Man claims police harassing him over legal grow house

[Calamari]

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local...grow-ho/nTpnr/

"I'm a plant freak. Inside I grow banana plants, orchids, and other tropical plants," Smithwick told Channel 2's Tom Regan.

Several weeks ago, police went to his home twice, the second time with a search warrant. They said they had information that he was producing marijuana. Smithwick said he asked if he could videotape officers while they search his home and was told no.

"The sergeant became extremely hostile. His response was, 'Are you serious? I'll handcuff you and detain you in that chair,'" Smithwick said. "They were convinced I had a marijuana garden in here and had just gotten rid of it."

Don't think this won't affect you just because you don't smoke or grow marijuana. In this case, they threatened to arrest him for having "Equipment and Materials" that could be used to grow pot. I.e. a pot. Oh, and dirt.

[Baltimatt]

At least they didn't send out the SWAT team to shoot his dogs.

Still, the war on drugs has become a war on Americans.

[ivanbalt]

At least they didn't send out the SWAT team to shoot his dogs.

Still, the war on drugs has become a war on Americans.

Will Obama man up and do something about it?

[bystander]

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local...grow-ho/nTpnr/
Don't think this won't affect you just because you don't smoke or grow marijuana. In this case, they threatened to arrest him for having "Equipment and Materials" that could be used to grow pot. I.e. a pot. Oh, and dirt.

You reminded me of a joke but it's really no joking matter.

http://www.joke-archives.com/outdoors/gamewarden.html

[songfourone]

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local...grow-ho/nTpnr/
Don't think this won't affect you just because you don't smoke or grow marijuana. In this case, they threatened to arrest him for having "Equipment and Materials" that could be used to grow pot. I.e. a pot. Oh, and dirt.

The really scary part is that these cops carry guns. Stupid and guns do not mix well.

[musicmd]

Will Obama man up and do something about it?

What is he suppose to do, grass is not legal is the eyes of the feds, and you know this.Moreover, this a local problem.

[Calamari]

You reminded me of a joke but it's really no joking matter.

http://www.joke-archives.com/outdoors/gamewarden.html

Heh.

[ivanbalt]

What is he suppose to do, grass is not legal is the eyes of the feds, and you know this.Moreover, this a local problem.

Who is likely to drive policy to change federal drug laws? The President. Who is the President for the next four years? Obama.

The War on Drugs is nationwide problem and Obama really did nothing about it in his first term. You don't have to defend this.

[Jeebus]

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local...grow-ho/nTpnr/
Don't think this won't affect you just because you don't smoke or grow marijuana. In this case, they threatened to arrest him for having "Equipment and Materials" that could be used to grow pot. I.e. a pot. Oh, and dirt.

Nothing new.

About 10 years ago, The Feds allowed DirecTV to sue thousands of people (and collect millions in successful judgements) because they possessed a legal device (a ISO-7816 smart card reader) but they bought it from a shady hacker-influenced internet site. (They even snagged OJ Simpson).

Thought police, punishing intent of a "future" crime" without any evidence of wrongdoing.

[musicmd]

Who is likely to drive policy to change federal drug laws? The President. Who is the President for the next four years? Obama.

The War on Drugs is nationwide problem and Obama really did nothing about it in his first term. You don't have to defend this.

You and the president should talk. I know what I don't have to do. Since you said it, he should get right on it. Now go roll your eyes somewhere else.

[musicmd]

Nothing new.

About 10 years ago, The Feds allowed DirecTV to sue thousands of people (and collect millions in successful judgements) because they possessed a legal device (a ISO-7816 smart card reader) but they bought it from a shady hacker-influenced internet site. (They even snagged OJ Simpson).

Thought police, punishing intent of a "future" crime" without any evidence of wrongdoing.

WTH are you talking about SMH. What is the correlation ? The post of year(2013)

[dsummoner]

So much for the farce of property ownership (as if the rapine of property taxes were not enough).

In November, Local 6 broke the story about the controversial garden after the city told the Helvenstons their 25-by-25-foot front yard vegetable garden was not in compliance with the city's code...

After hundreds of emails supporting the couple flowed in and initially allowing the Helvenstons to keep their garden, saying it will hold off on violations, the city has since asked the couple to uproot the garden and replace it with a lawn or face fines. "The greatest freedom you can give someone is the freedom to know they will not go hungry,” said Jason Helvenston. "Our Patriot Garden pays for all of its costs in healthy food and lifestyle while having the lowest possible carbon footprint. It supplies valuable food while being attractive. I really do not understand why there is even a discussion. They will take our house before they take our Patriot Garden."

A garden... healthy food... lowering carbon footprints... and all of that new found '**** yeah! merica' and patriots and flags are number one! Bigfoot and Cap'n 'merica gonna whoop on Gravedigger' jingoism ever since the coronation-in-waiting of The One. On the other hand there is an out of control fascist government entity of Little Hitlers, Mussolinis, filth of the gutter Roosevelts, Pol-Pots, Francos, Lenins and Stalins and their codes of fascism.

It will be interesting to see how many so-called Libbies, yet again, stuff their purported ideals under the wheels of the bus to grovel and lick boot of their fascist government and its so-called codes.

[Gopher]

They have a chicken coop in the back yard. Nice.

They will take our house before they take our Patriot Garden.

At $500 per day in fines, he might get his wish. It won’t take long before the fines and legal fees vastly exceed the value of that property.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/uploa...d%20garden.JPG

http://blogs.orlandoweekly.com/wp-co...derson_NYT.jpg

Regardless of what happens with this, they have succeeded in getting the code enforcement people all pissed off at them. Nothing is worse than a government bureaucrat with a book full of rules and the power to enforce them.

[Hexexis]

So much for the farce of property ownership ...

You may've avoided going over the fiscal cliff, but there's always ample op. to go off the deep end, ain't there! What rightoids regress to after the whole 2d-Amendment-right-to-bear-arms argument crumbles.

City code prohibits gardens in the front yard; this is so impossible to abide by? Oh, sure, you could invoke the Eddie Albert defense: American actor who grew corn (years B4 Green Acres!) in his front yard on Rodeo Dr., to the chagrin of neighbors. Need we mention Balto. City is not Beverly Hills (where gardens in front were likewise contra code)?

I have no reason to believe that sweet, lovely, patriotic, God-worshiping & -fearing American conservatives are any less obsessed w/ prying into the private affairs of their neighbors than your much-maligned "libbies."

After all, con deity Hannity on TV (TV!!) yestereve, wailing about his right to privacy! He's on TV AND he wants his friggin' right to privacy! Don't think skewering his @$$ & roasting him over an open flame (in the backyard!) would cure him of his cockamamie, hallucinoid notions. Which really is the very best U hip, digitally ageing Americans can do.

[Jeebus]

How dare they grow their own food and promote self sufficiency instead of standing in Obama's line for Gubmint cheese.

[Hexexis]

...Nothing is worse than a government bureaucrat with a book full of rules and the power to enforce them.

Well, what's worse is the book full of rules & no enforcement power; which turns out to be the 50-yr history of Medicare & Medicaid.

The problem w/ the MK1 MOD0 gov. bureaucrats is that they steadfastly do what they seldom have authority to do; here, it's likely just plain nasty, vengeful prix sleeping on sofas @home cuz they & spouses aren't gettin' along. In fact, just plain nasty, vengeful prix've had the floor for several decades now, harkening back to our iconic nasty, vengeful plick of a Plesident, Reagan.

[Jeebus]

WTH are you talking about SMH. What is the correlation ? The post of year(2013)

Are you just pretending to be dumb again?

Read slowly, or have Moms explain it to you.

Legal products in both examples, yet users were harassed, detained, sued, and persecuted by authorities.

The hint in my post ("nothing new") would give most people a clue that the current events are similar to events that took place long ago.

But then again, you have demonstrated your inability to comprehend most threads on this forum, except ones that "blame whitey" for your failings.

Sad.