CASH CROP documentary part 1

Take a West Coast Adventure and wrestle with the issues of freedom, self government, greed, and sustainability in the Golden State gone green. -CASH CROP

Mendocino Marijuana Zip Tie Program “First in the Nation”

Mendocino Sheriff Tom Allman Officially announced the start of the Mendocino County Marijuana Growing Season Monday….

Despite a 25 plant limit in Mendocino, ONLY 6 Medical Marijuana Zip Ties will be offered.

Courtesy of http://media.cnbc.com/i/CNBC/Sections/CNBC_TV/CNBC_US/Shows/_Documentaries_Specials/Marijuana_Inc/Slideshow/Inside_Pot/Inside_pot_slide06.jpg

Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman officially announced the start of the Mendocino County Marijuana Growing Season Monday evening with a “First in the Nation” plan  brought forward  to introduce a “Marijuana Zip Tie Program”. Sheriff Allman who has recently been under fire for a “Marijuana Holocaust” in Mendocino County said  “In summary, what we’re trying to do is give a very clear opportunity to people who are legitimate medical marijuana growers and give them some comfort,” he said. “This will speak for them in the same way a prescription bottle speaks for itself.”

The program, the first of it’s kind not only in the nation but in the world, was well received  Monday in a special meetingheld by the Mendocino County Supervisors. Supervisors  approved selling plastic ties imprinted with serial numbers and ”Mendocino County MMP” (Medical Marijuana Program.) Supervisor Colfax, who spoke out against Measure B- the infamous attempt to limit the number of Medical Marijuana Plants in Mendocino to only 6, also opposed the ordinance. He said efforts to control marijuana cultivation are futile.

“The solution is to legalize this wretched weed,” Supervisor Colfax said.

Medical Marijuana Patients in Mendocino County will be able to purchase 6 “marijuana zip ties” with a standard Medical Marijuana Card or doctors recommendation, additional Medical Marijuana Program zipties will be available with a doctors approval recommending more marijuana than the typical state approved and Mendocino Measure B backed 6 plant limit.  The current law in Mendocino county states that a patient may currently have 25 plants. Other amendments made Monday to the county’s marijuana ordinance include the addition of a $25 fee for dispensing tags to medical marijuana growers, with a half-priced rate for patients on Medi Cal and disabled veterans. The tags — zip ties with serial numbers on them — are voluntary.

Many Medical Marijuana Growers feel differently about the program, “This is a health issue not a criminal issue,” said Pebbles Trippet “The proposed revisions have had no public comment period and no comment from people who are most affected.” Pebbles Trippet said the program should be tabled and sent to the Health and Human Services Agency and not the Criminal Justice Committee. “The current laws are so confusing nobody knows exactly where the limits are,” said Richard Johnson the author of Mendocino Counties Measure G which legalized patches of 25 or less plants making Marijuana Cultivation “the lowest priority” for law enforcement, the same Measure G which was repealed by the Nazi Measure B Coalition.

Pinches said that legalization was the ultimate answer, but failing that was throwing his support behind the program.

“I look at it as a real protection for the medical marijuana growers,” he said. “Without the zip ties they’re susceptible to loosing their medicine and being subject to criminal prosecutions. I’ve been wrangling with this issue since 1995 and the sheriff on his own came up with an innovative ideas. I think we ought to at least give it a chance.”

Supervisor Colfax said that he was vehemently against the program as it would be ineffectual rendered ineffectual by its non-mandatory language and the lack of legalization from the federal level.

“I find this whole discussion of marijuana very painful at the same time very ludicrous,” he said. “I don’t know what is accomplished by a voluntary ordinance. What’s our standard of compliance here and what do we learn in the process?…I don’t see that putting a zip tie on one of zip plants achieves anything more than saying I love you sheriff’ or I love you board of supervisors.’…Legalize it and we’re home free, this document is simply not defensible.”

“Growers who violate the plant limits paying the County to have their crops eradicated”

Another Amendment to the Mendocino County Marijuana Ordinance will see growers who violate the plant limits paying the County to have their crops eradicated. The fees will be levied on growers on a case-by-case basis, depending on the size of the marijuana plants and the cost of destroying them. Last year, for example, it cost the county $1,400 to eradicate 100 small plants seized during a raid, no estimate of eradication costs was given.

Allman said his office will be working to make the zip ties available “within two weeks.

The ordinance will return to the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors  for final adoption on May 5.

MENDOCINO COPS TASER MAN AS FATHER DROWNS

MENDOCINO COPS TASER DROWNED DAD’S DISTRAUGHT SON

Article Taken from: http://freedomfighterradio.net/?p=2964

California cops tasered a distraught son whose father was drowning after he and his brother complained that police were not doing enough to rescue their dad, while authorities prevented the two sons from making any kind of rescue effort themselves.The latest example of police brutality unfolded in Mendocino Country California. A San Francisco family was visiting Portuguese Beach when the father accidentally fell into the water and was washed away from the shore.Police arrived with rescue crews but made no effort to save the drowning man, named as 54-year-old Maurizio Biasini, and prevented his two 18-year-old sons, Dario and Andriano Biasini, from helping their dad as they insisted on waiting for the Coast Guard and a Sheriffs boat.The Mendocio County Sheriffs Office is guilty of contributing to the death of 54-year-old Maurizio Biasin by making no effort to save the drowning man, named and prevented his two 18-year-old sons, Dario and Andriano Biasini, from helping their dad as they insisted on waiting for the Coast Guard and a Sheriffs boat.The sons protests about the inaction of the authorities led to a struggle and cops tackled one while the other was restrained. The son who the cops tackled was then tasered as he lay on the floor and tasered a second time as he attempted to get up.

To call the Mendocino County Sheriffs office express and your outrage

707-463-4086

Mendocino Sheriff Continues Harrassment and Holocaust on Medical Marijuana Patients and Growers

Is this REALLY what Mendocino County Families and Neighbors Need?

MENDOCINO FAMILIES LIVE IN FEAR AS HOLOCAUST CONTINUES ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA PATIENTS BY TOM ALLMAN’S MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFF DEPT!

Badge of Oppression?

AUDIO- History & Future of Medical Marijuana in Mendocino!

AUDIO Laurel Krause on KZYX-FM news

MedMar Grower arrested in Ft. Bragg – Only 24 plants

My name is Laurel Krause.

Last Friday (2/20/09) as I looked out my kitchen window I was shocked to see 25 Mendocino County Sheriffs/Deputies coming through my gate very quickly. The lead man, Sheriff (don’t know deputy, or what class) Jonathan Martin, showed me a search warrant, hand cuffed me and read me my rights. I was cooperative (I actually cried and begged for mercy, but that didn’t work) as they searched my home, my grow area on my five acres (behind my locked gate–so no probable cause) and seized all grow equipment related to 24 medical marijuana plants in full bloom. They chopped down the plants and hauled them away as I was being grilled and bullied in my home. This number is significant because if you google the Mendocino County Sheriff’s web page on MedMari guidelines it says 25 plants. You are probably aware of the ‘fuzziness’ of these guidelines. I have a recommendation from my doctor to allow me to grow med marijuana. They charged me with two felony counts, one for marijuana cultivation and another for intent to sell/distribute, carted me to Ukiah, CA to jail in handcuffs.
It gets worse. I was the #4 bust of 5 that day (Friday, Feb 20) and the guys let us know that they had five more for Saturday (yesterday) and five more on Sunday (TODAY!). Not individuals, but actual grows that might arrest multiple people. And most of the growers are women with kids (so now the children are possibly being taken away and bank accounts frozen). Real emotional and economic despair.

As I met others that were arrested in Ukiah, the county seat to jail (never before, first offense for everything for me) I learned they were my neighbors and not one had a ‘commercial’ size grow. So this Mendocino County Sheriff’s dept sweep is coming up short as the take is not producing the kind of busts they claim they are after (i.e commercial, 500 plants & up), unenvironmental grows that scar the land (we all grow organic), we all have our recommendations that we paid for and actually care about the quality of medicine we are growing (it’s in the past for me now).

I am in shock, but then I started getting mad yesterday. What is motivating this gestapo situation all of the sudden? DA Meredith Lintott or Sheriff Allman? NeoCons?

I keep to myself mostly so did not hear about this happening all over the county of Mendocino. Furthermore, most growers don’t let others know their business so as not to get busted. I’m coming forth as I have nothing to loose and I’m not backing down. I am a little afraid that if this doesn’t become a big story that I might be unsafe though……….so bust this story wide open. Help us in Mendo!!!

Since getting busted, I’ve learned that they were up and down my street (just outside Fort Bragg city limit, so in Mendocino County) busting and getting this sweep in order over the last month and logging on the computer even (wish I had known!). That they have also had busting sweeps in the towns of Covelo, Ukiah, Willits…….all within Mendocino county.

I’m sure you’re asking what is motivating me to come to you. This is truly an American story of our time right now, a devestating economic massacre for us personally and it has county-wide ramifications as at least 70% of the Mendocino economy is based on growing marijuana. Maybe even California as it’s the state’s largest crop. During these times of extreme economic hardship and 10% unemployment in Ft. Bragg, it just doesn’t make any sense to be busting and criminalizing tax-paying citizens, my neighbors and me operating within state and county guidelines.

We are considering moving forward with a class-action suit. I have calls out.

I am sounding this alarms as far and wide as I can. Please feel free to forward this to any of your interested colleagues. I hope to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Laurel Krause

Isn’t it time to Legalize and STOP harassing Medical Marijuana Patients and Growers??

Youtube Video FEATURES Mendocino Marijuana

Mendocino County;

Medical Marijuana Capital of the USA!!

WE Support the Eel River Cleanup

Eel River Clean Up Crew

There is a severe problem facing the Eel River, which runs through one of the most majestic areas of North America, the Redwood Forest in Southern Humboldt county. There are thousands of TONS of garbage, littering the banks, covering the life sustaining soil, left by uncaring people. The Eel River Clean Up Crew is putting their own money and time into cleaning it up, but they need help. The local government refuses to lend any kins of assistance. The community has donated money, but it is running out. The Eel River Clean Up Crew won’t just give up on this growing problem, but it should not be their fiscal responsibility. For more information, please go to www.EelRiverCleanUp.org.

American Drug War Economics

American Drug War Economics – Volume 1

Ending drug prohibition and focusing on addiction as a sickness, like alcohol and prescription drugs, could save the U.S. economy and millions of lives. Please pass this video on to as many people as you can. We need your help to end the Drug War.

http://www.americandrugwar.com
http://www.sacredcow.com
http://www.sacredcowstore.com

Drugs Rampant in California Prisons

The law calls it “conspiracy to possess narcotics on prison grounds.”

The cops call them “drug mules.”

The distribution of narcotics in prisons is a consistent problem for law enforcement, especially in Kings County, which is home to more inmates than any other county in California.

“You can get any drug you want in prison, anytime you want it,” said Kevin Cook, a Deputy District Attorney in Kings County. “We see it all the time. It’s almost impossible to stop drugs from coming in every time.”

Drug issues in the prison system accounted for at least 7 percent of total statewide prison incidents in 2006, the most recent year statistics were available. The total adds up to more than 1,000 drug-related offenses across California that year, according to a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation report.

At the Kings County Jail, officials say drug incidents are an issue at least once a month.

“Most people don’t even realize we have these kinds of problems,” Deputy District Attorney Ty Ford said.

The investigation begins with a phone call. Prison deals are often brokered by families living outside of the jail, according to Ford. When one inmate wants to make a purchase, he will contact his family on the outside and ask them to transfer money to the family of the seller. This family then puts the money in a trust account for the inmate’s use in prison, completing the purchase.

“One inmate may contact another, who contacts another, who contacts someone on the outside, who gives the money to somebody else, so that person can get the drugs, then give it to yet another person just to transport it,” Cook said. “It can get very intricate and complicated.”

It’s standard practice for all state prisons to record calls between inmates and their visitors. When an inmate is believed to be involved in drug smuggling, investigators listen to their conversations, searching for a code inmates often use to disguise conversations about narcotics.

“You listen to them talk and watch for odd pronouns or ordinary words used out of context,” Ford said. “Usually, their conversation will sound pretty weird. The codes they use tend to describe the drug in an abstract way, so for instance, if they are talking about money, they may mean marijuana, because they are both green. Black shoes is another way of saying black tar heroin. Things like that.”

The contraband enters the prison through a variety of methods. In some cases, concealed bags of narcotics will be left out for inmate work crews to discover in pre-determined locations. In other cases, crafty parties will try to mail the drugs in with a care package. And, then, of course, there are people who walk the drugs in themselves, known as “drug mules.”

“Often the drugs are secreted in their genital areas,” Cook said. “They’ll hide it in their rectum, put it in their mouth, one lady even hid the drugs in her extra skin rolls around her abdomen.”

The trick to unraveling the case is to catch them in the act. Officers who have cracked the code will check the visitor logs to see who came to visit on what day, following a coded message. Then, when the “drug mule” returns, officers are waiting to arrest them.

“Once we figure out the relationship, we can start establishing connections between different groups of people,” Cook said. “It’s like a big puzzle you piece together, trying to find out how the drugs get from one place to the next.”

State correctional officers are required to conduct at least three searches in the prison complex during every patrol, according to Terry Thornton, a CDCR spokeswoman.

“Contraband in the jails doesn’t always refer to drugs,” Thornton said. “Any item off-limits to the prisoners is considered contraband if it comes into their possession. This can include cell phones, pornography, inmate-manufactured alcohol and even common items, like a toothbrush, that have been modified to become something else, like a weapon.”

At the county level, the Kings County Jail experienced a large reduction in the number of drug-related offenses when officials removed in-person visitation.

“This used to be a huge problem for us,” Sgt. Michael Burke said. “The old jail was built back in ‘62, and people would actually drill small holes through the dividing glass partition and slip drugs through. They would even put drugs on their children, who were allowed to be close to the inmate, to slip it by the guards.”

New visiting procedures at the Kings County Jail limits inmate contact to a phone with mounted cameras in separate rooms allowing the visitors to communicate in real time, but without the risk of a drug exchange.

Officials with the Department of Corrections are hesitant to use such methods in the state prison system.

“Visiting is a privilege and we encourage it,” Thornton said. “We want the inmates to spend time with their friends and family in the community, because many of them will be going home eventually. Visitation periods are a good thing. It’s part of the rehabilitation process. We only have no-contact visiting when inmates lose their privileges based on their behavior.”

Meanwhile, the drug issue continues to be a problem. Officials say narcotics are found in the prisons on a nearly daily basis, keeping the officers busy trying to maintain the safety of prison staff, along with the inmates themselves.

“You are not going to eliminate this kind of activity forever,” Burke said. “There will always be people secreting the stuff into their body or coming up with some ingenious idea to sneak the contraband in here.”

And for prosecutors like Ford and Cook, the drug issue shows no sign of slowing.

“There’s a lot of crime that goes on in the prisons,” Ford said. “The majority of the cases are possession of narcotics, but you also have possession of weapons and assaults. … I believe we have more inmates here in Kings County than any other county in California and it really shows in the number of criminal cases we have to deal with.”

Obamas’ NEW White House: DEA Raids in Medical Marijuana States Will Stop

Obamas’ NEW White House:

DEA Raids in Medical Marijuana States Will Stop

Barack Obama answers questions on his position on medical marijuana.

by NarcoNews (reposted) Wednesday Feb 11th, 2009 7:51 AM

http://narcosphere.narconews.com

No sooner was President Obama sworn in than the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) decided to provoke him. Two days after the January 20 inauguration – before the Senate had confirmed the nomination of Attorney General Eric Holder – the DEA raided a medical marijuana dispensary in South Lake Tahoe, California, one of the states that has made such facilities legal. This, with full knowledge that as a presidential candidate Obama had pledged to discontinue such raids. Yesterday, the DEA carried out multiple raids at medical marijuana clinics in the Los Angeles area. According to MSNBC: A Los Angeles police spokesperson said the department, which is normally notified of such operations, got no advance warning from DEA. In other words, the DEA was so worried that the LAPD might alert the White House of its plans beforehand and so it bypassed the normal procedure there. This has of course led to a chorus of Chicken Little-ing from some corners of drug policy reform that Obama and/or Holder never intended to keep Obama’s campaign promise to end the raids in states that permit medical marijuana clinics for patients with cancer, glaucoma, AIDS and other ailments treated by the plant. Today, the White House made it clear to the Reuters news agency that the DEA is acting without its blessing: White House spokesman Nick Shapiro on Wednesday reiterated Obama’s stance that “federal resources should not be used to circumvent state laws.” “And as he continues to appoint senior leadership to fill out the ranks of the federal government, he expects them to review their policies with that in mind,” Shapiro said. So, everybody chill. Rome wasn’t destroyed in a day. Although there are some economic libertarians, Ron Paul enthusiasts, and beautiful losers in parts of the drug policy reform milieu that apparently would rather see the Obama administration break its promises – so as to be able to crow that nothing ever changes and to be able to continue their own daily poutrage – the vast majority of us absolutely want the raids to end and understand it will take not a lot, but yes a little bit, of time to clear the bureaucracy of insubordinates and steer the ship of Justice back on track. Meanwhile, if patience is that hard, there’s probably a medicine somewhere that can help.

DEA Raids in Mendocino State Forest

DEA raids in Mendocino forest

DEA raids pot grown in Mendocino forest on ABC NEWS!