Go Back   Marijuana.com > News > The Drug War Headline News
Register FAQ Gaming VB Image Host Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 07-27-2005, 09:20 AM   #1
WNB
Seasoned Activist
 

Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,161
Grams: 2,568.30
Groans: 0
Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts
WNB has begun their Karma Journey
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

Stock Portfolio
Total Value: 0.000
Gain/Loss: 0.000%
Default LA: Marijuana grower, proud of operation, gives tour to arresting officers

Prosecutor says man took pride in indoor marijuana production
William Taylor | 2theadvocate.com | 7/26/2005

Juan Lopez showed pride in his indoor marijuana farm, even giving investigators a tour when they showed up to arrest him in February, a federal prosecutor said Monday.

"He said, 'You've got the right guy,' " Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad Ennis told the jury during Lopez' drug trial.

Ennis described for jurors the elaborate hydroponics operation:

Valves and piping kept the plants watered.

grow lights and reflective wall covering bathed the marijuana in light.

Moth balls cleaned the air to keep the smell from escaping the Prairieville house that hid the pot cultivation.

A direct connection to the power line bypassed the meter, allowing stolen electricity to power the garden.

Lopez, 47, 39136 Germany Road in Prairieville, had spent $15,000 and three months building the farm of 6-foot-high plants and told investigators he found it "inspirational" to go look at it, Ennis said.

Even after showing investigators how to dismantle it, Lopez said it should be a "crime" for them to do so, Ennis said.

Lopez is accused of manufacturing and possessing more than 100 marijuana plants with the intent to distribute.

His attorney, Mario Gaudamud, pledged to "challenge vigorously" those accusations.

"We disagree with the government's contention that there were over 100 plants," Gaudamud said.

"We disagree with the government's contention that he was possessing with the intent to distribute," the lawyer added.

Under federal law, marijuana possession is only a misdemeanor with a maximum prison sentence of one year.

Manufacturing it is a felony as is possessing with intent to distribute. Both carry potential prison sentences of up to 20 years.

The penalty is enhanced if the number of plants is at least 100. In that case, the minimum penalty is 5 years in prison with a maximum sentence of 40 years.

Ennis told jurors that Lopez planned to sell the marijuana locally and in Florida.
__________________
War is Peace
Freedom is Slavery
Ignorance is Strength
WNB is offline Award WNB Grams  
Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
Marijuana.com Sponsor
Advertisement
 
Old 07-27-2005, 11:53 PM   #2
killer12382
Banned
 

Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 877
Grams: 26.20
Groans: 0
Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts
killer12382 has begun their Karma Journey
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

Stock Portfolio
Total Value: 0.000
Gain/Loss: 0.000%
Default

What a knucklehead. He needs to be in jail. He'll be safer there, with people watching over him.
killer12382 is offline Award killer12382 Grams  
Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2005, 05:06 AM   #3
Raised Fist
Jr. Member
 
Raised Fist's Avatar
 

Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 983
Grams: 1,363.31
Groans: 0
Groaned at 1 Time in 1 Post
Raised Fist can see the Karmic Tunnel of Life
Thanks: 27
Thanked 10 Times in 8 Posts

Stock Portfolio
Total Value: 0.000
Gain/Loss: -1.000%
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by killer12382
What a knucklehead. He needs to be in jail. He'll be safer there, with people watching over him.
I think he realized he was screwed no matter what, so he showed pride in his creation.

Its a shame he got caught, a 15,000 dollar hydro system sounds sweet.
Raised Fist is offline Award Raised Fist Grams  
Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2005, 05:35 AM   #4
Blaster
New Member
 

Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 16
Grams: 455.65
Groans: 0
Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts
Blaster has begun their Karma Journey
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

Stock Portfolio
Total Value: 0.000
Gain/Loss: 0.000%
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by killer12382
What a knucklehead. He needs to be in jail. He'll be safer there, with people watching over him.
I think that you need to re-evaluate your thoughts on the legal statis of MJ. NO-ONE should ever go to prison for growing MJ. Even if it were over 100 acres.
Blaster is offline Award Blaster Grams  
Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2005, 10:17 AM   #5
troublemaker_42
May be habit forming
 
troublemaker_42's Avatar
 

Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 10,619
Grams: 16,785.77
Groans: 135
Groaned at 32 Times in 29 Posts
troublemaker_42 Is Karmalicioustroublemaker_42 Is Karmalicioustroublemaker_42 Is Karmalicioustroublemaker_42 Is Karmalicioustroublemaker_42 Is Karmalicioustroublemaker_42 Is Karmalicioustroublemaker_42 Is Karmalicioustroublemaker_42 Is Karmalicioustroublemaker_42 Is Karmalicioustroublemaker_42 Is Karmalicioustroublemaker_42 Is Karmalicious
Thanks: 826
Thanked 1,520 Times in 819 Posts

Stock Portfolio
Total Value: 0.000
Gain/Loss: 0.000%
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by killer12382
What a knucklehead. He needs to be in jail. He'll be safer there, with people watching over him.

I disagree wholeheartedly. I've been told to always take pride in a job well done, and thats all this person was doing. What shame is there in being proud of something you toiled and labored on, something that obviously took a giant chunk of your time to create? Just because it is illegal doesn't mean he should have cowered in the corner crying about it. he was proud of his work, whether it was legal or not. Granted, he didn't leave much room for his defense attorney to help him out much, but I see no reason why you feel he is a knucklehead simply because he was proud of what he created. remember, without "knuckleheads" like him, many of us who don't grow personally would either not have any pot to smoke, or be smoking a much inferior product. Would you ratehr he be ashmaed and apologize to the officers for growing the plants we all know and love? What shame SHOULD be attached to the cultivation of one of the most useful plants on the planet?
troublemaker_42 is offline Award troublemaker_42 Grams  
Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
Marijuana.com Sponsor
Advertisement
 
Old 07-28-2005, 01:14 PM   #6
Buzzby
Buddhist Curmudgeon
 
Buzzby's Avatar
 

Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 13,696
Grams: 37,247.52
Groans: 26
Groaned at 34 Times in 29 Posts
Buzzby has entirely too much reputationBuzzby has entirely too much reputationBuzzby has entirely too much reputationBuzzby has entirely too much reputationBuzzby has entirely too much reputationBuzzby has entirely too much reputationBuzzby has entirely too much reputationBuzzby has entirely too much reputationBuzzby has entirely too much reputationBuzzby has entirely too much reputationBuzzby has entirely too much reputation
Thanks: 441
Thanked 2,898 Times in 1,512 Posts

Stock Portfolio
Total Value: 0.000
Gain/Loss: 0.000%
Default

From a practical (i.e. less punishment) point of view, it's always better to show remorse than to express pride in your criminal enterprise. Judges have a lot of leeway in sentencing. If you proudly stand behind the crime you committed you're going to get beat down.
__________________
There's no doubt that Republicans love America. They just hate half the people who live here.
~ Jon Stewart, 08/26/2008

Buzzby is offline Award Buzzby Grams  
Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2005, 01:45 AM   #7
theherbalist
Jr. Member
 
theherbalist's Avatar
 

Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 97
Grams: 1,245.05
Groans: 0
Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts
theherbalist has begun their Karma Journey
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

Stock Portfolio
Total Value: 0.000
Gain/Loss: 0.000%
Default

I would guess he would sell a little, but a grow-op of that quality sounds like personal use to me. I know if I spent that much to produce great herb, i would only smoke it with my closest friends. I figure most producers with intent to sell, will field grow or setup **** growrooms. Lower quality but higher yeild
__________________
The biggest problem I have is, the people of the United States of America have forgotten that WE are the government and the people in Washington DC are the ADMINISTRATION. Does “by the people for the people” ring any bells?
http://votetoimpeach.org
theherbalist is offline Award theherbalist Grams  
Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2005, 02:24 AM   #8
greypoe
Sr. Member
 

Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 683
Grams: 2,371.70
Groans: 0
Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts
greypoe has begun their Karma Journey
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

Stock Portfolio
Total Value: 0.000
Gain/Loss: 0.000%
Default

I admire him, this was his hobby, and he stood behind it 100%.
This is the hobby I wish to persue, its what fuels my Activism. Someday I want to have a beautiful garden. I want to walk down the street and see cannabis plants growing in yards all over the neighborhood.
greypoe is offline Award greypoe Grams  
Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 08-01-2005, 07:54 AM   #9
Jake
Sr. Member
 
Jake's Avatar
 

Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,484
Grams: 15,241.44
Groans: 38
Groaned at 5 Times in 5 Posts
Jake Suffers From ReputationitisJake Suffers From ReputationitisJake Suffers From ReputationitisJake Suffers From ReputationitisJake Suffers From ReputationitisJake Suffers From ReputationitisJake Suffers From ReputationitisJake Suffers From ReputationitisJake Suffers From ReputationitisJake Suffers From ReputationitisJake Suffers From Reputationitis
Thanks: 302
Thanked 838 Times in 531 Posts

Stock Portfolio
Total Value: 0.000
Gain/Loss: -1.000%
Default

Hobby? you're sure? When you're growing that much, I'm pretty sure it should be classified as a job...
Jake is offline Award Jake Grams  
Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 08-01-2005, 08:08 AM   #10
troublemaker_42
May be habit forming
 
troublemaker_42's Avatar
 

Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 10,619
Grams: 16,785.77
Groans: 135
Groaned at 32 Times in 29 Posts
troublemaker_42 Is Karmalicioustroublemaker_42 Is Karmalicioustroublemaker_42 Is Karmalicioustroublemaker_42 Is Karmalicioustroublemaker_42 Is Karmalicioustroublemaker_42 Is Karmalicioustroublemaker_42 Is Karmalicioustroublemaker_42 Is Karmalicioustroublemaker_42 Is Karmalicioustroublemaker_42 Is Karmalicioustroublemaker_42 Is Karmalicious
Thanks: 826
Thanked 1,520 Times in 819 Posts

Stock Portfolio
Total Value: 0.000
Gain/Loss: 0.000%
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by theherbalist
I would guess he would sell a little, but a grow-op of that quality sounds like personal use to me. I know if I spent that much to produce great herb, i would only smoke it with my closest friends. I figure most producers with intent to sell, will field grow or setup **** growrooms. Lower quality but higher yeild

I'm sorry, but I don't knpow of anyone that grows around a 100 plants for "personal use". Considering each plant probably grows at a minimum of 1 oz, we're looking at 6.25 lbs, and thats givng a BIG margin of error, since a 6 ft plant probably produces SEVERAL ozs per plant, possibly even a lb or more. At that rate, its hard to argue that he planned on smoking it all himself.....even at a rate of a half oz a day, he'd have over a 200 day supply, and thats using the 6.25 lb figure, which is EXTRMEMELY conservative, using the oz per plant idea......sorry, but it sounds like a dedicated PROFESSIONAL aka COMMERCIAl op to me.
troublemaker_42 is offline Award troublemaker_42 Grams  
Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
Marijuana.com Sponsor
Advertisement
 
Reply



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may post replies
You may not post attachments
You may edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

New To Site? Need Help?

All times are GMT. The time now is 06:37 PM.


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52