazing marijuana grow operation?

"The alleged growers of marijuana were into hydroponics. Only one lush marijuana plant was found."

HA.. HA.. wait, I can't breath.. AAAAHHHH HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAAA. THAT'S IT?!? ONE PLANT.

How many cops from how many different agencies spent how much tax payer money for ONE plant?

Well, to be fair, it was quite a nice operation they had going on from the video - very well kept home and property, top notch equipment, and a nice hydroponic setup. I see the grow lights, the mother room.. shit.. they even had the meters to keep track of pH and ppms and so on. By the quick look at the nutrients, it seems they were growing organic.

The good thing about organic growers is that they are naturalists for the most part. They won't use unnecessary or unnatural products. They won't give you anything that they won't use themselves. It was a high quality operation, very clean.

When marijuana is legalized, I hope these guys get out and start up their farm again. It was impressive. It's the kind of the model that indoor commercial growers should probably follow. We need more growers like that supplying the consumers.

Til then folks, GROW YOUR OWN.

On another note, I don't think I can just leave this without giving some honorable mention to the idiotic media, KTRE and, the author of this stupidity, Donna McCollum. Without their propagation of infinite stupidity and lack of journalistic integrity, people are lead to believe that marijuana can possibly bring them $6,000 an ounce. I don't think anyone is stupid enough to believe that marijuana can grow without stems... WAIT.. Donna McCollum and KTRE was stupid enough to run that line in this fairytale.

$6,000 an ounce... aaaahhhh hahahahahaha.. SO STUPID.

Marijuana, the New Gold Rush

2009-09-22T12:00:00.002-04:00

Question

What do you get when you tell a population of 300 million people that you can get between $2,000 and $15,000 per marijuana plant?
Answer: You get a population of 300 million people believing that marijuana is worth somewhere between $2,000 and $15,000.

What do you expect when upwards of 20% of this population are desperately looking for a job?
Answer: A 20% of this population willing to do just about anything to feed their families and save their homes.

Now, here's the big question...

What do you get when a large number of people willing to do just about anything read or hear in the news that a simple marijuana plant can bring them between $2,000 and $15,000 each?

Answer

More people selling pot as economy goes up in smoke
Out of work? Some folks are trying pot. Not to smoke -- but to sell.

That's the route increasing numbers of people are taking amid the worst recession in decades, according to law enforcement officials based in ganja-rich regions around the country.
Marijuana farming rebounds in economic hard time
"A lot of that, we theorize, is the economy," said Ed Shemelya, head of marijuana eradication for the Office of Drug Control Policy's Appalachian High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. "Places in east Tennessee, eastern Kentucky and West Virginia are probably feeling the recession a lot more severely than the rest of the country and have probably been in that condition a lot longer than the rest of the country."

The Problem

Well, if you didn't click on the linked "$15,000" in the first question, the answer is there (along with the story of Georgia cops who came up with that wild figure).

Prohibitionist Idiot #002: Lies Cops Tell

In short, purely idiotic local, state, and federal authorities that severely exaggerate the value of marijuana and the media that propagates their nonsense. It seems the value of marijuana is subject to any idiot's imagination. If you're ignorant of marijuana value, you'll believe it. If you're desperate, you'll look for information on how to grow it.

These conditions, created by idiotic police, have backfired in the worst way possible - for prohibitionists. Now "everyone" wants to grow marijuana like it's the gold rush of 1849 all over again. And, I am happy to help.

Is marijuana legalization working? Yes it is!

2009-09-21T11:46:00.006-04:00

Economics 101

In any economics class, even in high school, we learn that the more supply there is, the more the prices will drop. In fact, that lesson was hard-learned during the Great Depression. Manufacturing companies produced so many goods that they couldn't get them sold fast enough. If everyone in the US already has a television, then it will be difficult to sell new televisions. Seriously, this is Economics 101.

Well, listen to this.

No government agency is going to be able to tell you what I am going to tell you right now. They don't have their fingers on the pulse of marijuana growers in the United States - not like I do. There's no article to link to that will tell you what I know. There aren't any reporters who can be this close to the situation. So, sit tight and pay attention.

Marijuana growers are hurting in California. Let me repeat this fact so everyone can see it in plain English.

Marijuana growers are hurting in California.

The level of competition has gotten so high that prices have to come down across the board. It's literally flooding the market. And, the customer base is NOT going up so there's no one there to "consume" all of that extra supply. Think about it. Marijuana is so easily and readily available. Who couldn't get it? How many more customers are going to try marijuana beyond the ones who are already using it?

Also, it's the harvest season between late September, through October, into early November. That means MORE marijuana is going to flood the market thus lowering prices in the next few weeks.

The growers are looking forward to local, state, and federal authorities' eradication programs. They want the eradication programs to take place because that lowers supply thus decreasing competition and keeping prices high.
The big problem are SOME of these "compassionate" clubs. They still charge street prices even though many of them are low-balling the growers on wholesale prices. Can you blame them? With all the increased supply, they have a right to demand lower prices. I just think it's sick that some of them would knowingly have lower costs and still charge people street prices. But, this is a function of prohibition and greed. It's a middleman's market and these clubs are taking advantage in a big way.

For the record, in less than a year, legalization is doing what prohibition could not do in 70+ years. It's taking the profit out of the crime.

It's still early, but I will wait to see what this season's harvest brings.

On another note

This is specifically why I promote personal marijuana growing.

If everyone had their own grow operation, they wouldn't need to buy marijuana from anyone else, or less often, thus curbing crime and freeing up the burden on police to do the impossible. Until marijuana is legalized, regulated, and taxed across all 50 states, I will continue to promote personal marijuana grow ops.

It's easy. I'll start you off. Anthony's Marijuana Growing Advice

Honestly, I have a feeling I'll still support personal marijuana growing even after legalization. Can you imagine what the tobacco industry would do if marijuana became legal. We already know what they do to tobacco - adding carcinogenic chemicals beyond the stuff the plain tobacco will do to you. I can't imagine seeing anything good out of Marlboro Marijuana cigarettes. Nope, I'll keep growing my own.

If marijuana is regulated, I would hope the regulations include a "NO CHEMICAL ADDITIVE" rule, law, statue - whatever. The tobacco industry relies on these chemicals to process tobacco into those cancer sticks. However, today, we grow marijuana without these harmful chemicals and there's no reason that practice should ever change.

Legalization could prevent a 4yo boy from sharing cocaine

2009-09-20T18:53:00.004-04:00

I just read an article on ABC News and I had to put some education to it.

NJ Police: Dad Tells 4-Year-Old Cocaine Is Candy
New Jersey police say a 4-year-old boy shared cocaine with his friends at day care because his father told him it was candy.

Personally, the only "drug" I care about legalizing is marijuana. It's a plant, not a man-made chemical. But, I would be a careless fool if I didn't admit the benefits to legalizing all drugs.

Prohibition was always a bad idea. We learned that lesson during the prohibition of alcohol. Prohibition-inspired wars between gangsters like Al Capone and law enforcement like Elliot Ness left only dead bodies and crying widows. Even then, people continued drinking alcohol as they pleased. Prohibition didn't work and it wasn't worth another life.

With the legalization of alcohol, came regulation and taxation. Alcohol was no longer under control of the gangsters like Al Capone but instead behind the counter tops of liquor stores where harmful substances could be controlled, kept out of the hands of children.

Instead of learning those simple lessons, the US followed alcohol prohibition with marijuana prohibition and subsequently a total prohibition on anything considered a drug. Go figure.

While there exist Al Capones of the illegal drug market today, guys like Shaheed Wright exist as well. Shaheed Wright is a drug dealer, dealing cocaine and probably other drugs as well. He is also the father that told his own 4yo son that cocaine was candy as he sent him off to school with baggies of cocaine in his pocket.

The problem with these small time drug dealers is that they control the drug market and they decide who gets drugs. Where alcohol, and even tobacco, were taken out of the hands of people like Shaheed Wright and Al Capone, prohibitionists have given these people the job of gatekeeper of powerful substances. With no regulation, who's going to tell Shaheed Wright to whom he can distribute his product? No one!

Granted, it was an unfortunate situation that lead up to the boy getting the cocaine, we can not absolve prohibitionists for placing the responsibility of cocaine in the hands of irresponsible people like Shaheed Wright. Why aren't we treating these drugs like alcohol and tobacco? Why are they so easy to obtain?

I ask this simple question to those that believe prohibition is the way to go:

How often does a 4yo boy end up sharing alcohol or tobacco with friends at school?

And, if you need help realizing why prohibition is a failure, read this article:
Former U.S. anti-drug official's arrest 'a complete shock'
As a high-ranking U.S. anti-drug official, Richard Padilla Cramer held front-line posts in the war on Mexico's murderous cartels. He led an office of two dozen agents in Arizona and was the attache for Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Guadalajara. While in Mexico, however, Cramer also served as a secret ally of drug lords, according to federal investigators.

If you think individuals like Richard Cramer are a rarity, ask yourself why, with billions of dollars going to eradicate drugs, local/state/federal authorities can only catch 5-10% of the TOTAL drugs that get into the US. Planes, trains, boats, trucks - Richard Cramer isn't the only weak link in the chain.

Overgrow, the Marijuana Movement!

2009-09-16T12:00:00.000-04:00

A few years ago, there was a website called Overgrow. Overgrow was THE largest website in the world for marijuana growers. You could find growers of every level and walk of life - small, personal grows to large commercial operations to breeders; recreational and medical; all races, ethnicities, creeds, and religions. If you were a marijuana grower, you knew about Overgrow.

Unfortunately, Overgrow was shut down along with many other sites. That event sent the marijuana growing world scrambling. People were concerned because it wasn't just a shut down, it was a raid by Canadian police. They had taken servers and were basically hunting down people. Some were caught, most weren't.

Cannabisworld.com and Overgrow.com Seized By Police via High Times

Fortunately, marijuana growers were able to regroup on other sites and continue growing. They finally understood what was going on. They internalized what happened to them and their friends - their marijuana family. And, they got pissed.

The shutting down of Overgrow and all these other sites stoked fires in the hearts of growers around the world. Overgrow became an ideology, a battle cry. Marijuana growers weren't just growing marijuana anymore; they were overgrowing the government. Overgrow, the ideology, is a giant "FUCK YOU" to the government and the special interests that seek to keep this plant out of the hands of the people.

Overgrow has become the idea that the people will continue to grow marijuana in spite of all these attempts to kill it. We will grow so much marijuana that it will be completely impossible to keep it out of the hands of the people.

And, it's working.

So many people around the world use marijuana on a daily basis. Unfortunately, the laws in most countries don't allow marijuana growing or use. Just as unfortunate is the reality that some of these people do end up indirectly supporting a violent element in society. The people aren't to be blamed for this. A government that supports prohibition is a government that supports violence and demonizes an entire swath of their own community including their own friends and family.

It's these people, the users, that are becoming the marijuana growers. They understand the same things that I understand

Marijuana is safe to use
Marijuana is easy to grow on your own
Growing marijuana is safer than buying it on the street

It's my pleasure to support these users by showing them how easy it is to grow your own marijuana for personal use. I've never grown commercially. I've never sold marijuana either. But, I have, and will continue, to help others grow their own marijuana cheaply and safely away from violent people, badged or not. It's my way of fighting prohibition where common sense and even precedent has failed. It's my way of fighting the greed and lies that keep marijuana from being legalized.
It's my way to OVERGROW.

Grow marijuana, save a life!
Anthony's Marijuana Growing Advice

Why wait until you're suffering to care?

2009-09-09T14:45:00.001-04:00

I just read a story over at 420 Magazine via Wacotrib News and it pissed me off so much that I had to say something. Enough with the formalities, let's go.

Waco Man Teams With NORML in Push for Medical Marijuana

Alan Caruthers, of Waco, says he was 18 years old the first and last time he tried marijuana. It didn't do much for him. Until this year, he saw no reason to try it again, and he dismissed arguments for decriminalizing it as pothead talk.

It took a four-year struggle with myelofibrosis to change his mind. His leukemialike bone marrow disease gives him constant bone pain. The chemotherapy gives him nausea that makes him vomit daily. The Vicodin, Ativan and other drugs he's taking to relieve those symptoms are losing their effectiveness, and he's afraid of getting addicted to them.

So now, at age 44, this Christian family man and lifelong Republican is considering medicating himself with marijuana. And he has become an unlikely advocate for the right to do so legally.
(click title for the rest of the article)

Here's my response to the article:

This pisses me off.

"It took a four-year struggle with myelofibrosis to change his mind."

Why in the hell do you wait until it's YOUR problem before you actually give a damn about people suffering?? That, to me, is the most selfish reason for advocating for medical marijuana. You don't need to be in the "crap" to give a damn about those already living in it. What's next? His healthcare costs are going to bankrupt him so he'll be advocating for the public option or even universal?

Or, worse. What's going to happen when his issue is resolved? Will he go back to not giving a damn because he's out of troubled waters, so to speak?

The most that medical marijuana advocates and legalization advocates would ask of people is that they listen and get all of the facts. But, he was not that kind of man. Many people in this nation aren't willing to listen. I have absolutely NO respect for people like that.

I hope he gets his marijuana. I just want to see how he acts after he gets the treatment he requires.

That's all I am going to say at this point. I am just severely disgusted.

Racial Profiling, Statistically Speaking.

2009-09-07T14:28:00.001-04:00

Racial Profiling

First of all, what's racial profiling.

Racial profiling basically states that certain races are prone to committing certain crimes.

However, the problem with racial profiling is that it is based on statistics or past history. Statistics is just a representation of data collection.

Therein lies the problem with racial profiling.

See, African Americans and Hispanics are more likely to be arrested and end up incarcerated, statistically. This is because, statistically, African Americans and Hispanics are more likely to commit crimes. Therefore, statistically, it makes sense that African Americans and Hispanics are targeted by police more often.

Wait.

Where are these statistics coming from? Who's collecting and compiling this data?

Well, statistically, White people are the data collectors. Statistically, White people are the data compilers. Statistically, White people are the ones doing the arresting and incarcerating. And, statistically, White people are the ones who report this data.

Hmmm.

Am I wrong? Statistically, no. Statistically, I am right. Whites do collect, compile, and report these statistics - statistically, of course.

So, what? Does it matter that Whites collect, compile and report statistics?

Hell yeah!

Statistically, this nation, of mostly Whites, has been anti-non-white! From the very day the pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, Whites have been the scourge of non-whites in North America from sea to shining sea. Statistically, that's true.

If you can deny that reality, please try to do so, statistically.

At any rate, since before the inception of this nation, African Americans and Hispanics have been targeted by Whites the most, statistically.

Targeted for what? Eh, let's not get into that.

And sure, many other people have been targeted, statistically. Ask the Japanese, Native Americans, Arabs. Or, check the statistics.

Statistics would show that the statistics for the criminal behavior based on race or ethnicity is severely skewed. By what? Racism.

Hey. You can't take one statistic and not the other. That's not how statistics work. Ah, but that is how racial profiling is being used by a mostly White majority, statistically.

Racial Profiling Misused

Have a look at this chart...
Hey, statistically, Whites make up over three-quarters of the marijuana users in the United States. However, statistically, African Americans and Hispanics make up more than 70% of those arrested and incarcerated for marijuana use. Check the statistics.

Hmmm.

Statistically, it would seem that local, state, and federal authorities don't do any racial profiling. If they did do any racial profiling at all, then wouldn't it make sense, statistically, that more Whites would be targeted, arrested, and incarcerated for marijuana offenses.

Also, if racial profiling is based on statistics, which set of statistics is being used. Think about it. If we're going by marijuana usage, then Whites should be targeted more. However, if we're going by crime statistics, the targeting, arrests, and incarceration of Blacks and Hispanics would make sense.
But, do current crime statistics - based on racism, statistically - justify the current state of racial profiling? Absolutely not!

Are you tired of statistics, yet?

I support racial profiling - REAL racial profiling - based on statistics that are not inherently skewed by the racist attitudes of those in power.

Does this mean that I want to see more White people arrested for marijuana offenses?

HELL NO! I want marijuana to be as legal as tobacco and alcohol for all of us.

However, if local, state, and federal authorities are going to racial profile people in general, wouldn't it make sense they follow statistics that aren't created through racism? Then again, that assumes they are actually racial profiling based on statistics and not just blatant racism.

Grow marijuana, save a life!

2009-08-27T09:00:00.000-04:00

The Problem

In this war on drugs, it has become apparent to me that stupidity and greed have always been at the forefront. The smart guys are the drug dealers. They make billions yearly while entire police departments and federal authorities pat themselves on the back because they found a ton of marijuana or raided a marijuana grow op(eration).

It's sad because they pose in these photos with huge smiles on their faces not realizing their "contribution" to the drug war amounts to absolutely nothing. That ton doesn't even scratch the surface. That indoor grow op or large field of cannabis means nothing. Those millions of plants, hundred thousand users, thousands of dealers, and hundreds of homes adds up to only 5-10% of the total drugs that get into the hands of waiting consumers.

That's barely enough to put a dent in the pricing of marijuana and other drugs. And, believe it or not, that's less than the expected loss for drug dealers. The drug dealers have more faith in the police catching them than they deserve. Anyone who's invested 10 minutes in the debate already knows the absolute lack of usefulness of local police and federal authorities. It's pitiful.

Truthfully, there are some truly dangerous people on both sides of this war from overzealous cops that murder old ladies in their own home (Kathryn Johnston or Alberta Spruill) to drug cartels that are responsible for mass graves. The typical marijuana user is truly caught between a government-issued assault rifle and drug cartels' mad men.

Talk about being stuck between a rock and hard place! Incredible.

The Solution

While the best option at this point in time is to legalize and regulate drugs, especially marijuana, it doesn't seem as though that will happen anytime soon. Very few politicians have the guts or the brains to make the right or smart decision. And, most are being paid off anyway. $50,000 to a senator's "campaign" is more important than saving the lives of innocent people, so it seems.

(only marijuana is important to me at this point)

While we wait for hard working organizations to fight for common sense drug policy, the solution, albeit temporary, is for the users to grow their own marijuana. The reasons for growing your own marijuana are numerous but I am interested in saving lives. If you grow your own marijuana, you save your own life as well as the lives of friends and family by:.
maintaining quality control over the substances you may use or distribute (ie. lacing - roach spray, cocaine)
running a small grow op that will fly under the radar of overzealous, violent police/feds who want the big busts
not supporting violent drug cartels

Just a bit of advice

Growing marijuana is not hard to do. All you need are the seeds. From that point, any garden shop and tomato growing instructions will help you grow marijuana. There are books available along with DVD's and online guides and forums with so many supportive growers that are willing to help you. You don't need a college course in botany even though some schools in California offer that kind of education.

In fact, I'll help you. Start here: Anthony's Marijuana Growing Advice

Don't be afraid to start your own small, personal marijuana grow op. Here are some risks of growing marijuana and why you won't be at risk with a small op:
Snitching: the #1 rule of marijuana growing is not to let others know.
However, so many people grow, use, support marijuana that telling people what you do becomes a non-issue. In fact, many of my friends know that I grow. It's a recipe for disaster but even the ones I've mad angry over the years haven't turned on me or turned me in. I can even count a New York City police officer as one of the people that knows I grow. He smokes marijuana as well so he can't wait to try out my next crop. It's amazing. He smokes every where and every day and whips out his badge like a get out of jail free card. This is because most NYC cops smoke marijuana as well.
Then again, shit happens. So, keep your mouth shut. The only person who can snitch on you is YOU!
Electricity: a dead giveaway is your electric bills sky rocketing overnight.
However, a small marijuana grow op naturally uses a small amount of electricity - a bump that always goes unnoticed. Remember police are looking for big busts. So, a 200-400-watt per day bump is not going to alarm anyone. It's the 1000-watt per day bumps coming from small apartments that raises eyebrows. Even homes can get away with a 1000-watt bump because homes take up considerably more electricity on average. The bigger the house, the more you can get away with.
Smell: we all know marijuana has a strong odor.
However, with a small grow op, all you need is a typical room air purifier. This won't raise the kind of suspicions a large carbon scrubber (activated carbon air purifier, usually custom made) would raise.
Noise: a dead giveaway for a large grow op is the noise from humming fans to whirring electrical ballasts to water and air pumps.
While a small grow op will need all of these items to function properly, they would be considerably smaller, causing considerably less noise. A simple air conditioner can cover any "unusual" sounds coming from a small marijuana grow op.
Heat: A tactic used by police/feds to find marijuana grow ops is the use of infrared sensors. They look for the high heat signatures that come from high intensity discharge (HID) lights.
By nature, a small marijuana grow op will either not use HID lights or use smaller versions of them. They do not generate the type of heat that would alarm a police department that uses that kind of technology (search: FLIR). For example, a 125-watt compact fluorescent light (CFL), while inferior to HID lights, is nearly cool or mostly warm to the touch while a similar HID may burn your finger.
Paper Trail: Police may look for purchases in your financial records that may lead them to clues you're growing. Imagine spending $10,000 at a garden shop and not purchasing any seeds. However, a small marijuana grow op can cost as little as $300 and lower depending on how small you want to grow.
You can also NOT leave a paper trail by paying cash for everything. It's a small grow op so carrying upwards of $500 isn't going to attract attention.
Another idea is to spread your risk. Instead of buying all items from one place, purchase from different places and have friends purchase items for you. You can also spread your purchases over time.
Create a list of all the items you think you need. Find a different store that may carry specific items. For example, Home Depot carries light timers. Pathmark carries plant fertilizer. Kmart carries flowerpots. Pet stores carry air stones and air pumps as well as tubing.
I don't want to say that a small marijuana grow op is completely secure. Nothing is ever completely secure. However, you're much better off with a small marijuana grow op. Besides that, you learn how to grow marijuana.When it's legal, you can definitely opt to grow on a larger scale.

Last word

Small grow ops can be small in height or number. For example, we could grow quite a few plants in small space using 100 watts of CFLs or we can grow maybe 4 to 6 plants up to 5 feet high in a closet using only 250-400 watts of HID light. Other methods exist for maintaining small marijuana grow ops as so many people do it this way to stay under the radar. And, they do it because it works.

Update: Converting BongSpirit to BongMarijuana

2009-08-24T21:20:00.000-04:00

Hey folks. I finally got the glass pieces I needed to complete the conversion of the Bong Spirit vodka bottle to fully functioning bong.

Link: Converting BongSpirit to BongMarijuana

Actually, it's 99.9% complete. I still need a grommet to place in the hole for a more secure fitting. It's tight but it still moves around just a tiny bit. Anyway, it's working perfectly now. Here are some pictures:

Converting BongSpirit to BongMarijuana

2009-08-18T16:10:00.003-04:00

The Quest

About a year ago, I came across a link for Bong Spirit. It's a vodka from Holland, "distilled 6 times". Be it far from me to act as a liquor expert, I couldn't say if the vodka was that good as I don't drink more than once a month if at all and it's only amaretto on the rocks - not too classy yet not too cheap. I enjoy one vice and I am sticking to it.

Marijuana.. duuh

Anyway, when I saw the site, I simply had to get a bottle. It's mass produced liquor so I already knew it would be cheap. But, the most attractive thing about Bong Spirit are the designs. I appreciate the artwork. Unfortunately, I was having trouble finding it - in New York City of all places. The website lists the distributors but when I called the two closest, I got no answer. The others were too far away for me.

That's what always sucks about calling some businesses; you never get an answer. I think, as a marketing person myself, you've got to be available when customers call even if it only comes out to a few dollars.
/endrant

Fortunately, one day as I was coming from dinner at Vento on 14th street and 9th ave (great restaurant) on my way to the train station on 7th, I came across a liquor store with a Bong Spirit bottle in the window on 8th Ave. Even if that's the last bottle, I was going to buy it. I didn't want to waste a second looking for the bottle. I headed straight for the counter and asked the clerk, "Where's your Bong Spirit?" It came out to about $31, tax included.

I got the Capacitor design. It's not in the pic above but you can see it on the main website (3 bottle from the left, orange in color. You can see it in the pics below (all the way at the bottom).

It took me a week to drink that vodka! Hey, even I know, you're not supposed to waste liquor. And then the delicate process of conversion began.

Educating Myself

There are some YouTube videos about the conversion but most only talk about it. One guy actually did it but he didn't do the most important part which is getting the hole in the glass for the bowl. He took it to some glass company.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO (just kidding)

Then he proceeded to explain how to drill the plastic cap as though people need help with that. As many people pointed out in the comments.. JUST REMOVE THE CAP.. duh (not kidding).

The Conversion Process

I got a drill bit that was made for drilling holes in glass. Then, I drilled the damn hole myself. I didn't have anything to secure the bottle so I took the chance of securing it between my feet at an angle and on carpet. The reason I did that was to minimize the chance of breaking using my softer feet and rug as a vibration dampener. Normally, one would use rubber clamps to hold the glass in place. But, I'm a pothead and we're fucking DIY geniuses.
Warning
If you're working with glass, be sure to wear a mask and be in a ventilated area. You do not want to breathe in glass dust. With that, I applaud the guy on YouTube for taking his project to a professional. It's always better to be safe, than sorry. Don't worry, I wore a mask and real, straight-from-Home Depot eye protection.
Unfortunately, as I got through the glass, I saw that it was chipping the hole on the inside. So, I had to bring out the Dremel which is like a smaller handheld hobby drill. I had parts for the Dremel I could use to etch glass but not drill a hole, not yet. Fortunately, the hole was already drilled for the most part. Now I just had to widen it and keep the edges smooth. It took some time but I literally etched that hole wide enough for another Dremel drill bit that would finish the job for me. I also smoothed the edges at the top and inside so that there wouldn't be any sharp edges. I could run my fingertips over the hole and not worry about getting cut.

I had a perfectly working bong.

Trials and Tribulations

Unfortunately, again, the one bowl I had fell off the table and cracked when it hit a hard surface. I know I should always have more just in case but I was never big on bongs. I'll go get more whenever I get back to West 3rd St/6th Ave (between the Subway sandwich spot and the kinky video store sits my favorite tobacco/head shop).

Anyway, here are some pics:

As you can see, I am currently using it as a pipe until I get a new bowl. I used black electrical tape to sort of seal the edges and keep it secure by taping over the hole and cutting slits in the center. I also used a razor blade to trim the excess tape off the sides so it looks a little cleaner. It works well and protects the glass until I get the proper fittings and such. It's not 100% completed or finalized but it's a working model for now. I will do this again but I want the proper tools so I can do this quickly.

$31, a little hard work, a small liver sacrifice to the marijuana gods, the right tools and a steady hand is all it took.

And, yes, it smokes smooth - oh so smoooooth - with the glass bowl, before it broke, and even as a pipe. It's great!
Cleaning Tip
That glass dust will get inside the bottle. I found it difficult getting the dust out. A little bit of water and soap did NOT do the trick. I used epsom salt (a lot) with cold water (don't want it dissolving) as a sort of abrasive. Everyone should have epsom salt in their home. It has too many beneficial uses for folks to not have it. If not, any Rite Aid, CVS, Pathmark, drug store, or even a discount shop should/would have it.

I finished this post just in time to spark up a bowl. Happy 420 folks!

Dr. Nigger, Prof. Nigger, Mr. Nigger.. Nigger Nigger!

2009-07-22T11:31:00.007-04:00

You know those jokes where person A tries to get person B to say a specific word but person B keeps saying something completely different? Even when person A pronounces the word slowly, person B pronounces the different word just as slowly.

Example:
A: I'm a custodial engineer.
B. Oh, you're a janitor.
A: No, a custodial engineer.
B. I heard you the first time, a janitor.
A: CU-STO-DI-AL EN-GI-NEER
B: JA-NI-TOR

Get the joke now. It's funny because people try to attribute a better-sounding title to something not so glamorous. Sometimes, it's not funny.

For example, when Henry Louis Gates, a nigger kinda like myself - but older, more prominent, and more accomplished - had trouble getting into his home.

Link: Henry Louis Gates Jr. Arrested, Police Accused Of Racial Profiling

Of course, the cops were called to the potential burglary in this mostly white affluent neighborhood. And, the cops came faster than they should. Mr. Gates told a police officer that he was a Harvard professor. He even showed him both his driver's license and his Harvard identification, both with his picture on it.

All the officer heard was nigger. Professor Gates told the officer it was his house. The officer heard, "whomp whomp.. nigger.. whomp whomp.. harass" and proceeded to harass as his simple mind processed the situation. Then, Prof. Gates asked the officer his name and his badge number because clearly the officer was harassing him at this point. The officer heard, "whomp whomp.. nigger.. whomp.. angry.. whomp whomp.. arrest."

Then, the nigger got arrested in his own home.

Professor.

Nigger.

Pro-fess-or.

Nig-ger.

Yeah, I've been there before, Prof. Gates. What nigger hasn't? I was arrested for witnessing police brutality, charged with disorderly conduct and inciting a riot. What did the police report say about me? The police claimed that I was hanging out of the window yelling obscenities and that I threw something that "nearly" missed the police officer. In the end, the case was dismissed because I wanted to go to court. I wanted that jury trial. I wanted my day in court. The Bronx DA doesn't want to put a college-educated, self-employed nigger like me on the stand. I might end up looking like a credible witness to police brutality.

Link: The 48th Precinct of the Bronx, NY are PUNKS

That doesn't even begin to cover the number of times I was pulled aside and searched. The NYPD has found a way to circumvent the 4th Amendment of the US Constitution which used to protect citizens against illegal search and seizures. That's right. In NYC, you can and will be searched simply for being in a specific area but according to statistics, only if you're Black or Latino.

And, what's a nigger's greatest salvation? President Nigger telling us that we need to take responsibility for ourselves. Well, I'd like to hear President Nigger explain to Professor Nigger that he should get an education, tell Dr. Nigger to better his situation, and tell Mr. Nigger to take responsibility for himself.

For the record, "nigger" was used 21 times including the title and this sentence. You may not like the word but the sentiment in America is quite clear and it isn't going to change any time soon.

Have Boston Potheads Gone Wild or Are Cops Full of Crap?

2009-07-17T07:45:00.000-04:00

Earlier today...

I read this article, Pot law leaves cops high & dry, at the Boston Herald website. I had to admit that it sent a chill up my spine in a good way. At first I thought, finally, we're seeing marijuana smokers light up like they would any typical tobacco user - no violence, no killing, no nonsense, no arrests.

But, the article began to sink in.

It was written from the point of view of Boston police - not exactly a group noted for being honest especially when it comes to marijuana users. Although the main point of the article speaks to the law specifically, there are some "stories" within it that I find are complete nonsense.

In short, the article is about the current marijuana laws on the books in Massachusetts. They bring the "crime" of smoking marijuana down from a sick-and-twisted arrestable "offense" to a near-common sense minor misdemeanor. The police complained from the first day that they wouldn't be able to enforce the law as it is on the books.

If caught smoking marijuana in public, you get a $100 fine. You don't even have to give your name so the citations aren't even enforceable, as I understand it. So, the current statistics reflect exactly that concern.

"...83 percent of 415 tokers cited in Boston since the law took effect in January have refused to pony up the $100, a Herald review shows."

I can believe that. But, it's not the statistics that bother me at all. Honestly and obviously, I believe marijuana should be legal and taxed, not illegal and fined. So, that result, in my view, upsets me only because 17% of the people actually bothered to pay this twisted fine.

What bothers me are the anecdotes of police encounters which is obviously full of pure unadulterated lies. I'll break em all down so we can see the sensationalism and outright arrogance of stupidity of the Boston Police Department.

#LiesCopsTell

In Arlington, a public works employee was cited by the local police chief for smoking a pot pipe as he stood next to his town-issued tractor.
When you read this, you're to think: "Oh no! You shouldn't be operating that tractor - paid for by tax payers - while you're high on marijuana!" And, we can't know if this is true or not because the cops couldn't get his info. However, they knew he was a "public works employee" standing next to a "town-issued tractor". I guess his employers can't do anything to stop him all because the cops can't enforce a citation. Give us all a break!
At bustling Park Street Station, a pair of nonchalant lovers out on the town openly lit up a joint and continued toking even after confronted by off-duty Milton Chief Richard Wells.
I love this one just for the "nonchalant lovers" part. Makes me think of good ol' Harry Anslinger when he said, "This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and any others." What were they doing to make them nonchalant lovers? Smoking marijuana? I find it kind of hard to nonchalantly love a woman with a joint in my mouth. It kinda gets in the way of the whole nonchalant loving part, don't you think?
In East Boston, four teens spotted in a “smoke-filled vehicle” unabashedly told a cop they were “just smoking marijuana.”
This lie is hilarious just because they used the word unabashedly. They must have dug deep in the thesaurus for that one. Nevermind the potential DUI situation. I guess the police couldn't address it without giving a citation.
A man caught near a Dorchester playground laughed when police said he faced a $100 fine - and then taunted the cops with an expletive-laced tirade.
This is my favorite lie, yet! It's similar to the whole tractor crap above. You're made to think: "Oh no! They're smoking in the playground where our children play!" And, to make matters worse, he taunts the police with an "expletive-laced tirade". So, he's not just a pothead at a playground around children, he's a violent pothead at a playground around children. HILARIOUS!

Boston Potheads Haven't Gone Wild

Granted some people are quite uncouth. Arrogance, entitlement, privilege all drive folks to do things that are generally pretty stupid and uncalled for. Most police know exactly what I am talking about as they are guilty of it most of the time. The worst of stories I've heard is where people are generally rude to others that don't smoke much like tobacco smokers do regularly. It's my only pet peeve. Ask those around you that may be affected before you light up. It's called courtesy and respect.

But potheads in general are quite courteous, at least the ones I've met. And, I highly doubt Boston potheads would be as stupid or arrogant as Boston police would have us believe. The cops want their revenue stream back. They want to be able to arrest potheads so they come up with this sensationalist nonsense about marijuana smokers. I don't believe and I'll be on Boston soon enough to see for myself.

At the end of the day, Boston police are just trying to save their jobs. Without the ability to arrest marijuana smokers, the city will find that Boston police are generally ineffective and crime along with the cost of enforcing the old laws will fall dramatically - lower jail costs, court costs, and no more cops padding their pockets with overtime pay by spending hours long after their shift is over tending to potheads. The people of Boston win more than they realize.

The next step for Massachusetts is to eliminate the jobs of police isntead of teachers and counselors. They had the courage to pass this law. I hope they have the courage to address the state's police burden.

Pres. Anthony's Marijuana Q&A #002

2009-06-24T20:00:00.003-04:00

Intro

Well folks, here I am back with a few more good questions from you budding marijuana growers.

But, before I continue, I want to make sure people understand that there are hundreds of thousands of marijuana growers right here in the United States. Many of them are on forums like ICMag, ready and willing to help teach folks, like yourself, exactly how to grow marijuana safely and securely from criminals and cops alike. You can also purchase books like Ed Rosenthal's Marijuana Grower's Handbook: The Indoor High Yield Guide or Jorge Cervantes's Marijuana Horticulture: The Indoor/Outdoor Medical Growers Guide.

So, join the forums and get the books. I can answer questions some of your questions but I am not the best authority and I am only one guy.

On to the Questions & Answers

Anthony,

I found your blog while looking up some growing tips and ideas for "grass". Please see the attached pictures and tell me what you think.

In summary, the first pic is about 4 weeks into growing. I germinated the seeds and planted them (2 plants) in 1/2 liter pots. I've got two growing now. The second and third pics are after trimming the roots a quarter-inch and repacking in miracle grow potting soil (basic $5 bag). The age at these pics are about 6 weeks +/-. As for growing conditions, these are growing in South Texas, average daily temperature is 90-101 degrees, humidity anywhere from 20-40%, UV indexes of 7-9 daily, and light winds. I've been giving the plants 1 1/4 cups of water per pot each day except until recently. I had to move the pots to a secret location because of neighbors. The pots are still out in the open but now receive about 10 hours of sunlight due to their location; they're behind a large rock that blocks their sunlight from about 4pm-7am.

It's my first time growing - now that I'm out of school I can focus real time on doing this. I'm tired of buying and want to grow a SMALL amount for personal use. I'm extremely intrigued by your micro-scale plants (the soil grown 1-ounce plant is amazing! that's what i'm shooting for). If you could give me some advice on what i've got growing now i'd really appreciate it as well as where to begin growing those 1-oz. plants. As I said I'm in about the 7th week of growing and i need to know what to do now. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot.
Your plants look very healthy.

The issue with the light isn't so bad. It's more important that the plant receive at least 12 hours of darkness or sleep. 10 hours of light affects the plant by making it mature faster but the yield will be lower. Essentially you're on a sort of 22 hour day. Although, it's not ideal, it's ok. On the other side of the coin, if you were indoors, you could extend the hours of light and increase yield as long as the plant gets the minimum of 12 hours of sleep. But, of course, it would take longer because you would be on a 26-hour day, for example.

Since they are outdoors, you don't need to feed them so often. Just make sure the soil is damp, even allow it to dry out a bit at the top. They sell soil testers at garden shops for pretty cheap. I got one for $5 about 2 yrs ago. Or just shove your finger deep in the soil to make sure the soil is moist.

Marijuana is a very strong and hardy plant. The best growers will tell you to simply leave it alone and let nature handle it. The worst growers are the ones who interfere too much. The best advice I can give you is to just let them grow and learn what you can for next time.

As far as the 1oz grow, it's more of a hobby of some growers who just like to show off their ability and have a little fun. I use it as an extreme example of how we can grow at home without worrying about 9 foot tall plants. Those pics don't belong to me.
Hi. I started growing weed and didn't think it would acually work. Now I have 4 little small plants and one big one but the problem is 3 of the small plants are in the same pot and close together. Can I do anythingy about it? The big one is also in the same pot of the 4th one and now the big one has outgrow the little one by alot and i need help. I was considering growing again and doing it the right way. Can you give me any tips. I did the first ones outdoors. Should I grow my new ones indoors?
Well depending on how big the flower pot is, they might be able to hang out there if you're keeping them small. But, I'd advise transplanting them to separate pots with fresh soil immediately. The roots most likely will get tangled as it grows so try to separate without doing to much damage.

Let them grow out and see what happens. You can only learn from this point on anyway. As far as tips, get a book on marijuana growing by either Jorge Cervantes or Ed Rosenthal and there are other authors as well. And, sign up at icmag.com. You'll get help from hundreds of other growers as well. While you're reading and getting a better idea of what's involved, you can continue with what you have now, scrap and start over, or start another bunch of seeds.

As far as the next grow, I'd do it inside because the grow season has already begun outdoors. It may be a bit more work but there's nothing better than having a higher level of control over your grow. Also, you don't want to get spotted by nosey neighbors, someone passing by, or cops in helicopters. If you're gonna take that chance you better know what you're doing.

Good luck. Stay safe.
I was wondering if there is any type of heating lamp that is the best to get?
No problem. You're not looking for heating lamp but the lights you would want do get hot. The "big boy" growers use HID lights which include HPS (orangish) and MH (bluish). Since you're just starting out, go for CFL lights because they stay pretty cool and are cheaper. The drawback is the light isn't as strong so your final amount will suffer. Check out BGHydro for grow supplies. They've got it all.

Prohibitionist Idiot #003: Manic Politicians

2009-06-16T00:00:00.003-04:00

Some of the most dangerous prohibitionist idiots lurk in the worst possible positions in society - government. Politicians from your local assemblyman/woman/person to the President of the United States shape public policy. Creating marijuana prohibition is possibly the most damaging public policy to any society. Who do we have to thank for such societal turmoil? Simple answer: manic politicians.

Case: US Representative Mark Kirk [via NORML via Chicago Tribune]

Are you serious Rep Kirk? We're approaching some level of common sense on the use of medical marijuana and you come up with this sick and twisted policy. This is monstrous and destructive to American citizens on so many levels.

He is obviously ignorant of just about everything that has to do with marijuana. On top of that he has absolutely no regard for how such a policy will affect society. And to make matters worse, of course, he's supported by a bunch of dumb cops. Go figure!

Well, I'd like to destroy some myths that this arrogant and ignorant policy is based on.
Marijuana, and the THC that comes with it, is nontoxic and not dangerous.
The higher the THC content, the less the user will need - recreational or medicinal.
If marijuana, and THC, is nontoxic, then the dangers implied with high THC is moot - irrelevant, insignificant, obsolete! Besides the fact that marijuana does not have to be smoked (can be vaporized or cooked), having higher THC will allow smoker to use less reducing smoke inhalation completely.

On another note, this policy is akin to the crack vs cocaine sentencing or New York's Rockefeller Drug laws. Whereas Rockefeller's Drug laws disproportionately affected Black people in New York City, Rep. Kirk's proposal will affect mainly White suburban areas. I hope you don't think the brothas in the hood are growing that good shit in the projects.

Simply put.. IT'S IDIOTIC, just plain idiotic.

Pres. Anthony Answers Questions

2009-06-13T08:30:00.002-04:00

Well folks, there are a lot of growers out there full of questions and needing some serious answers. And, here I am doing my best to answer them.

Can I get a plant with a little bud on it in a month time by growing for 1 month then do 12on/12off last month?

No. Any plant or even life form has to go through its natural processes. Asking or hoping for a plant to be done that quickly is like asking for a child to be born at the age of 18. You can't rush this stuff. Just let nature take its course. The fastest a marijuana plant will grow depends mostly on the genetics of the plant. Even the fastest growing plant I've heard of would take maybe three months. And, that's still the case even when cutting corners.

Hey I'm a new grower and I guess I planted too early because I am going into bud stage. They are out door. Will it continue getting taller through the summer even though it started budding? White Widow x Bubble Gum. It's good stuff but I'm worried that it wont get any bigger.

It's difficult to answer this question honestly. I am not an outdoor grower but I have read up on it. Also, I don't know the area nor the weather fluctuations at the time and that all affects the plants. Chances are you did plant too early. You have to give the plant time to get some hardiness so that it can withstand the elements. Remember, indoors, you control just about everything. Outdoors is a different monster. Moving from indoors to outdoors will shock the plant. So the first week or so, it may not show much. If the plant is young, it may take even longer as it's roots will need to grow as well. Give it some time and let's hope they aren't in too much shock.

My plant the widow/gum produced leaves with only one leaf on them, if that makes sense. There's over 12 hours of sunlight why are the buds getting bigger and not the plant?

It's possible that the plant is "auto flowering". Some plants will flower automatically. Also, it could be the case that the plant may have been so stressed that it's going into self-preservation mode. That means it will produce both pollen sacs and buds - hermaphrodite - and pollinate itself so that it can stay alive.

Do these little plants still produce seeds?

Absolutely. Plants will be plants.

My leaves are yellow. What am I doing wrong?

Yellowing leaves can come from a number of different problems. It's hard to say without pictures of the leaves. Make sure you join forums or buy a book so that you can identify some problems yourself and adjust accordingly.

How often should I root prune my plant?

Root pruning shouldn't be done often at all. Once at the most and only if absolutely necessary.

My widow/gum plant still hasn't grown an inch, the buds have, but its a pretty pathetic little plant. I've heard that plucking the buds off will make it grow but the plant is basically 1 bud it will surely die if I did that. Any suggestions on how to get some growth going.

It sounds like it's a wrap for this little plant. Don't waste time with it anymore. Don't be discouraged either. I know a grower that didn't get it right until his 4th try. Each step he stumbled on was a number of lessons learned. Now he's growing some damn good Super Silver Haze. So, start over and try again.

How long would it take to grow the small plants you display on the top? And would this be a good start for a first timer? If so, what are the specific steps in order to do this? Like you said, there's so many variables to growing, and so many ways to do so. What were the specific steps you took and items you used to grow those nicely done small scale plants.

First, I didn't grow those plants. The plants displayed at the top are for hobby/fun purposes. I believe those plants may have taken approximately three months to grow. Remember a plant is a plant from the smallest weed to the tallest tree. They all only need air, earth, and water.

Is medical marijuana different than normal weed, or is it normal weed but they just call it that because its not used for recreation purposes but rather used medically to relieve anxiety/pain or whatever. As in if somebody bought weed from a person and smoked it because they needed to relieve stress, is this technically medical marijuana or no?

Well there is really no such thing as normal weed. There are different strains of marijuana and they all can affect us in slightly different ways. So each strain is rather unique. But, to answer your question, it is just marijuana that's used for medicinal purposes. There's no special or specific medical-only marijuana. If you're using for medicinal purposes, you have to find the right strain that works for you. For example, Michelle Rainey suffers from Crohn's disease. She uses, mainly, Afghani Bullrider to help her cope. That strain is good for her but it may not be what is preferred by someone else with or without the same disease.

This is just an example of the various people who want clean, safe, high quality marijuana. I won't stand behind medicinal users or act as though I am a medicinal user. But, I think I speak for all marijuana users when I say people want their marijuana. Unfortunately, the black market has control over marijuana so it's difficult getting marijuana safely from nickel and dime thugs and criminal cops alike.

Remember, the future of marijuana under prohibition is small, quiet, personal grow operations. We can continue growing marijuana in peace and not fall into the trap of supporting this failed War on Drugs by buying Mexican cartel trash weed nor paying government taxes used to wage war on ourselves.

Grow your own.

And, don't forget to join those forums and buy those books. I don't know everything, obviously. And, I won't always be able to respond in a timely manner. Don't let me be your only source of information. Keep growing.

Prohibitionist Idiot #002: Lies Cops Tell

2009-06-02T16:20:00.002-04:00

Intro

In Prohibitionist Idiot #001, I profiled a common everyday idiot of the next door variety. Let's take a look at some prohibitionist idiots that somehow get more attention than they deserve - the local police.

It amazes me how police officers get so much media attention. They are possibly some of the dumbest "professionals" one would ever meet. Think about it. You take some D-student/sports reject from high school, give them a badge and a gun, and all of a sudden, they're experts on marijuana and the black market economy.

What are we talking about?

I am talking about whenever there is news about a marijuana bust, some prohibitionist idiot kop (slang for dirty cop) decides to apply a monetary value to that marijuana that is completely outrageous.

For example via WSBTV.com:

The Story

First, let's just go over the story. "Police" find 200 marijuana plants. They tell the media that the bust is worth $3,000,000, that is, three million dollars. That's $15,000 per plant.

Dumbass Police Lies

I ask this simple question: When did these police officers ever get the education to come up with that figure? What secondary learning institutions did they attend that gives them the expertise to decide the worth of a marijuana plant? NONE! It's bullshit... another prohibitionist idiot lie.

The True Price of Marijuana

As a marijuana grower with a business degree, I can say without hesitation, there is absolutely no way in hell that one plant, grown indoors, will ever be worth $15,000, today. Even in these tough economic times, it would still take centuries of inflation for one marijuana plant to be worth $15,0000.

An ounce of the highest quality marijuana may sell at it's very highest price $600 (real market price is around $400). There are 16 ounces in a pound. At non-wholesale prices, a pound of marijuana can sell for $9,600. At wholesale prices, a pound of the highest quality marijuana will sell for around $5,000 to $6,000.

When growing marijuana, the measurement of success is how much weight you can get per 1,000 watt, or 1 kilowatt, light, not per plant. The magic number that every grower tries to obtain is TWO pounds per light. Typically speaking, even some of the best growers will only reach about ONE pound per light. You can fit between 12 and 16 plants per kilowatt light. (I'll speak more about why this is in another blog post)

Keep in mind, we're talking about indoor conditions. If we do our math correctly, the true worth of marijuana per plant, in the most optimal conditions is around $400 to $600. This 200 plant grow is not worth anymore than - at it's highest and most optimal - around $100,000, not $3 million.

Who are you going to believe - a dumb ass cop with a failed education

or a marijuana grower who has an actual business degree (education)?

Prohibitionist Idiot #001

2009-05-31T04:00:00.001-04:00

Intro

I've decided to start this blog series because I find so many completely stupid, ignorant, and or ugly comments from prohibitionist. Their arguments are usually wrong and based on complete lies or totally made up. I display these comments from prohibitionist idiots for two reasons: Laughter and Perspective. When it's some low-level idiot, it's best to just laugh at them and have fun at their expense. When it's a high-level idiot, we should be concerned because they give ammo to other idiots who don't know any better.

Laughter & Perspective

Some people know that they're lying but they continue to lie because it's all they have left. A good example of this is John P. Walters, the former drug czar who continues to lie about marijuana. He should have retired and just left things alone. But, he fights this crusade to justify his years of harm against American citizens.

Some people are just ignorant. The only thing wrong with ignorance is when people don't want to cure it. You cure ignorance by getting the truth. However, there are people out there who aren't interested in the truth about anything. They are stupid. An example of a stupid person is the pastor of a church who insists that marijuana is bad. What "knowledge" do they have? None, outside of the twisted and perverted interpretations of the Bible.
Some people are just plain dumb. Their arguments aren't based on anything real whatsoever. Their logic is completely flawed. They come to conclusions about marijuana out of thin air, literally. Since this is the first installment of Prohibitionist Idiots, I've got a great example for you!

Prohibitionist Idiot #001

This prohibitionist idiot has been found via a Huffington Post article: Drug Czar's Pot-Potency Claims Go Up In Smoke. Check it out:

The initial comment is simply comparing the addiction potential between alcohol and marijuana. The person, Woodcut, seems to be someone who understands addiction because he admits to his own 15-year long alcoholism. I would go so far as to consider him an authority on addiction. This is someone you can take their word over others. He also uses marijuana which is not addictive. His comparison would have any intelligent individual conclude that alcohol, a freely available substance, is more addictive than marijuana.

What's so hard to understand about that?

Obviously, it's difficult for the prohibitionist idiot. Our PI of the moment, SharonWantsToTalk, has tried to imply that because the person knows how much marijuana he has and he knows the California law, he must be addicted. This is how this person has chosen to counter the addiction argument.

How does one extrapolate such a conclusion with such non-evidence? According to her "logic", licensed drivers are all addicted to driving because they keep track of their fuel, antifreeze, and oil levels and know what to do when they approach a red octagon with the word "STOP" in white lettering. I wonder if they have support groups for those addicted to responsible driving.

HEY PROHIBITIONIST IDIOT!
IT'S CALLED TAKING INVENTORY AND KNOWING THE LAW!

EVERYONE DOES IT, INCLUDING YOU,
EVEN IF YOU'RE TOO STUPID TO REALIZE THAT!

If you want to know the truth about marijuana addiction, it's simple.

Marijuana is NOT addictive.

The Myth of Marijuana Potency

2009-05-19T20:00:00.002-04:00

Intro

I've been keeping up with marijuana news more and more and something has gotten to me. It seems that the government has decided to rehash another long dead lie about marijuana in an effort to scare people into their way of thinking. The big lie is that marijuana is now more potent than it was 40-50 years ago. This is an old lie, debunked time and time again. The people that fall for it, the citizen drug warrior whose too stupid to know any better, makes it worse by extrapolating various absurdities from government-sanctioned drug DEAlers.

One of the great liars is the former drug czar, John P. Walters. Here he is lying about marijuana's potency via TheFreshScent.

The Great Marijuana Lie

One of the greatest lies, and my personal favorite, happens to be that marijuana growers are somehow genetically engineering some kind of super weed to explain why it's more potent. First of all, genetic engineering as a science is still very much in its infancy. To apply it to marijuana cultivation would be very costly and I doubt your local grower has that kind of money and the Mexican drug cartels are far from interested in delivering more potent marijuana. If they cared at all, Mexican cultivated marijuana wouldn't be some of the weakest marijuana available after hemp.

Do you really think "El Diablo" wants to drop his fortune trying to genetically modify marijuana when he could easily use it to buy another yacht, hotel, bank, federali, or military person? If you're one of these citizen drug warriors, you're probably stupid enough to believe that one. I wouldn't be surprised.

The reason people come up with these outrageous lies is because:
the naive don't know who to get the truth from and
they have to figure out some way to justify the lies.
Well, that's what I am here for.. to tell the truth about marijuana potency. Marijuana is NOT any more potent today than it was back in the 1960's. Allow me to repeat that...

MARIJUANA IS NOT ANY MORE POTENT TODAY THAN IT WAS BACK IN THE 1960's.

Fish Analogy: Explaining different potencies

People have to first understand that there are different kinds of marijuana out there. It's like the different types of fish. Fish have developed these traits over the last few million years long before genetic testing was so much as a glimmer in anyone's eye due to their environment. Just as environment can produce all kinds of cool, weird, beautiful, big, and small fish species, the earth's differing environments have produced different kinds of marijuana plants from small to tall to bushy to lanky with light green to purple colors. The potency ranges from less than 0.5% (hemp) to upwards of 20% (skunk). It's simply been this way for thousands of years. No one has done anything different to marijuana other than search and grow the best kinds.

As a grower, of course, I am going to look for strains that have the highest potency. It's no different than a home owner choosing which type of flowers, shrubs, and small trees he or she wants in their backyard. You want the best, so you look for the best. If you can have the most beautiful garden with a large variety of plants, what would you do?

Lacing the Truth

Although the government is blatantly lying about the potency of marijuana at every turn, there are some nefarious types out there. They do modify marijuana after it's already grown and harvested. These people will spray marijuana with chemicals that are harmful, if not fatal.

However, this can be compared to the lack of regulation that existed in the meat packing industry. Unregulated, you'd find all kinds of substances in your canned food from metal shavings to rats. It took the creation of the Food & Drug Administration to clean up the meat packing industry.

So, what are we to expect when it comes to a wholly unregulated marijuana industry? In the UK, people are spraying marijuana with some kind of silica to increase weight. In the US, almost everything is used to lace marijuana from roach spray to formeldahyde. If we want to protect ourselves, we're going to have regulate the marijuana industry to eliminate violent drug cartels as well as limit the danger that is inherent to a black market system.

Last Word

Unfortunately, the US government continues to leave the marijuana industry unregulated and dangerous. This is why I advocate growing your own marijuana. You can control the quality as well as keep money out of the hands of violent drug cartels. Unfortunately, growing your own marijuana, no matter how much it actually helps save lives, is a crime where men like Eddy Lepp and Charlie Lynch go to jail for providing good, clean, quality-controlled marijuana to various patients.

8 decades later and the best this government can do is continue lying about marijuana instead of controlling it.

Good job, America.

One More Thing

While the government is claiming that marijuana is reaching some kind of dangerous potency, pharmaceutical companies have created a synthetic (fake) 100% THC pill called marinol. And, it can't get any more potent than 100% pure. As long as marijuana remains illegal, drugs like marinol can be created so that pharmaceutical companies can make as much money from prohibition as possible.

If marijuana doesn't have any medical value then why would a pharmaceutical company develop synthetic marijuana in pill form? The sad and pitiful part is that it doesn't even work because it's too strong. Patients on marinol report of incapacitation for days at a time and terrible hallucinations. On top of that, marinol does not contain any of the helpful substances like Cannabinoids (CBDs) and Cannabinols (CBNs) which specifically help relieve nausea, alleviate pain, and relax you. Natural THC degrades into those CBDs and CBNs. How is unnatural, synthetic THC in pill form going to degrade into CBDs and CBNs? It won't which is why it does not, will not, and can not work.

But, thanks to the US government, terminally ill patients who can actually use natural marijuana can't get their hands on it. Their only option is a pill that doesn't even work.

Once again, good job, America.