Ambiguity and Hilarity: Cops Tend Crops

[wintermute]

... while waiting to verify medical status of a patient in Colorado.

More nails in the coffin. The times they are a changin'!

(My favorite part is when the cops acknowledge they are violating federal law tending the crop

Summit County Sheriff's Office wastes its resources on medical pot busts

By Robert Allen
summit daily news
Summit County, Colorado,
UMMIT COUNTY — Sheriff's deputies recently searched a Summit County home where nearly 200 marijuana plants are under cultivation, but the investigation and tax dollars were wasted because the grow operation was legal.

The medical marijuana caregiver has medical records and state-issued registry cards for about 400 people, allowing him to grow up to 2,400 plants.

“The problem with caregivers is the state doesn't tell us who is a caregiver and who is not,” Summit County Sheriff John Minor said.

More than 60 man-hours totaling about $3,000 were put into the investigation, which began after someone turned in a misplaced camera containing images of the operation, he said.

And it wasn't the first time.

In the past six months, seven of 10 search warrants served at local marijuana growing operations were for people following the law, said Derek Woodman, undersheriff and Summit County Drug Task Force director.

The caregiver in the recent failed bust, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said officers with guns approached his home the evening of Oct. 16. They “pulled us outside” for their protection, he said.

“Once the police have a warrant, they have a right to take the place apart,” he said.

But the caregiver showed them the patients' medical files and cards, and the seven officers were gone an hour later. The plants were left unharmed and the house wasn't dismantled.

Minor said a “low-key search warrant” was issued because of the frequency of legal growers.

“We go there, check to make sure the paperwork's in order and leave,” he said.

Woodman said that while law enforcement elsewhere in the state has taken less tolerant approaches, local deputies aim to avoid wasting time on grow operations compliant with state law.

“If you're legal, you're legal,” he said.

Verification issues have cops watering pot plants

The caregiver said that if he had it to do over, he would've just gone down to the sheriff's office and explained his operation when it began a month and a half ago.

Minor said some have come forward but that others “have that old mindset that they're fearful.”

Not all the caregivers are in full compliance; Woodman said some legal growers have been busted for selling marijuana to undercover officers without registration.

Meanwhile there's no way for them to confirm a caregiver's authenticity without serving warrants. The state doesn't track the caregivers, who are named in the patients' documents.

Once law enforcement officers procure a caregiver's patient information, confirmation is made through records available at the Colorado Department of Health in Denver, which is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

And short staffing for the marijuana registry further stalls efforts, Woodman said.

In Colorado it takes a physician's referral to apply for a card through the registry, but the patient may begin using the drug immediately.

In one instance, sheriff's deputies responded to a call regarding a man growing a few plants (patients may grow up to six, with half flowering at a time). The man hadn't received final approval but had submitted an application.

The plants were taken to the sheriff's office where they were watered and kept alive until the man's status was confirmed.

“This is kind of embarrassing, but it's a fact of life,” Minor said. “We didn't want to get sued.”

He said marijuana plants have been valued as much as $5,000 each in civil court, so the plants were preserved to prevent a potential lawsuit.

Minor said the strange situation had his department probably violating federal law.

“So that's the mess that we're in, and we need some clear guidance,” he said.

He said that while he's “not a guy who believes in a lot of regulations,” the recent issues with medical marijuana could certainly use them...

rest at (without space) http://www.summitdaily .com/article/20091026/NEWS/910259987/1078

 

[hazy]

Damn, I wish I still lived in CO

 

[DIGITALHIPPY]

funny stuff at the end.
atleast there watering and trying to do "the right thing", albeit probably with un-ph'd tap...

 

[PnkFloydianSlip]

That is pretty cute, I must say.

 

[Collie Man]

Haha! That is just awesome!

 

[Open Eyes]

Lets hope the cops dont get busted for growing weed. That would be really ridiculous.

 

[Moldy Dreads]

Wow, Colorado seems like a nice MMJ state

 

[SmokyMtnToker]

The cops were just fearful that they would get sued and have to pay...the scumbag pigs will say that every plant gives a pound when they are trying to get you...but let them have to pay for a plant they ruined they will say it is only worth a tiny amount!! Bastards. They want it both ways....screw the citizen any way possible, as long as you don't get sued...really moral cops huh?

 

[guest123]

Its not funny, its some real .

They took the plants even though he had his paperwork? Let me guess he had a big rockwool slab setup with drip lines? (sarcasm)



I bet they tended the plants with care.

 

[NorthernKronic]

Its not funny, its some real .

They took the plants even though he had his paperwork? Let me guess he had a big rockwool slab setup with drip lines? (sarcasm)



I bet they tended the plants with care.

Your in a total gray area when it comes to having your paperwork being sent in, but not having your card or your state paperwork. All you have is a copy of your original info that you sent in.. It doesnt look very legit trust me..


I would say thanks to these cops who, even though it may have been out of fear took care of the plants. Most others would have just taking them back to the station and given them no care..

I would say 99% of cops would have laughed, chopped and dipped out with said plants if the grower wouldnt have had a quick tongue and a good head on his shoulders.. Saved his crop..


-N.Kron

 

[Sleepy]

wow, a sherriff's deputy in Co. makes over $100,000 per year??!!

sounds pretty high...

 

[SpasticGramps]

HAHA Cops watering plants. I think it's freaking great. Yeah the situation sucks, but you have to look at the big picture and laugh. A few years ago and the cops would have been ripping the plants up going on about how Bubba was going to be his new cellmate. Times are changing!

 

[B. Self Reliant]

If I were treated that well by LEO in CA, I would have never moved out of the state. Obviously it's fucked that the plant is illegal under any circumstances at all, but at least the system seems to be working fairly well there.

On a side note, I recently spent some time in Boulder, CO and I have to say I was a little disappointed with what was available as meds in the dispensaries or whatever they call them there. Hopefully LEO's cooperation will eventually drive the CO med prices down and the quality up.