Grand Closing: America’s Pot Farmers Are Putting Mexican Cartels Out of Business

Colorado resident here.

As religious and conservative as they come as well.

I do not have a horse in this race, as I care not for the substance myself however, living in Colorado I can tell you the following:

1. Thousands of prisoners have been pardoned and released in CO for inmates involved in marijuana related crimes, saving the citizens of the state of CO millions annually.

2. State tax revenue is way up, making up for most of the losses of the last several years due to flooding/fires etc. in state budget.

3. Mexican cartel crime is all but gone here. CO used to be one of the Marijuana hubs north of the border; other then the Southern California border, more Mexican grown marijuana came to CO than any other location (due to demand); now they are powerless here.

4. Hemp use has been legalized in several states, and can be used for over 10,000 things like paper, clothes, bio-diesel fuel, weight loss etc. because both plants have been treated the same in the past, that fallacy is being overturned.

Again, I care not for the substance, as I value sobriety in my thinking due to my religious convictions, however living in ground zero for the legalization front and seeing with my own eyes the cost/benefit data coming in from both sides. It appears that the removal of the prohibition of the substance in my state has led to a series of benefits; overtime the model established in CO would be attractive to other states; and to think I live in a red state.

Amazing.

God Bless,

The debate about a certain flowering plant has changed big time over the decade. 10 years ago a thread like this would still have many supporters of legalization, but it would also be full of many who fully support prohibition. I noticed that most of those against legalization had no argument to stand on, it would consist of a jingle or an ear worm like dope is for dopes, think of the children angle, and a few Spiccoli references. Those types have all but disappeared in legalization debates, instead there is a plethora of people with an intelligent argument based on facts for ending prohibition.

My local paper had an article about most of the Sheriff's in Florida are campaigning against the medical bill on the ballot in the November. Their argument against it was weak, all the user comments destroyed the Sheriff's argument against it. Most of us realize that they do not want it decriminalized because it has become a cash-cow for the legal system.

Anyone who is surprised that the recent laws passed in Colorado and Washington hurt the black-market 'cartel' profits is out of touch of reality.

a reply to: benrl

I talked about this a couple years ago on the forum when my son went through hell, it's big bucks

originally posted by: FlyersFan
Legalize. Regulate. Tax.
It would help with the crime rates and drug gangs, IMHO.

(Can I say that ?? I think that's within T&C ... walking softly here)

I have to agree. Legalizing or at least decriminalizing allows for regulation, and regulation allows for taxation. Only the people who want to use it have to pay the taxes, so it doesn't increase the tax burden on those who never touch it. In fact, it may help to decrease their own tax burden.

As for your remark about the T&Cs. Well, they say we can't discuss "personal use or personal experiences as the result of such substances". So in light of the main topic of this thread I don't see how it's a problem to discuss it in the broader contexts that people have been doing here.

a reply to: benrl

You're kidding right? You know that businesses use VAT to get out of paying taxes? Self employed too... "Oh that new gaming rig? Yeah that's to do my tax returns..."

The big boys have experts do it for them and is one of the major ways they get out of paying anything.

The thing is as well, do you not think gov COULD make these people pay if they wanted? They don't want to because they are one... Where do these politicians go when their political career is over... Big business...

As a side note ,the T&C clearly states:

i) Narcotics and illicit mind-altering substances, legal or otherwise: discussing personal use or personal experiences as the result of such substances is not allowed in any form.

As long as that isn't violated, there are no T&C violations regarding this topic.

( please don't reply to this portion of the post, as to not drag it off topic)

The DEA will not let this go quietly.

DEA Says It Will Ignore President Obama's Wishes During Congressional Hearing on Marijuana Policy

I have been critical of our president but I do believe he has the power to fire DEA personal who refuse his lawful orders.

originally posted by: jrod
The DEA will not let this go quietly.

DEA Says It Will Ignore President Obama's Wishes During Congressional Hearing on Marijuana Policy

I have been critical of our president but I do believe he has the power to fire DEA personal who refuse his lawful orders.

That's because the money LE spends on toys to eradicate a flower is mind boggling.

They get huge budgets. They get Choppers, Planes, Drones, Night Vision...

They also get huge salaries to use these toys. It's about spending every penny...

Then begging for more. They wait for crops to ripen so it weighs tons.

Then they call the Media.

It is a great PR shot to see the chopper lift a giant bundle out of the Forest.

We have been played by the Police State. Simple research will expose their scam.

a reply to: jrod

Nobody ever goes along with cutting their own equipment, clout or pay and government offices are the worst for fighting to maintain their waste.

It should be more than obvious that anyone fighting to maintain prohibition is basically just fighting to save their own job. Taxpayers, liberty or the public at large be damned. It's their job that's the most important thing!

This is what we mean when we fight any expansion of government offices or powers. So easy to spend the money and get them rolling along on their mission but it takes several lifetimes of constant pain and strife to get them to stop.

Unfortunately our politicians don't seem to understand this and enact nonsense legislation all the time without even once stepping back to really consider their actions. Future generations don't matter. Just as long as Senator Whoever gets some press attention so the re-election will be easier.

originally posted by: crazyewok
a reply to: benrl

Anything that lessons the power of cartels is a good thing.

The worst problem and thing about drugs is cartels and organized crime. And prohibition always seems to feed them. Make what you will of that.

Or governments dont seem able to grasp that to fight a war on organized crime is allot different to fighting a war on drugs.

The government doesn't want to have a "war on organized crime", because they are the organizers of said crime, lol.

Doing away with drug prohibition (ALL of it) would make our country a much better place. It would also help demilitarize our police, since they wont be able to go around robbing drug dealers and suspected drug dealers to finance their tanks and mobile command stations.


I think of what they are doing as evil. They are literally ruining peoples lives, and families of those people, by locking them up for years upon years for what doesn't even amount to a crime in my opinion. I've been a victim of this prohibition so im passionate about this topic. Thank god I got lucky enough to NOT be sent to prison for it, but im still on a suspended sentence, which means if I am caught breaking any law I can be sent to prison for 10 years without any trial, because technically im doing "paper time". All for growing a plant that generally makes people happy.

I've had my mmj card for 5 years now.This is the kind of accomplishment we hope for!I wouldn't even consider living in a non mmj state.

a reply to: benrl

Of course, farming it in the US will obliterate the current market the cartels cater to. No market, no need, no product.

The only reason the cartels exist is because of ridiculous 100-year-old government propaganda.

One of the biggest problems I see in this prohibition is the ability to grow-your-own.

This is not as complex (although it possibly could be) as making wine or beer or grain liquor. If you could have a substance that leaves you with few side-effcts, no hang-over and positive medical pain relief why would you need the multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical companies? And there is where the real money is and the real reason it is not made legal...

originally posted by: BuzzyWigs
a reply to: benrl



yes, prohibition does NOT work - proven. My husband says he heard that now the Mexican Cartels are thugging Avacado and Lime growers....
I heard a story yesterday about how limes have gone up so high (right in time for Cinco de Mayo) that restaurateurs and the public are now paying 4 x what we used to. Avocados have also skyrocketed.

They are seriously going after lime and avocado growers now? We're going to hear about major brutal brutal murders over fruits and veggies?
My lordie lord, those Cartel people are more insane than I thought - and they ARE insane.

originally posted by: BuzzyWigs
a reply to: benrl





yes, prohibition does NOT work - proven. My husband says he heard that now the Mexican Cartels are thugging Avacado and Lime growers....
I heard a story yesterday about how limes have gone up so high (right in time for Cinco de Mayo) that restaurateurs and the public are now paying 4 x what we used to. Avocados have also skyrocketed.

I wondered why limes and lemons and avocado prices have been sooooo high! Avocadoes have always been rather pricey but the prices on limes have skyrocketed.

originally posted by: sarra1833


They are seriously going after lime and avocado growers now? We're going to hear about major brutal brutal murders over fruits and veggies?
My lordie lord, those Cartel people are more insane than I thought - and they ARE insane.

Avocados and limes are apparently spiking in value due to flooding and blight.

Over the past year, the cost of limes has quintupled, going from roughly $20 for a 38-pound case to “over $100 per case at present”. The cause of this increase? For one, heavy rains late last year damaged crops in the Mexican states of Michoacan, Guerrero and Veracruz hurt the crop. The United States imports nearly 95 percent of its limes from Mexico, so when those damaging rains were coupled with an outbreak of a citrus-killing bacterium in the lime producing state of Colima, this year’s lime yield began to cause headaches for bar owners and tequila connoisseurs alike.

link

It's quite fascinating how humans will place an artificial value on any random item then proceed to murder each other over that item.

The early 90's phenomenon of kids murdering each other for sneakers and Starter jackets really taught me everything I ever needed to know about human nature.

originally posted by: TDawg61
I've had my mmj card for 5 years now.This is the kind of accomplishment we hope for!I wouldn't even consider living in a non mmj state.

exactly. As a personal patient, I can state that this plant helped me kick a prescribed pill that the VA was handing me like candy. Oxycodone.. The VA sent me huge bottles every month.

To imagine that something can be bought in a store in one state, yet can get you swat raided and put away to rot in prison in another? I cant believe the mentality of those that choose to partake but continuing to live in a backwards stone-age state.

ridiculous.

And the whole premise of govt is a SCAM. supposedly the agents of govt "just carry out the wishes of the people".

What a SCAM.. when the people speak and VOTE things, why would the govt step in and LITERALLY go against what the people want?

That is a POLICE STATE!! ffs! this is why the govt is NUTS

How can every Freedom loving American not be absolutely FURIOUS at the DEA, whether pro or anti pot. The people have spoken and declared medical marijuana to be their choice, yet some govt servants want to go against the people? FFS are you serious.

The writing is on the wall. the DEA is a HUGE ENEMY of the people. and EVERY DEA agent is a TYRANT and TRAITOR to the nation.

originally posted by: BuzzyWigs
a reply to: benrl

I know.

I saw what you did there....

yes, prohibition does NOT work - proven. My husband says he heard that now the Mexican Cartels are thugging Avacado and Lime growers....
I heard a story yesterday about how limes have gone up so high (right in time for Cinco de Mayo) that restaurateurs and the public are now paying 4 x what we used to. Avocados have also skyrocketed.

Two of my very favorite things.

Regarding prohibition - well, it's clear that the masses get very restless when they are kept from their preferred consumables - take cigarettes (tobacco) for example. Smokers have been demonized....and when you keep someone from their 'self-medication', they get upset. I worked in a convention hotel where they had only ONE smoking floor (of 40 total) - many of the conventions were for working people, union trades, etc. And when people don't get to smoke, or drink, they get ANGRY.

The price of limes right now it outrageous. I currently work in a casino in the food and beverage department. When limes went up to 90 dollars a case we had a meeting about reducing the amount of limes we used. Now limes are 110 a case and we were told to not use any llimes at all except for pre approved ways.

a reply to: tothetenthpower

That's really an excellent point. The big business folks who don't want legalization ... and at the top of the list are the big pharmas ... so very true. I'm so glad you brought it up.