Turtle Leads Police to Marijuana Field; Teen Charged

[tannybogus]

WASHINGTON –While you might normally spot D.C. area residents running, biking, or hiking through Rock Creek Park, it's rare to find someone using the park to grow marijuana.

U.S. Park Police say thanks to a box turtle, that's exactly what they discovered earlier this month. Authorities say a Maryland teenager is facing charges after allegedly turning a Rock Creek Park field into a marijuana farm, which was discovered by a National Park Services employee who was conducting research.

http://www.myfoxdc.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7104622&version=10&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.1.1

Apparently the government is using everything in The War on Drugs.

What do turtles eat when they get the munchies?

:crazy:

[independentpiney]

1. So the poor kid is charged with manufacture and intent

to distribute for 10 scraggly plants he would've probably not gotten more than an ounce or two off of. The laws suck.

[Wizard777]

7. I would fight the intent to distribute. In Medical marijuana states. 10 plants is personal.

Also at that stage, vegitative growth, there isn't really anything that's marketable. The plant doesn't become marketable until it buds. But fully developed the plants can yield up to 2 lb.s per plant. 1 lb. per plant is more realistic for your average cultivator.

[independentpiney]

9. Unfortunately the actual yield argument doesn't work

It's strictly based on number of plants everywhere. MM grow laws vary by state. I read recently that one state(Oregon?) has a 7 plant limit, and even just rooted cuttings or seedlings counts towards the limit. Best way to get around that would be to air-layer imo, that way they're not stand-alone individual plants until you cut & pot them. Outside, sativas under average conditions will yield 1+ pounds each, indicas usually a little less than a lb. But did you see the picture in the article? This kid was definitely not an average cultivator. Shitty leggy plants. If any survived to bud they each would've only had a few decent colas each, probably lucky to get a dry oz. of bud per plant.

[Wizard777]

11. I would say he was an average cultivator. The plants are alive and green.

I know many people that haven't mastered that part of cultivation yet. Sure there is some stem elongation in a few. But they look like average outdoor plants. The problem most people have with outdoor cultivation is leaving the plant alone. It's not really something that needs to tended frequently. The people that haven't mastered the alive and green part mess with the plants too much. Outside marijuana is not something you have to worry about growing. In fact, once it's established, I defy you to keep it from growing. It's just a very hearty plant outdoors. I know places where there is still marijuana growing from WW II's hemp for victory campaign. They just can't eradicate it. The poisons they would have to use to eradicate the Marijuana. If the poison was legal to use. It would ensure that NOTHING grew there.

[independentpiney]

13. On 2nd look I agree, they're not as bad as I originally thought

And they don't require much care outdoors as long as the basic environmental conditions are met, most importantly sun.

[TexasObserver]

2. Rush Limbaugh illegally buys $300,000 of hillbilly heroin, and it's all good, though.

Miss Cindy steals tons of downers from a charity, and it's all good.

Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Rehnquist eats pain pills like breath mints for five years while holding that position, getting multiple scripts, but it's all good.

[B Calm]

4. You just turned this into a bash the rich thread!

satire

[trotsky]

5. LOL

Nice. :thumbsup:

[TexasObserver]

8. Who will speak for the rich?

Trickle down? No, tinkle down.

[MiniMe]

3. Must have been a very long stake-out

[mdmc]

6. I often wonder why so many democrats support the drug war

:mad:

[Sheets of Easter]

10. To answer your question: as the owner of a red-eared slider,

I would hate to see a turtle with the munchies, as mine already has this habit of trying to munch on stones between meals. :D

Don't worry, the stones are too big for him to swallow.

[Bonobo]

12. Pathetic.

Look how spindly they are. Top 'em so they bush out!

:yoiks:

[Crabby Appleton]

14. I'll never trust a turtle again!

[CrownPrinceBandar]

15. Intent to distribute?.............

with those scraggly things? Oh please tell me the cops have better things to do than this.

Barney Frank is right. Pot laws have to change. Because of this, this kid may have a felony drug conviction dogging him for the rest of his days.

[underpants]

17. plastic sadwich bags

throw in a scale of any kind (that a lot of dope smokers have) and you have intent to distribute

[CrownPrinceBandar]

19. Only if you STRETCH your imagination really hard!........

This kid will never make much money on 10 plants (not enough to justify the risk, that is). In the District, he's looking at 6 mos inside and $1000 for possession and 5 years and $50,000 in fines for cultivation/intent to distribute. 10 plants will not net you that kind of cheese.

http://norml.org/index.cfm?wtm_view=&Group_ID=4529

edit: added link

[underpants]

21. Oh about 10 years ago

knew this guy who got busted. Half the county cops on duty kicked in the door and got him, with half a joint. Granted this guy smoked alllll the time but that was all he had. Well there WERE baggies in the house (in the kitchen) so he got intent. He also had to got to a drunk driver course (that no one passes the first time).

[CrownPrinceBandar]

22. I'm not saying it doesn't happen.............

And I think you're right in that LE has no compunction in associating items like baggies (which can also be used for sandwiches, trail mix or any kind of food for that matter - except, maybe, jell-o) and scales (which can also be used in cooking, ask Alton Brown) w/ intent to distribute. Busting MJ-users is a profitable industry and cops have it down to a science.

My point was that ANY kind of cultivation (no matter the quantity) will get you intent to distribute. It could be two plants for personal usage, or 100 plants for wholesale trafficking, it makes no diff. So if the kid wanted to make $$, he shoulda gone for a big patch, the sentence would be about the same.

I think we're basically in agreement here. I'm just saying the laws lack proportionality.

[Kazak]

16. I've gotta git me a box turtle!!!

:o

[ecstatic]

18. LOL. They literally have a lot of time on their hands

Couldn't help but chuckle at that headline!

[cbc5g]

20. Poor amateur guerrilla grower

Don't put all your eggs in one basket. One or two plants per plot and dear God don't do it in a national park.