Prop. 19 raises thorny pot issue, drug czar says
Posted at 02:54 PM on Thursday, Jul. 29, 2010
By John Ellis / The Fresno Bee

Proposition 19, a November ballot initiative, would legalize recreational marijuana use for California residents over 21 and allow small residential cultivation -- but also would put the state in conflict with federal law that says the drug is illegal.

"The [Obama] administration opposes legalization of any drugs, including marijuana," Gil Kerlikowske, director of the White House's Office of National Drug Control Policy, said in an interview Thursday.

Kerlikowske was in Fresno to announce the results of an ongoing crackdown on marijuana-growing operations known as Operation Trident. It is focused on pot farms on public lands in the foothills and mountain areas of Tulare, Fresno and Madera counties.

What is unclear is what the administration would do if California voters approve the initiative.

Kerlikowske, however, pointed to how state and local jurisdictions have dealt with the state's legalization of medical marijuana, saying they are "doing a really good job of licensing, land use, those kind of regulations."

But in announcing the marijuana-growing crackdown and in comments by Benjamin Wagner, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of California, it is clear where the federal government's priorities are -- squarely on large-scale marijuana operations.

On Thursday, authorities said the crackdown on marijuana-growing operations in the central San Joaquin Valley has resulted in nearly 100 arrests and the seizure of more than 430,000 pot plants.

Authorities estimated the confiscated marijuana plants had an estimated street value of more than $1.7 billion, though such valuation is debated. Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims put the value at $4,000 per plant.

Operation Trident combined close to two dozen local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, including the Fresno, Madera and Tulare county sheriff's departments.

In addition to the arrests -- most involved Mexican nationals -- authorities also said they found close to three dozen weapons, as well as cocaine and methamphetamine.

Most of the efforts have been concentrated in the foothills and mountains of the Sierra Nevada. The marijuana farms, authorities said, are run by Mexico-based drug cartels and are watched by armed individuals who destroy the environment to set up the grow sites.

Kerlikowske said he was hopeful that as Operation Trident continues and as California voters learn more about Prop. 19, "they won't vote for it."

bagz wrote:

PFresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims put the value at $4,000 per plant. "

i wish i could spend one day with mims and educate her .... she has no clue..... i would even go as far as letting here stay at the club for a day.... she can see the real world....

OF course Gil Kerlikowske, director of the White House's Office of National Drug Control Policy is against prop 19, it's his job he is saving. Read the bee story and the responses. The arguments against look dumber all the time. But I do have a warning for B4L! Pay attention to your PR.... A party with a rock band doesn't sound very medical. It is still very early in the scheme of things, and convincing the (non using) public that this is legit medicine is not helped this kind of promotion. Please be careful. I'd be glad to help.

Yeah I can't stand Mims. Also I do get what you're saying NeptuneBuzz but I think it's cool that B4L actually has the balls to do stuff like have a smoking lounge and throw parties. I actually saw that band Shiver Fox when they opened for KISS at the Save Mart Center and they're pretty good.

i just want to get high.

$4000 per plant? Ridiculous!

NeptunesBuzz wrote:

OF course Gil Kerlikowske, director of the White House's Office of National Drug Control Policy is against prop 19, it's his job he is saving. Read the bee story and the responses. The arguments against look dumber all the time. But I do have a warning for B4L! Pay attention to your PR.... A party with a rock band doesn't sound very medical. It is still very early in the scheme of things, and convincing the (non using) public that this is legit medicine is not helped this kind of promotion. Please be careful. I'd be glad to help.

dude.. ive been active since the beginning as far back as when i went to normls national smoke out in 1976 when YES played and 50 thousand people fired up at the same time.. or how bout every year in sf when they have cannabis day and live music and booths... i guess not smart .... i can get you addresses of the people that put them together and you can help them out also....

or how bout the cannabis cup... how bout the day on the green...

i can go on and on.... you like to try and help out with this and that.. but bro.. your looking a bit to deep....

if you can tell me and show me how active you really are in the movement show me all of the courts and board of supervisor meetings you have attended them maybe i will eat crow and you can teach me a thing or two .. but until then im going to keep on doing what we do best.. and that is have a good time.. supply people with bud that is at a fair price and keep a safe environment.. well so be it.....

oh btw... were have a conasuirs cup going on this month.. hopefully you can attend...

My goal is not to make anyone eat crow. A party felt like "poking the bear", I'll keep my opinions to myself. No worries.

I did have a pretty bad experience at the open house. That is a whole 'nuther story.