OMG BUST! PLEASE READ, ADVICE PLEASE!!!!

OMFG!
I just got a call from the ringer in my apartment complex, a friend told me that the cops were in my apartment and they were arresting people.
(I'm out of town for the week)
I don't know the whole story yet, since it's still happening and I haven't been able to talk to anyone who is in the apartment. But from what I hear, two plain clothes cops came to my building in an unmarked car. The people I left in charge of my apartment, were apparently smoking, and the cops just came in because I guess the smelt it. Then they apparently searched the apartment and found my rubbermaids. They also found a note that I wrote for instructions for caring for the plants. They then arrested the girl who was "in charge" of the apartment for cultivation. And now she's in jail. So I don't know what's really going down, and I'm really really worried.

I'm supposed to go back home on Sunday, but now I'm worried they might be looking for me? I checked NORML and in my state more than 5 plants is a felony, and I had 6. So now my friend is in jail and I don't know if I have a home to go home to. Will the cops notify my landlords, will they evict me? Am I going to get arrested when I get back home and go into my apartment? If I come forward at her court date and say that they were my plants, will I get charged and they'll acquit her? She was taking care of them, so I wonder if that actually counts as cultivation, and me coming forward would just get both of us in trouble? Are they going to look up my lease and arrest me anyways?

If anyone knows anything, please, omg tell me what I should do!

Why post this in indoor growing?
And
Why double post..

http://boards.cannabis.com/closet-ca...ml#post1849881

again?

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You f**ked up. You dont tell ANYONE you are growing let alone let people watch over your plants, do you understand the gravity of whats going on?

When a law states its ILLEGAL you want to stay out of the obvious yes? So why the hell would you let your "friends" look after YOUR house and PLANTS... There isnt much you can do. The cops have your details obviously from your place you were renting... and at that why would you grow in a place YOU DON'T OWN :S

God.

You could try and take them to court saying they barged into the house and searched it against your friends word and did NOT show a warrant. But then again, it isn't your property and the landlord has the right to search your rental property.

Pretty much, if Marijuana is illegal in your country.. Stay away from it. If you cant stay away... KEEP IT TO YOURSELF.

Good luck. Hows the grow? :hippy:

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Originally Posted by Ausguy

Why post this in indoor growing?
And
Why double post..

http://boards.cannabis.com/closet-ca...ml#post1849881

again?

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I wasnt sure where else to post it, I dont go into any of the other channels normally. And I started a new post, because I want to get as much help and advice as I can on this, and if someone saw this topic they would be more willing to click it than go to my thread where its at the very very bottom.

I hgave no clue what to tell you except I wish you and your friends the best. Call a lawyer.....do that very first.

Harsh, try to get off with it on some technical grounds like illegal search- they need enough evidence to authorise going into your flat, and Im not sure if smell is evidence- since it cant be bagged and proved in court-- not sure tho.

defnitely call a lawyer like the hound said. and while your at it call your momma too. smell usually isnt grounds to come in but if your friends allowed them to come in well then there isnt much you can do.

Lawyer FIRST. Illegal search may be your only defense if it gets that far, but in a first-offense case like that I personally would be trying to avoid going to trial at ALL. Best of luck to you and your friends, but they should have known better than to be smoking in an apartment complex with a grow in it and no odor control.
I hope you all get off with a quick smack on the wrist. Start putting together some character references right away to give to your attorney to better help him butter up the DA and push for a probation deal with no jail time.

So do you think they'll be putting out a warrant for me?

Likely. If you have not yet contacted an attorney, why are you waiting? You are one of the lucky people to actually get the heads up BEFORE you have to face the fuzz in person. Take advantage of that- most people don't have that luxury, and it's harder to get a good lawyer when you're sittin' in the penalty box already... Check your PMs, and look up the laws in your area- study them like it's a final.

They will find out from your land lord who is stayin in the building, so yeas they will probbily be lookin for you.. I would get in touch with a lawyer ASAP, and get your friend out of jail aswel..

Good luck

I wouldn't turn myself in and admit to ANYTHING just to get off my friends who were watching my grow. For all you know they did something dumb that made the cops bust them. Also, as you say, perhaps you and they will BOTH be charged anyway, no matter what you say. Ask an attorney how to handle it.

It is fine to ask for an attorney for a referral to a criminal attorney who handles drug TRIALS (some attorneys may mainly plea bargain, and don't have much experience with trails). When you meet with your attorney, ask SPECIFICALLY how many similar cases (pot and pot growing) he has handled, how many went to trial, and how many he was WON. He has to tell you the truth so you CAN take his word (and he WILL know the numbers, so don't be shy asking). He can also advise you whether to plea bargain, or go to trail.

I can only speak about laws in the USA.

There will most likely be a warrant out for your arrest. Your attorney can find this out without YOU having to yourself. Usually you have to go to the police station and fill-out a form (and pay a few dollars) to see if you have any outstanding warrants. So, you really can't do that safely yourself.

If you can't afford an attorney to defend you all the way through plea bargaining or trial, after you turn yourself in (if that's what your attorney recommends) you will be assigned a public defender. These attorneys are sometimes fine, but it is of course better to have hired one of your choosing.

Your bond will be 10% the bail, so make sure your attorney (or someone trustworthy) can handle bailing you out, perhaps the same day you turn yourself in and are "booked" (finger printed, mug-shot and locked up in the local jail). A bail bondsman can handle that stuff, too (perhaps for less money than paying your attorney). A bail bondsman will accept security to cover the bond (such as anything of value, I suppose).

Do look up the statutes in your state that have to do with possession and growing. NORMAL has a brief run-down of them, but you might as well bone-up on what is on your state's laws, if those are the ones you'd be concerned with in the Netherlands. It's good to know the laws (statutes) as well as (or better) than your attorney.

As it has been said... find an attorney with criminal drug case experience. I would recommend it even if you have to go into debt for it. And do not answer any questions about the situation without your attorney present.

Please keep us updated as to how things go. It seems like people ask for advice here and then we never hear. I always wonder how it works out.

I'm sorry to hear about your situation.

Wow.
Tough spot to be in really. Big Problem is that the police have surely gotten information from your friends, most people in that situation will say anything and it is not good for you. You should have a lawyer by now, but again, you can't account for the damage that has been done, hopefully a good lawyer will save your ass and hopefully your friends have gotten lawyers as well, if not they need to.

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Originally Posted by jsn9333

Please keep us updated as to how things go. It seems like people ask for advice here and then we never hear. I always wonder how it works out.

I'm sorry to hear about your situation.

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Is that because they are in jail? Had to say it sorry.:D

California Criminal Defense Attorney West Hollywood Drug Crime Lawyers Pasadena

Then go to this site and read every bit of it:
EDITED TO REMOVE OFF SITE LINK

Don't let your first impression of the site sway your actions. Read and understand the Brotherhood's instructions. Join the Brotherhood and free yourself and your friends. Be courageous in your defense of yourself and your rights.

Humbly,
Brother Jack

stinkyattic,

Of course, your wishes will be respected. Know this, I gain nothing from making this information public. There are no commercial links to on site posted. It made available out of a sense of duty by others, not by me. My own sense of duty prompted me to post it.

If you like, I would be very happy to discuss, in a private forum, the information that is provided through the link.

Little would be served, I think, by a public discussion. It's up to you. Delete this post if you want or publicly denounce it. As I said, I gain nothing, one way or the other.

Humbly yours.

What is going on?

Whatever you do, do not listen to this guy. You will not only lose your case, but you will be laughed at in the middle of the courtroom as well, by any legal professional present including the judge. I do not know what he gains from telling people to do this, but I guarantee you this... if there were a secret method to ensure that charges against you could be attacked in this way, trust me... everyone would be using it. I'm in a top-tier law school, I have researched national and state trends in religious justification for cannabis use and cultivation, and have looked into this guys claims.

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Originally Posted by samjackson

Then go to this site and read every bit of it: (site removed) Bill of Particulars and Special[/url]

Don't let your first impression of the site sway your actions. Read and understand the Brotherhood's instructions. Join the Brotherhood and free yourself and your friends. Be courageous in your defense of yourself and your rights.

Humbly,
Brother Jack

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Originally Posted by 8182KSKUSH

Is that because they are in jail? Had to say it sorry.:D

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I know... that is the scary thing. It's like you never hear from these people again. Almost makes me want to stop growing. Almost. ;-)

This is, however, why I would never grow in my own home. In my state, at least, they'll not only jail you forever... they'll even take the home you worked so hard for.

Do not listen to anything that samjackson and bigfatpothead have to say.

There have already been several SPAM warnings sent out... hint hint: Guys... get lost. Your cavalier (and FUCKING STUPID) approach to fixing others' legal problems with your fake 'religion' is pure irresponsibility. This is NOT a game when someone's freedom is at stake. I'd like to see you in the same situation, running to get a real lawyer...

Site rules explicitly prohibit handing out irresponsible medical and legal advice... this is the LAST time I want to see any mention of your little club here. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.

Okay well, I was in NC this past weekend camping and I got back in to town Sunday night. I've consulted with a couple lawyers and retained one. As of right now, there is no warrant for my arrest. I am back in my apartment and I just finished cleaning up the complete ransack the cops pulled on all my shit. My lawyer doesn't expect charges to be brought against me since they haven't already and they already arrested somebody. I live in a large metropolitan area, and this small grow in my bedroom is not one of their top priorities according to my lawyer. He is also good friends with the girl who was arrested' attorney (they're even in the same office) so he is going to be following her case closely and making sure that their defense isn't going to be trying to pin it all on me. I mean, I didn't go around telling everyone about my grow and none of this would've happened if they weren't getting ridiculously wasted in my apartment with my TV on 58 (it only goes to 60 and I discovered this when I came home and turned on my TV). So right now its just kind of a waiting game, hoping that the police aren't going to try and charge me with anything. So right now, I am safeish.

What they took: My tubs, including everyhting in them; light bulbs, plants and thermometer. They took the carbon scrubber, a small fan that pointed inwards, my FF nutes, and the premixed nutes I had made, the cannabible 3, jorge cervantes' grow guide, 2 other grow books, a note that I wrote on how to take care of the plants, and for some reason the pump to my air mattress.

SO yeah, thats about all right now.

Hey, I'm sorry if this causes some ill-feeling, but it has to be said, and I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be the only one to say this.

First things first, there are two rules when growing cannabis:

1. Do not tell anyone about your grow, and
2. Do not tell anyone about your grow!!

Lets be clear. This was your grow, in your apartment, and you were the one who choose to get other people to look after it while you went away. Right?

I can agree with you that the stupid behaviour of your 'friends' brought the cops to your door, but surely the biggest lapse of judgement is yours for leaving irresponsible people in 'charge' of your illegal plants (putting aside the fact you chose to risk growing in a place you didn't own).

I can also understand that you might be scared of the consequences of getting busted, but to to try and 'justify' letting your friend take the rap for your mistakes by saying things like:

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Originally Posted by bijnas

I mean, I didn't go around telling everyone about my grow and none of this would've happened if they weren't getting ridiculously wasted in my apartment with my TV on 58 (it only goes to 60 and I discovered this when I came home and turned on my TV).

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is weak!

Be a man about it. You screwed up! You were foolish to involve unreliable people in your growing activities, but, and this is the bottom line, that was your choice and your poor judgement.

It worries me to read you say that your getting your attorney to make sure your friend 'isn't going to be trying to pin it all on you'.
Tell me your not really going to 'sell' your friend out to save your own ass?
Yes, she was stupid, but lets be real, no more stupid than you were to involve her in it and leave her in charge.

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Originally Posted by bijnas

He is also good friends with the girl who was arrested' attorney (they're even in the same office) so he is going to be following her case closely and making sure that their defense isn't going to be trying to pin it all on me. .

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This is very sad.

By the way- does the girl who was arrested know that the attorney that SHE is paying for is listening to YOUR attorney, in a situation that is a wicked conflict of interest? If she doesn't, thats straight up SLIMY. Disgusting.

Hey bijnas,
Since people are coming down on you really hard I just want to say I support you, I'm glad you seem to be okay so far (as okay as someone can be who got raided), and thanks for the update. A lot of people get advice here and then never bother to let us know how it went... so thanks.

It sounds like people here want you to feel guilty for letting your friend pay for her stupidity. Don't! If the cops don't charge you, then that is their decision... don't beg for trouble.

It sounds like, in your city, cops are going for the big growers and don't screw around with the little guys like you *unless* you are causing a disturbance (as in blasting the TV at its loudest while smoking out an entire unit in an apartment building, probably screaming and carrying on like you own the place, pissing the neighbors off immensely without giving a f*ck, and basically begging the cops to show up and find out what the hell is going on.)

Sure it is illegal to grow. But those laws are immoral and in my opinion we have the right, under God, to ignore them. You have done nothing wrong. In hindsight it was a mistake to leave these people with your plants, but how were you to know they would be so incredibly stupid? Live and learn. We all make mistakes.

By all means have your lawyer follow her case and defend you if she starts to implicate you. This was her mistake. The police have your note and can charge you if they want.

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Originally Posted by stinkyattic

This is very sad.

By the way- does the girl who was arrested know that the attorney that SHE is paying for is listening to YOUR attorney, in a situation that is a wicked conflict of interest? If she doesn't, thats straight up SLIMY. Disgusting.

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I'm not sure her lawyer is "listening to" his attorney... his attorney is just following her defense closely. In the real world lawyers are usually friends with each other.... whether or not they work in the same office. So this is actually pretty standard. If they are "teaming up" on her, then that would be illegal and immoral. However, they may just be keeping each other up to date.

I do see your point, and it looks bad. Bit it may not be. And either way, I think bijnas needs to worry about his own defense and let her worry about her own defense... *especially* if she starts trying to pin the consequences of her own stupidity on him. I feel bad for her... but I would feel worse if bijnas took the fall considering he did nothing wrong (nothing to piss off the neighbors and attract the attention of the police).

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Originally Posted by jsn9333

Hey bijnas,
Since people are coming down on you really hard I just want to say I support you

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Hey, look I'm sorry if you think I'm 'coming down' hard on binjas, but really, I don't think I am and it wasn't my intention.
I too hope they BOTH get a break on this one and avoid the clutches of the legal system unscathed.

I also share your frustration at the stupidity of the law, and understand your point of view. In an ideal world we should all be able to grow and enjoy our plants without worrying about State interference. But, we don't (sadly) live in that world yet, and until we do, we need to take some level of responsibility for our actions and watch each others backs.

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Originally Posted by jsn9333

either way, I think bijnas needs to worry about his own defense and let her worry about her own defense... *especially* if she starts trying to pin the consequences of her own stupidity on him. I feel bad for her... but I would feel worse if bijnas took the fall considering he did nothing wrong (nothing to piss off the neighbors and attract the attention of the police).

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What do you mean 'trying to pin the consequences of her stupidity on him'? They're his plants aren't they?
Correct me if I've misread, but this isn't a bust about noise or pot smoking, but of cultivation. Surely you're not saying you think its OK for binjas to 'stitch up' his 'friend' and let her take the fall for his plants? Even if she was dumb enough to play the TV too loud.

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Originally Posted by jsn9333

And either way, I think bijnas needs to worry about his own defense and let her worry about her own defense... *especially* if she starts trying to pin the consequences of her own stupidity on him. I feel bad for her... but I would feel worse if bijnas took the fall considering he did nothing wrong (nothing to piss off the neighbors and attract the attention of the police).

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She was stupid to agree to plant-sit.
She was stupid to make noise.
But they weren't her plants.
They are Bijnas' plants.
I hope everyone gets off easily, but the brunt of the blame here lies with the person who initially decided to break the law- even if the law is unfair, it's the law, and until it is changed, that's that. You can be as discreet as you want, but the moment you ask someone to plant-sit, you understand that they might make a mistake- and not planning for that is YOUR mistake.
Just goes to show- if you want something done right, do it yourself. That's what pumps and timers are for. The consequences of human error are usually harder to deal with than the consequences of mechanical failure...

Legally they are her plants too. She was cultivating them while he was gone. She is guilty of breaking the same exact cultivation laws he is guilty of. The cops are not going to let her off just because bijnas comes forward and says, "They were mine." They are both guilty under the same laws. Better only one of them should suffer then both of them... and even better if the stupid one suffers (if someone has to).

Of course we all agree no one should ever be charged with cultivation. But if someone has to get it I say let her deal with it for being such an idiot. Who knows, maybe they aren't even charging her with cultivation... perhaps they're letting her plea down to simple possession given the situation. I don't know.

She did wrong, and she needs to learn how to be a more responsible cannabis user. Bijnas did nothing wrong, and all he needs to learn is to get more mature friends (or a timer, pump, etc.)

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Originally Posted by Flameon

What do you mean 'trying to pin the consequences of her stupidity on him'? They're his plants aren't they?
Correct me if I've misread, but this isn't a bust about noise or pot smoking, but of cultivation. Surely you're not saying you think its OK for binjas to 'stitch up' his 'friend' and let her take the fall for his plants? Even if she was dumb enough to play the TV too loud.

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Originally Posted by stinkyattic

She was stupid to agree to plant-sit.
She was stupid to make noise.
But they weren't her plants.
They are Bijnas' plants.

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At least they didn't take his computer...

Right, well I know some people are thinking I'm a horrible person for not "manning up", but here's the thing; me getting in trouble isn't going to save her. Under the law she is subject to the same penalties even though it wasn't her grow.

As for leaving someone stupid in charger and this and that, I don't know if I stated it, but the girl who got arrested was NOT the person I left in charge. I never said anyone could be in my apartment besides the person whom I left the keys with. Unfortunately, she wasn't to be trusted either as she gave the keys to the girl who got arrested.

My lawyer isn't trying to like pin it all on her or anything, but her lawyer and my lawyer are best friends, and my lawyer just happens to be on the NORML board of directors (a key element to me retaining him) it was mere coincidence that she retained the other lawyer. Neither of us are trying to pin it on one another, but right now she is the one who is charged, and no one wants anyone else to go down for this. Our lawyers have assured us that the most stringent thing either of us could reasonably face is 24 months probation and upon completion of that probation the record be wiped off. Right now her lawyer thinks she'll only have to take four 2 hour State Attorney's Drug Awareness classes and the whole thing will be dismissed. So please understand I am not taking the posistion of "fuck it let her take the blame".

I know the plants were mine, I know I am the one who initiated the grow, BUT I am not the one responsible for the bust. She knew full well that the plants were there, I mean you'd have to I don't live in a very big apartment and I had to move it out of the closet because of temps. They had been apparently been partying there all week and I guess it pissed my neighbor off, which is completely understandable. He is a normal person with normal hour jobs and shares a wall with me, so the noise all week probably would have pissed anyone in that situation off. I talked to him and explained the situation that I was out of town and I didn't know about all the noise and shit. He said he tried to knock and bang on the door to get someone to come out so he could confront them about the noise, but I guess no one could hear them through the noise and the stonedness. Thats when he called the cops, because he was fed up with it. They end up getting advanced warning of the cops entering the building and all try to bail out the door when they are then face to face with the cops and just crumble and let the cops just walk in. I on the other hand, do not smoke in my apartment because I worry about the cops having probable cause to enter my apartment, don't have wild parties on weeknights all week and I don't go around talking about it to everyone.

I think it is fair to say the bust was completely their fault.

And they didn't take my computer because I had it with me, THANK GOD!

And as far as not owning the place I'm growing in, 2 bedroom condos go for $500,000 around here, so I'd like to see someone else on here buying up some property here just to do a closet grow. My lessors aren't in any sort of trouble, and it's not as if I was growing in my parents house or something, so I see it as a non-issue.

So, recap: Me turning myself in isnt going to help anyone, she isnt facing anything too horrible, the grow was mine but under the law shes just as responsible, and we're not bitter enemies or something who are trying to fuck eachother over.

I want to thank EVERYONE who has replied, even the people who now think I'm a horrible person and hated on me, because I wouldn't want just the bright side of everything.

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Originally Posted by bijnas

I want to thank EVERYONE who has replied, even the people who now think I'm a horrible person and hated on me

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Hi bijnas

I just wanted to say for the record (again) that no one is 'hating' on you, and we all sincerely hope you both get off.

But please consider, it doesn't change the fact that you made some unwise choices, and that's something you need to recognise and acknowledge if you going to avoid making them (and landing yourself in the s**t) in the future.

The situation is, you and I both grow, we know its illegal, and we know it could get us in trouble, but we choose to take that risk knowing the consequences if we're caught. And since neither of us wants to get caught, only we can decide what risks are worth taking, and which are reckless.

For example, if I was growing my plants in a window box and got reported to the police by a neighbor, do I put ALL the blame on my neighbour for 'grassing me up', or should I accept that perhaps it would have been wiser of me to have kept them out of sight?

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Originally Posted by bijnas

it's not as if I was growing in my parents house or something, so I see it as a non-issue.

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I can't agree, it is an issue. I understand (and sympathise) with your point about the cost of buying property where you live, but you need to remember that if you decide to risk growing in an apartment you don't own, you're increasing the chances that you could get caught.

Likewise, if you risk telling someone else about your grow - you're increasing the chances of your getting caught.

Leaving someone else to look after your plants while your away. . increasing your chances of getting caught.

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Originally Posted by bijnas

I never said anyone could be in my apartment besides the person whom I left the keys with. Unfortunately, she wasn't to be trusted either as she gave the keys to the girl who got arrested.

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Leaving someone who isn't reliable with the keys to your apartment . . increasing the chances of getting caught.
Do you see the point?
We're all taking risks, but the more we choose to take, the more likely it is that somethings going to go wrong, and as we're the ones making the decisions we have to be prepared to accept some of the blame.

I know it's easy to be wise after the event, but really you should have considered the number of risks you were taking and be big enough to admit some responsibility.

But, reading things like:

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Originally Posted by bijnas

I know the plants were mine, I know I am the one who initiated the grow, BUT I am not the one responsible for the bust.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by bijnas

I think it is fair to say the bust was completely their fault.

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Does not give me any confidence that your going to learn from this.

I'm honestly glad to hear it looks like neither one of you is going to draw down too much flak for this, but do yourself a favour, breathe a sigh of relief at having 'dodged a bullet', and next time give some more thought to your actions. Hopefully that way, you won't get yourself (or anyone else) caught.

Keep toking and good luck.

Bijnas, I hope you don't think I'm 'hatin'; just scolding like a momma hen. It will cost you a lot of headaches and money, but you'll be the wiser for it, and get an interesting look into how the legal system works. Best of luck to both of you, and IMHO you are still completely entitled to nerf-slap your friend for being so foolish (take of your flip-flop and whack her a solid upside the dome lol).

Flameon, I must say I'm impressed. I like your style.

I love Flame and always have. Everyone makes great points here and I can see both sides. The main differences are legal and moral.

That's an easy one to me......sure legally he's off the hook. Morally he sucks....big time. But so does his friends so it's all the same boat.

I've learned several things here. Good stuff about legality (thanks js) good stuff about morality (thanks Flame and Stinky) and a damn interesting lesson in self preservation and who we really are when faced with adversity (thank bjnas). Sounds to me like he and his friends are all made from the same cloth and they all know it pretty well so i'll stop being worried about ALL their futures right about now.

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Originally Posted by Weedhound

Morally he sucks....big time. But so does his friends so it's all the same boat.


who we really are when faced with adversity (thank bjnas). Sounds to me like he and his friends are all made from the same cloth and they all know it pretty well so i'll stop being worried about ALL their futures right about now.

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I don't get this? Why am I a horrible person? Why are my friends horrible people? Seriously? As I said, we're not trying to fuck each-other over, and she agrees that me coming forward isn't going to help anyone. It's not an issue of morality and legality since me coming forward to the police isn't going to solve anything and will just be giving the pigs more money for future busts and encouragement to think its easy when people are just coming in and saying YEAH I DID IT.

I am fully aware that the plants are my fault. But I stand firm that this bust is not. Roor makes "water pipes", smoke shops sell them to you, no one else is responsible when you are busted with paraphernalia because you decided to smoke marijuana out of them. I had a grow in my apartment, she decided to smoke marijuana out of it. Not my bust. She knew. She took the risk of getting busted just by being there. It was her conscious choice. She's not stupid, we go to a top 10 school, so I expect her to understand the consequences. I got lucky, I'll admit it. But I will also say, had it not been for her actions I would also still have a really fun hobby that I enjoy and not having to pay a lawyer out my ass for basically nothing. Doesn't anyone think that she is not an innocent bystander and maybe she is more responsible for this than me? It is fully reasonable in my mind.

My 'increasing chances of getting caught' weren't that high. I took security as a pretty high concern for me, because I have a lot to lose. I want to go to law school and get an MA in public policy at the same time so I can go on to become a politician and work to change these ridiculous laws, this bust would essentially ruin me for the rest of my life. So I took as much precaution as I could, trust me. The only time I ever ordered anything off the internet was to an empty mailbox made with a prepaid credit card, I always paid in cash, and I didn't tell anyone about it until I had to ask this friend to take care of it for a week. I know it was a mistake, I certainly thought that this girl had better judgement than she did since I even told her explicitly not to tell ANYONE.

And I certainly have learned a lot from this. Like next time I'm going hydroponic so I can avoid ever needing to have someone feed my plants, and next time will be when I'm out of this fucking city and I can get a place with a secluded basement that I can make a super secret grow room in.

I'm also lucky they didn't find my Blue Dynamite seeds, so my next grow, on top of me learning mistakes from this one, is probably be more important to me.

So I don't want to try and start arguments and make people think I am personally attacking them, I just want it to be known that I am not a horrible person and if turning myself in were someway to save my friend, regardless of her stupidity, I would've worked something out.

You know what's right......that little teeny part of yourself that's bugging you right now. Legal/moral...two totally different things. Stop trying to put them together.

Morally....accept responsibility for your part instead of sloughing it off. Not your fault? Your plants. You chose who to take care of them for you. You chose to leave the plants in the first place. You chose to hand off your keys and write down instructions. You chose to grow in a place that was not yours.

Accept some responsibility for goodness sakes. It will help you prevent making the exact same poor choices in the future. That's where you lost me.

Good luck to you all.

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Originally Posted by Weedhound

Accept some responsibility for goodness sakes.

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How am I supposed to do this? I don't understand what other responsibility I can accept? I've never said they weren't my plants or something.. what else is there?

I think that what Weedhound and Flameon are getting at is that they'd like to at least hear you say, "Wow I screwed up by putting someone in a potentially dangerous situation EVEN THOUGH it was as much her choice to accept it", instead of the other statement that Flameon took issue with. She has her own responsibility for the situation, no matter what.
And turning yourself in wouldn't help anyone really- in the eyes of the law, she was there caring for the plants, end of story. It's like if you are in a car crash with a drunk driver, and it turns out you know them, so you go tell the cops "Oh it was all my fault, I was over the yellow line", but that doesn't change the fact that the other driver blew hot. Get it?
Correct me if I'm misreading it guys. No one is arguing that your friend didn't ROYALLY fuck up.
BTW... hydro is the way to go if you travel frequently... and Weedhound is a good hydro counselor ;)
Everyone here wants to see us growers be safe and happy, and that's a fact!

Stinky pinned it (as usual.) Admit you had a LARGE part in this and stop blaming others. There are plenty of slices of pie to go around.

Dude we ALL fuck up.....I personally do more often than others but that's just the way it is. :wtf: Yes....your friend's "friend" was an idiot.... but gee where did she get access to your plants and your apartment? I just don't see how that part lets you off the hook for putting others (the friend you asked to watch your stuff, your landlord, etc) in danger. I'm very sure you are kidding when you say security played a huge part in your decisions.....you chose someone who handed your keys off to someone else entirely.

In case you are thinking I'm telling you to go turn yourself in I'm NOT. Everyone is right.....it's not going to get your buddy off the hook. But don't tell me there isn't more you can do......how about hiring her a good lawyer? Making her bail? Helping with her defense? And to stop saying things like "Gee I sure hope she doesn't try to pin this on me (even though they WERE my plants etc....)"

Legally aside....it's a decent thing to do.

Bijnas,

Glad to hear everything is working out, buddy!

Like I said on your grow log, and your lawyer told you, they have much bigger fish to fry.

As for the girl, the only benefit she would reap from you "manning up" as the others have posted would be your company at those meetings or the probation officers office. Yeah they were your plants, but it was there behavior.... As far as I can tell from your postings, you were growing as responsibly as your situation would allow.

If there is a next time for you, please do not trust your babies to anyone. Just plan your trips around their cycles.

Last piece of advice, do not let anonymous posters on internet bulleting boards get you roweled up. This is a great place for information sharing and knowledge gathering. We may from time to time make a relationship we would have in the real world, but so many of these people are just out to kick us when our grows do not go as good as theirs or in this case, feel superior thanks to your misfortune. Hang in there!

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Originally Posted by Cede2Weed

so many of these people are just out to kick us when our grows do not go as good as theirs or in this case, feel superior thanks to your misfortune.

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All I have to say to this is... WOW.
I have BANNED members before for making fun of noob growers' mistakes- kicking them when they are down. That is NOT what this place is about. I'm sorry you see it that way. That was never the intent. If we want to talk morality, morality in this situation is making sure it never happens again, and that anyone else who stumbles upon this story will learn something from it- instead of kicking the man down, stop and thank him for making a mistake so that others will know to avoid it.