The
Difference Between a Legal Pot Grow and an Illegal One…
Let’s
first compare it to something VERY easy… This way even the simplest of minds
will be able to grasp the gravity of the issues… Two very easy to grasp comparisons
here.
1.
Remember the movies where outer space aliens go from planet to planet to strip
it of resources then move on to another planet leaving vast and total
destruction behind them? Some of those movies depict near destruction of the
human race itself.
2.
We all understand the concept of the never ending “moocher”. The person who
will overstay their welcome because they do not have to pitch in on anything –
the place they stay provides it all, and the moocher tends to be very
destructive to the place they mooch from.
This
is something each of us has experienced at some point in our lives. It might be
a family friend crashing at your house, making messes and never pitching in. It
might even be a close family member that has been going from one place to
another never working, living off others, makes huge messes and never helps
out. I think the mental picture of this has been painted so with that in mind
let’s move forward.
A
community can be compared to a large family unit, especially a smaller
community. Even the outcast has a role to play in the success of the smaller
community to keep it running smoothly.
An
illegal pot grow is that outer space alien that has come to destroy everything,
even the people to strip the resources from the area and leave utter
destruction behind.
An
illegal pot grow is the “moocher” that moves in and continues to TAKE until the
community has nothing left to give and then it moves on to another place it can
benefit from – at little cost to itself, but HIGH cost to the community it just
left. Aren’t you tired of all the illegal trash dumping that has become a major
problem since more and more illegal pot grows have moved into the area?
The
SBSD latest estimate is that there are over 800 known illegal pot grows in this
area with an estimated 200 more operating here.
An
illegal pot grow strips the community of SAFETY by bringing in mafia, gang
members, illegal immigrants to work these grows – many of these have been
previously deported for violent felonies…. All of which are heavily armed.
An
illegal grow will either buy up remote land or just find “abandoned” land to
set up shop on, knowing the owners will likely never know they are there, and
they will not be forced to leave. This drives UP land prices beyond what is
reasonable for the area.
An
illegal grow buys up the vast majority of gardening supplies from local sellers
also driving up prices and demand for locals who need these items – causing shortages.
When
an illegal pot grow moves into any community vehicles get stolen, mainly trucks
and hauling trailers. These vehicles are then used to haul water to the illegal
pot grows driven by illegal immigrants who hold NO driver’s license and NO
vehicle insurance.
Occupants
at the illegal pot grows are typically heavily armed and will shoot at ANYONE
who approaches. This was proven recently in Newberry Springs, California where
a guard at an illegal grow shot at a police cruiser that had been called out on
a different location. What will stop them from shooting at a child who happens
upon them by accident while out on their quads??
An
illegal grow also brings their fertilizers across the border – using chemicals
we have long since banned in the USA. These chemicals contaminate ground water
supplies as well as local ecosystems. Many of these banned chemical fertilizers
are known to cause cancer or worse. The harm not only humans but any living
organism they come in contact with, be it through direct contact or indirect
(after these chemicals seep into the ground).
In
the case of Lucerne Valley, the grows are literally stripping local water
supplies to the point private wells are going dry, municipal customers are
reporting low to no water pressure at all and stealing water from fire hydrants
to the point city officials are discussing REMOVING much needed hydrants to
prevent water thefts. What happens if they remove these hydrants, and someone
DIES in a fire because the fire department has no access to water???
Day
after day we see reports of one accident after another, many of them fatal –
some due to illegal grows hauling water and running people off the road, some
due to persons working these grows, driving stolen vehicles and simply speeding
and other accidents that are just hard to grasp as to why this area has MORE
fatal accidents per capita then LA County.
In
the late winter we begin seeing post after post about missing dogs. These posts
continue til early Summer then boom, very few missing dogs. I personally had a
dog come up missing in early Spring who has never been seen again. Odd that so
many dogs come up missing never to be seen again and it ONLY happens as the
illegal pot grows move in for the growing season.
As
these illegal pot grows move in, odd things come up missing from yards – even fenced,
gated yards. Water cubes are stolen, wheelbarrows and smaller things are stolen
that typically do not get reported to police. Many have generators stolen right
off the back of their work trucks, among other items that disappear to never be
seen again.
These
illegal pot grows utilize local businesses to help them set up. These services
include, but are not limited to, ground clearing, plumbing, electrical, water
hauling, and other local services that make them setting up much easier. This
puts residents waiting on such services on hold, sometimes indefinitely, while
these local contractors fill their pockets working for these illegal pot grows,
thus welcoming all this criminal activity into their own community and saying
nothing about it. Since they are paid in cash for these services, they
typically do not report the income, pay no taxes on it and it has no financial
benefit for the community.
Due
to the increase in crime in the communities where these illegal pot grows set
up shop, police and emergency response times is longer – if they respond in
person at all. I personally have called only to have the deputy call me back
and take the report over the phone because the on-duty deputies are overwhelmed
with calls. Also, reporting locations of these grows seems to do nothing since
officers never seem to even check out such reports. This produces a bad taste
in residents that police could care less. Many hit and run accidents are also
related to these illegal pot grows and rarely are any arrests made. The latest
one killed 3 young girls and left 1 in ICU nearly 6 weeks ago and to date no
arrests or any real progress has been made. We are told they have a person of
interest and are preparing search warrants, but we see no effort being made
towards an arrest.
Illegal
pot grows make communities VERY dangerous for the residents. The short-term
cash flow is NOT worth the long-term damage they do to the area. It is like an
MLM get rich quick scheme. It looks good on the surface, lots of tax-free cash
can be pocketed, but at what cost??
Some
use the excuse that times are tough, and they have a family to feed. Well,
things are tough for EVERYONE and inviting crime into a community because YOU
need some cash is selfish and borderline criminal. The actual criminal code is
called “aiding and abetting” that depending on the circumstances can be a
felony that carries up to life in prison.
Are
the few bucks you gain today worth risking prison time for? What will your kids
do if you are locked up? You will not be able to put food on the table from
behind prison walls. Do you think these illegal pot grows give a rats ass about
your families?
Are
the few bucks gained today worth the long-term damage to the local water
tables? We are in the middle of the worst drought in recorded history. Water
tables are at all-time lows. Lake Mead will be issuing a Tier 1 water Emergency
beginning in August. How does Lake Mead, so far away, affect Lucerne Valley?
Well, Lake Mead is the reservoir for the Hoover Dam. This dam not only provides
at least 25% of municipal water supplies across Southern California, it also
supplies the vast majority of the electric to Southern California. If the river
cannot turn those turbines, then less electricity is produced. Less electricity
means more rolling power outages and some areas losing power for good.
There
is a massive trickle-down effect when these illegal pot grows move into a
community. They will return year after year when they KNOW they can get services,
and no one says a thing. They will keep returning until every resource is
stripped and they can no longer produce a product viable to sell. Only then
will they move on to another community and completely strip it of resources and
so on.
They
are leeches that suck the very life out of once thriving communities, leaving
behind them a wasteland of destruction and useless land that will be marred
forever.
Because
of the criminal element that comes with these illegal pot grows, people are afraid.
They are afraid to speak out, afraid to photo, video document what they see,
just outright afraid of just about everything. People are even afraid of
driving at night for fear of illegal grows that might shoot at them for being
on the wrong road.
I
have posted so many references about what illegal pot grows do to local
resources, this time I am going to allow people to look shit up for themselves.
For those too lazy to do so and want spoon fed the info – sorry but there is no
help for you. It is high time people begin thinking and seeing for themselves
rather than demanding to be spoon fed when they will refuse to believe hard
facts even when they see them.
So,
how did it come to this? Where did it all begin? Well, at some point in the
past someone opened the door for the illegal grows to come in. Whether it was
corrupt politicians or greedy landowners looking to make some quick cash we do
not know without some heavy-duty research in tracking down the first known
illegal grow in the area.
How
do we get rid of them? That part is actually easier than it sounds. I have also
commented on it many times in social media posts.
1. Local contractor businesses have to
stop providing services to illegal pot grows. (Now, do not say it is impossible
to know if it is an illegal pot grow – ALL grows in unincorporated areas of
California are illegal pot grows – simple – there are ZERO legal grows in the
Lucerne Valley area, that argument is resolved) (How do you know it’s a grow?
Well, these contractor’s most certainly have repeat customers from these
illegal grows…. Look at land ownership papers before doing ANY work be it
ground clearing, electrical, plumbing etc for ANY new job or any new pop-up
greenhouse that has a camper by it) Pop-up greenhouses in remote areas should
be a red flag to ANY contractor – they should check credentials before
accepting the job and doing the work.
2. Local residents must stop selling
water to these illegal pot growers water haulers. When people see water thefts
from fire hydrants or any other water source call the cops immediately, take
pictures and document the theft in progress.
3. Residents must report suspicious
activity on abandoned land. Suspicious traffic to remote locations, suspicious
lights – anything out of the ordinary must be reported.
The
simple solution is to cut off their services. Once they cannot get what they
need to produce their crop they will move on somewhere else. We cannot
obliterate the practice as a whole. We can only protect the community we live
in. But if we begin taking a stand it will set an example for other communities
as well. Little by little these illegal pot grows will have nowhere to go. In
the process of doing so we also protect the ecosystem our community and area
depends on.
The
question is – can our community stand together and say NO to these illegal pot
growers or is the greed for the fast cash too rampant here? Ask yourselves this
– is this the legacy you will leave to your children? A vast wasteland
destroyed by greed or a strong community that protects them and their future
interests? What good is the cash now if the damage these illegal pot grows do
ends up killing the very ones who will inherit your legacy????
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