OPERATION SWEET LEAF - Huge Bust in Metro Area

[canaguy27]

Big takedown today. Warren Edson confirmed 2 caregivers have called him as a result of this bust. 25 Grow houses raided across metro area and even one in Breck. They are saying that these grows were all connected. 7 children have been taken from their parents as well...

What a waste of resources.

16 charged in Denver metro-area pot bust - The Denver Post (http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_19818388)

[SummitCG]

Came across this today on the Summit county website..

Medical Marijuana
While Amendment 20 makes medical marijuana legal to those that qualify, there are land use regulations associated with the growing, cultivating, processing, and selling of medical marijuana and infused products. Summit County has a moratorium in place prohibiting the licensing or permitting of medical dispensaries or centers, optional premises operations, or infused products manufacturing locations. There are no dispensaries or centers in operation in the unincorporated County, however there are several in the Towns of Breckenridge, Frisco, and Silverthorne.
Summit County has adopted regulations for the personal cultivation of medical marijuana in residential structures. These regulations are located in Section 3804 of the Summit County Land Use and Development Code. While a permit is not needed for the personal cultivation of medical marijuana, it is imperative that personal grows are conducted in a manner consistent with the Code provisions. All regulations should be thoroughly reviewed, but a number of key points include:
 Medical Marijuana may be grown, cultivated, and processed in a patient’s primary residence.
 A caregiver may grow, cultivate, and process medical marijuana in the patient’s primary
residence, but not in their own residence, unless they are also a patient.
 No more than six medical marijuana plants may be grown, cultivated, and processed by a patient or caregiver and no more than twelve medical marijuana plants may be grown, cultivated, or processed in a residence, regardless of the number of patients and/or caregivers
residing in the residence.
 In a single-family residence, the growing, cultivation, and processing of medical marijuana
shall be within a secure, defined, contiguous area not to exceed 150 square feet.
 In a residential dwelling unit other than a single-family residence, the growing, cultivation, and processing of medical marijuana shall be within a secure, defined, contiguous area not to
exceed 100 square feet.
 Medical Marijuana may be grown, cultivated, and processed in an outbuilding or a garage
associated with a residential structure provided the area is secure, defined, and limited in size
in accordance with the provisions above.
 The growing, cultivation, and processing of Medical Marijuana shall not be perceptible from
the exterior of the primary residence, including but not limited to: odor, common visual observation; light pollution/glare, undue vehicular or foot traffic, and noise from an exhaust fan.
 The space where Medical Marijuana is grown, cultivated or processed shall meet all applicable requirements of the County’s building, zoning, and other technical codes.
 Renters must obtain written permission from landlords to grow, cultivate, and process Medical Marijuana.
 No chemical shall be used by a patient or caregiver to enhance or extract tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) from medical marijuana that is grown in a primary residence.
 Personal grow operations must be conducted in strict accordance with all state laws and regulations, including but not limited to the state regulations regarding caregivers and patients. These regulations can be found at: Colorado: Department of Public Health and Environment, Colorado Medical Marijuana Registry (http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hs/Medicalmarijuana/caregivers.html).
At this time, Medical Marijuana may not be grown, processed, or cultivated for commercial purposes anywhere in Summit County.
If you have any questions about Medical Marijuana, please call the Planning Department at 970-668- 4200.

[silent leprechaun]

Hmmm, they say they found 1000 plants between 25 houses = 40 plants per house. Hmmm, a major crime gang operation ?

I'd say each house had 3 - 4 mothers, and maybe 18 cuttings in veg and 18 plants in the bloom rooms. 18 plants is a bit much for 2 people per house hold to be fair but I don't think it's enormous.

But lets do the math and see just how dangerous to the economy these people were.

So, Lets say 1000 plants at 2 ounces per plants. I say 2 ounces to be moderate and to take into account problems etc.

2000 ounces at lets say $300 per ounce. I'm just guessing the US price here. 2000 x 300 = 600,000 Dollars.

Now lets divide the 600,000$ by the amount of households that were involved. 600,000 / 25 = an average of $24,000 per household @ 5 harvests per year = $120,000

From what the article mentions I think these people are just regular Mr and Mrs Smith just growing a bit in a basement. A criminal gang would have more than 40 plants per 'grow' house.

The house in the article looked very nice so I'm guessing the rent on something like that would be, at a guess, $1,000 - 1,500 per month. depending on the area of course = $18,000 P/A

So, after rent/mortgage these people were left with $100,000. To me that sounds like one person in one household having a good job. Or 2 parents working and making a good wage between them.

Good for them, making a million Dollars in 10 years between 2 people. Not a bad living, not the most lavish either, certainly not an organised drug gang. Organised drug gangs makes one million dollars in a few days not 10 years.

I hope those cops give themselves good hard pats on the backs. They ruined a lot of lives in this bust of some plant extract which has never killed anyone. Children will be re-homed because of a plant. "But what about the kids" I hear so often...

Smoking weed doesn't make good soldiers, and the American government is a little worried about that. That the be all and end all of weed prohibition in the US.

Go team America...

[CanGroIt]

The thing about this bust is that "allegedly" the targeted connected homes and grow/co-op was shipping products to at least 8 states.... I could be wrong but I don't think Colorado's mmj laws allow for that and if it is in fact what they were doing....I wish them the best.... However, we all know the po-po like to fabricate realities for media outlets to blow them out of proportion.... Who knows what's really going on....i just know I can't wait for this plant to be free!!!

CGI::::::

[CanGroIt]

There are more people being admitted to rehab because of weed... I don't know. Is the human body really that dependent on this drug ? Or do people have an attachment to the high... Weed is not physically addictive in the way heroin and cocaine are...


Is the surge of people being admitted to rehab for cannabis under court order??? The US had been pulling this statistical bullshit until research found that 90% +/- of the people admitted were simple possession offenders who chose rehab over jail time.... So the statistic was flawed, which could very well be the case over there....

Cannabis is just as addictive as anything else that makes someone feel good.... Our brain receptors are wired to work with cannabis which is why cannabis is THE safest intoxicant ever....

CGI::::::

[valstar]

Is the surge of people being admitted to rehab for cannabis under court order??? The US had been pulling this statistical bullshit until research found that 90% +/- of the people admitted were simple possession offenders who chose rehab over jail time.... So the statistic was flawed, which could very well be the case over there....
CGI::::::


You are absolutely correct in this assumption. First and some second time simple possesion non violent offenders are giving the option to go into rehab instead of going to jail. Who in there right mind would choose jail over going to a cushy rehab place. No one. Plus in some states it wont show on your record if you agree to plead no contest or some thing like it and attend rehab.

[HighPopalorum]

I think the rise in school expulsions is more telling. "In the 2008-09 school year, before Colorado's boom in medical-marijuana dispensaries, 534 students were expelled for drug violations, according to state Education Department data. In the 2010-11 school year, that number was 767." Correlation is not causation, but I can't attribute the increase to any policy change in the schools. Anecdotally, I'd say almost all of the expulsions are for medical marijuana.

[ds0110]

I think the rise in school expulsions is more telling. "In the 2008-09 school year, before Colorado's boom in medical-marijuana dispensaries, 534 students were expelled for drug violations, according to state Education Department data. In the 2010-11 school year, that number was 767." Correlation is not causation, but I can't attribute the increase to any policy change in the schools. Anecdotally, I'd say almost all of the expulsions are for medical marijuana.

An effect of marijuana prohibition rather than the marijuana itself.

[HighPopalorum]

An effect of marijuana prohibition rather than the marijuana itself.

Doesn't make sense.