Community | August 25, 2009 | 33 comments

Pot farm fire reveals a troubling trend

source: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fire19-2009aug19,0,3207658.story

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Narcotics agents said Tuesday they had little doubt that the nearly 90,000-acre La Brea fire was started by Mexican drug traffickers who were tending a large, sophisticated marijuana farm planted on the side of a mountain.

The growers apparently fled as firefighters approached the source of the fire and are still at large, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said. Their abandoned site was similar to other illicit plots planted by Mexican nationals and discovered by drug agents in recent years.

Investigators found 30,000 top-grade cannabis plants ranging in height from 2 feet to 6 feet. Stacks of propane tanks, melted irrigation tubing, empty fertilizer canisters, mounds of trash, a torched cooking stove and a semiautomatic rifle were also found at the Los Padres National Forest location, the sheriff and other agents said.
  1. groups:
    Community
  2. tags:
    Marijuana,  Drugs,  Reefer Madness,  Forest Fires
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33 comments // Pot farm fire reveals a troubling trend

  • TrilLogic
  • Ish05
    • 0
      Ish05  

    • Everybody talking about "Legalize it". These guy were probably growing this stuff to supply the "Legal" medical marijuana dispensaries. Medical Marijuana may legal in Cali but a lot of the supply comes from Illegal growing.

    • 2 years ago
  • Ish05
    • 0
      Ish05  
    • Ish05:

      I love the fact that many of these pro-legalizing marijuana advocates are also greenies. I guess nobody is thinking of the extra water and electricity that will be used(wasted) when a large portion of the population begins to grow their own stash 24 hours a day non stop, if MJ ever became legal.
      You know the process for growing some potent buds, correct? But who cares? We will be taxing it. Generating income. Money, not resources, make the world go round. Correct?
      Just like "Food for Fuel" Biofuels, we'll see how long it takes before it backfires.

    • 2 years ago
  • GodsnLiberals
  • alivein85
  • spacemikey
  • EmperorThan
  • GodsnLiberals
  • alivein85
  • Think_LED
    • 0
      Think_LED  
    • Image

    • The gov't would probably get a better return on their investment instead of cash for clunkers by legalizing it.
      They also would probably solve a lot more problems just by legalizing it, just think about the boost to the economy. Everyone could participate and make a few extra bucks. Hell, I'd grow a few to pay for my house. I don't smoke the stuff to begin with, and I rarely drink. It's all about lifestyle choices.
      Just think, folks could grow just hemp then for industries also. What a waste of time for a great sustainable product. Check out some facts.

    • 2 years ago
  • teto007
  • DreSandoval
  • redvelvet1278
  • delas78
    • 0
      delas78  

    • If enough forests burn, you're bound to come across a few illegal grown operations.

      But that doesn't mean they started the fire. If anything, they will try to keep their crop safe from fire. Why would they burn their livelyhood???

      These cops will say anything. What's next

    • 2 years ago
  • Denica_Cassandra
  • GodsnLiberals
  • biggranny
  • sffsmessiah
    • 0
      sffsmessiah  

    • criminalizing leads to unsafe practices. People are going to spend their time investing in uncontrolled conditions since prohibition has made prices skyrocket.

      fuck you obama for doing nothing

    • 2 years ago
  • alivein85
  • MinneapolisMafia
  • ras_menelik
  • ras_menelik
    • 0
      ras_menelik  

    • Not a new anything…

      every "illigal" grower knows to leave some rice beans and all that @ the plot and if busted it will be labeled "Mexican marijuana"

      not saying it was not that but up here in the emerald triangle every plot is a Mexican plot and they All got away...

      30000 plants requires a small army to attend to it they all got away ?BS

    • 2 years ago
  • Incredulous
  • skyking3525
    • 0
      skyking3525  

    • De-criminalize it and tax it.

      Look at how much money and manpower is being "burned" up to fight this fire!

      This could all have been avoided. Such a tragedy.

    • 2 years ago
  • Mudboy16
  • GodsnLiberals
    • 0
      GodsnLiberals  
    • skyking3525:

      legalize and tax it??????/ motherfucker they are criminals..they dont give a shit if you legalize it or not..

      these people are not the TAX PAYING bunch..they would grow thier own shit and not pay tax..

      STOP SMOKING DOPE!

    • 2 years ago
  • masterzip
    • 0
      masterzip  

    • This is our real drug war, and yet we spend billions on dumping poison on columbia and other south american territories, while the budget keeps getting reduced for enforcement and control in California.

    • 2 years ago
  • bailey78
  • GodsnLiberals
    • 0
      GodsnLiberals  
    • bailey78:

      good herb wasted??? some fucking criminal more likely set a mountain on fire..threatening human and animal life not to mention property..using precious resources that we can afford...

      and all you care is the herb??????

      STOP FUCKING DOPE!!..i set a point before that smoking dope renders the person incapable of making sound decisions, judgements and thoughts..you just proved it..again

    • 2 years ago
  • spacemikey
    • 0
      spacemikey [removed]  

    • I was thinking about this the other day wondering; how many southern California wildfires were started by illegal grows? I hadn't seen this story yet, I'm guessing over the years quite a few.

      I'm seeing it as another clear call for legalization of Marijuana. Not only because it should be someones right and choice, but because illegal pot farms are a serious environmental hazard.

      All these massive wildfires must be having an impact on climate change, and they happen every year like clockwork.

      If everyone were allowed to grow their own on a much smaller scale without fears of prosecution, and lengthy prison terms.... We wouldn't have this problem.

      What would happen after a year or two, and nobody is buying the commercial stuff on principal? Certainly the drug cartels wouldn't invest so much in a crop they couldn't sell.

      Instead we have ineffective laws set up that encourage potentially devastating commercial grows, that can do far more damage than that of; a few "overly stoned" teenagers....

    • 2 years ago
  • hollyMiamiFla
  • redvelvet1278
    • 0
      redvelvet1278  
    • spacemikey:

      the thing is spacemikey, as a resident of southern cali myself, it is pretty easy... ok, really easy to grow small crops on your own. no problemo... this article is about illegal Mexican drug traffickers. different situation. the Mexican drug problem is huge and is fed in large part by the US's market for it. the thing is, if you are a resident of California and you want pot you go buy it legally if you are smart. the issue here is that this is a GIANT business. immigration reform is not just a small part of this discussion and should not be left out.

    • 2 years ago
  • spacemikey
    • 0
      spacemikey [removed]  
    • spacemikey:

      Well I don't have many set views on immigration reform. What I do know is if an illegal will come over and work my job for pennies on the dollar, I and a lot of lower income people are in trouble. Still, I feel for many Mexicans with the situations they have to deal with and wanting better in life, I can't blame them. So, I'm conflicted and short of writing three pages, I don't even have a good idea on the issue.

      I was thinking about it today, that people in California aren't the main customers to the Mexican dope growers. I would imagine the vast majority of that dope is being shipped all over the country where laws are less accepting. So in effect, California is suffering from the ignorance and intolerance of others. For all the negative things said about California, the rest of the country is contributing to a big portion of it.

    • 2 years ago
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