The Marijuana “Eradication” Fiasco
As summer nears its end, marijuana “eradication” efforts are in high gear – and nowhere more so than in California, whose effort is called the “Campaign Against Marijuana Planting” – CAMP for short.
And as usual, the news is filled with stories of CAMP raids like this one, in which whopping numbers of marijuana plants are seized. These are habitually accompanied by breathless tales of criminal gangs despoiling forests and wilderness areas with their marijuana growing operations.
Missing from these reports is any recognition of the evidence that CAMP actually makes these problems worse. Maybe that’s because stories like this one from CNN and this one from the New York Times quote only government sources.
Other than completely failing to “eradicate” marijuana, how does “eradication” make problems associated with marijuana cultivation worse? Take a look at the charts at the bottom of the CAMP page linked above. As the number of plants seized skyrocketed starting in 2002, a key shift occurred: Where once the majority were seized from private land, in recent years the overwhelming majority of seizures have been on public lands – those very national forests the “eradicators” claim to want to protect.
The charts only go through 2006, but the trend has continued. In 2008, CAMP seizures set an all-time record of nearly 3 million plants, with 70 percent seized on public lands.
“Eradication” campaigns appear to have literally driven the growers into the hills.
Two years ago, MPP challenged California Attorney General Jerry Brown – who oversees CAMP — to provide evidence that the program reduces marijuana availability, cultivation in dangerous or environmentally sensitive areas, availability of marijuana to young people, or involvement of criminal gangs in marijuana production and distribution.
He did not respond.
Tagged with: CAMP and eradication and Jerry Brown and law and marijuana by the author
46 comments
“He did not respond.”
I can’t think of anything more telling of their failed efforts.
All this is great news for the CAMP program. They’ll need lots and lots more money and need to hire lots and lots more employees and they convince the “following” public we have a crises on our hands.
Wait for them to somehow tie children and terrorism into this
Yet the tax money keeps flowing in ever-increasing amounts to CAMP, throwing good money after bad, as the state of California goes broke.
It’s the very definition of futility and insanity. How much is enough?
BS
These stories never mention the fact that, absent prohibition, these clandestine grows would never exist in the first place. It’s indisputable but never mentioned. I don’t expect any better from the government, but it lets me down when reporter after reporter just leaves that elephant sitting in the corner unmentioned.
I am running out of things to say. I am so tired of not getting any answers from those bastards. Over two billion dollers in a fine in one day for one drug company is wrong in so many ways. And no answers in return. That is just exactly why we need medical marijuana in all fifty states. Then Phizor and the rest of the drug makers con go fuck themselves with their own drugs. FREE THE WEED!!
The people of CAMP doesn’t want it to stop. They like marijuana, and they are looking forward to next year with a bigger catch to show it off to the public. CAMP wants your support to put on a bigger show next year. $$$$$$$
So where does all the medicine go??? Up in Smoke??
What if CAMP took all that eradicated medicine and provided it for free to registered medical patients? Perhaps then they would receive a little support by “pretending” to be compassionate.
Do us all a favor CAMP, quite wasting taxpayers money in order to keep and justify your jobs!!!
BTW, those puppets (repeaters / reporters) you guys have on the news spewing all those lies are looking more ignorant than ever. It actually made us laugh.
Check the surveys. Americans have somehow come to their senses. No nobody is believing the lies anymore.
The more lies and propaganda they spread, the more unbelievable they (the prohibitionist) are becoming.
If CAMP is so successful, then why hasn’t high school student use not declined? Why has access not declined? I want a No Plant Left Behind Law. If the use or amounts does not decline, then federal funds decrease. If no progress is made, cops, DEA agents and K9 units get fired. Over Grow the Govt’
Here are a few variations on what CAMP may mean:
Crazy A__es Murdering Plants
Contradictory-Actions-Manifesting Plan
Contemptible Affront to Medical Patients
Celebrating Annihilation, Mayhem, Pain
Condemning Anything Minutely Positive
Crusade-Against-Marijuana Psychosis
Criminal Antipathy Masochist Puppet
Cultish Antiquated Myth Putz
Jerry Brown, Jerry Brown, I used to hold you in high regard.
Jerry Brown is leading this, Oh my God. He used to be completely cool, who got to his wallet?
What a pig you are Jerry Brown, I’m ashamed for ever believing in you because I know that You know better than to pursue this idiot, ignorant policy.
Your karmic debt just rose by a thousand fold Jerry Brown.
Yes ,Yes , yes . Lets just keep funding CAMP and others like it! Lets just dump billions into these operations! Lets go broke in this country! All so I can walk down the street and STILL! Yes . STILL get a bag of cannabis!
Good going US Government. Way to keep wasting money I could use to keep a roof over my head. Dont change a thing,for we know you wont! We will do it for you.
The Ganjawar is a three headed monster.
The government, of which most energy is spent fighting.
The Corporations and the Church kept in the shadows.
Eradicated Marijuana Is 98 Percent Ditchweed September 7, 2006
More than 98 percent of all of the marijuana plants seized by law enforcement in the United States is feral hemp not cultivated cannabis, according to newly released data by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression Program and the Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics.
Say No To Green Harvest, Yes To RxGanja
For those of you unfamiliar with the term, Green Harvest is a program whereby Hawaii receives federal money to arrest growers of marijuana. Most people don’t realize that our state allows patients to grow their marijuana or have a caregiver grow it, but we cannot buy it. We cannot buy the seeds, nor can we buy certain growing equipment without being prosecuted. Meanwhile, patients who can tolerate pharmaceutical pain medications are not required to “grow” their own anti-inflammatory medications, painkillers or muscle relaxants.
San Diego vs Medical Marijuana
Recently the San Diego Police Dept sent an officer to get a doctor’s recommendation for marijuana. Then he called all the medical marijuana collectives in town. Anyone who helped him ended up with felony charges.
At least 5 people are taking their case to trial and are presenting a medical marijuana defense. To learn more: youtube
COURT SUPPORT Joseph Malone
AUGUST 20 – Victim of Operation Green Rx
Will Foster Facing 20 Years back to Okie Hell…
Will has to face the same Pardon and Parole Board that issued the false fugitive warrant sometime with in the next week or two. Please tie up Oklahoma’s phone lines with pleads to pardon William Joseph Foster’s sentence, he and his family have suffered enough.
Gov. Brad Henry phone: 1-405-521-2342 Fax: 1-405-521-3353
Jerry Brownose Losing Control?
“Legitimate Use”? Of a joint? Ya smoke it stupid…
It ain’t a back scratcher…
Renegade Cops & Ganja Props
btw… that Jerry Brown do do do dodo
Jerry Brown do do do dodo He’s a clown,
do do do dodo that Jerry Brown, do do do
He’s gonna get caught, just you wait and see,
why’s everybody always pickin on 215?
or any other illness for which marijuana provides relief.
Nixon lied to schedule Ganja #1
End of argument, no debate, Nixon lied.
His lie continues to profit piss tasters, prisons and copshops.
Adding Hemp and RxGanja into the mix
still keeps campaign financiers and lobbyists
competition out of the market.
That is the message sent to the kids… Lie and Cheat.
Hempenol
Will only cost 15 cents per liter or 50 cents per gallon! In this day of oil wars, peak oil (and the accompanying soaring prices), climate change and oil spills such as the Exxon-Valdez, it’s more important than ever to promote sustainable alternatives such as hemp ethanol.
The Corporate Muzzle
Unless you want to address marijuana’s illegality and the lives that are shattered by the effects of marijuana prohibition. In that case, the corporate media cannot have anything to do with you, even if you want to pay to broadcast the message of ending adult marijuana prohibition…
The Hell of War Comes Home
Before the murders started, Anthony Marquez’s mom dialed his sergeant at Fort Carson to warn that her son was poised to kill.
Calvina Fay Prohibition Inc.
Calvina Fay is the Executive Director of Drug Free America Foundation and Save Our Society From Drugs (S.O.S.) From 1976-1985 it was known as Straight, Inc. and had a reputation for abusing kids as a drug rehabilitation program.
Ganjawar’s Spontaneous Abortionists 2/11/01
Hemp can be grown without many pesticides…
Multiple case control studies have linked various cancers to exposures to pesticides Cohort studies have been less convincing but some are positive Studies continue to find several cancers that appear to be associated with pesticide exposure Key Cancers Are Still Being Looked At.
Blasphemy the blog
While the priests acknowledged “the good intentions of those who do not want addicts to be criminalized,” they warned that in the case of the most vulnerable people, legalization means “leaving the addict helpless and ignoring his right to help.”
“…ignoring his right to help. Really?
Is the catholic church so weak that they cannot help people without first sending them to prison for pot?”
~ Pete Guither, DWR
I had a thought the other day in the shower. All its gonna take for the people to take back this country and have our voices heard is for a leader to stand up and verbally say, “WE THE PEOPLE WILL NOT BOW TO A COUNTRY THAT KILLS THEIR OWN SOLDIERS, DESTROYS THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES, SELLS OUR COMPANIES TO FORIEGN COUNTRIES FOR CHEAPER LABOR, THAT ATTACKED OUR OWN PEOPLE ON OUR OWN SOIL JUST SO THEY COULD START A WAR, AND MOST OF ALL, WE WILL NOT STAND FOR REPRESENTATIVES THAT CAN ONLY THINK INSIDE THEIR SKULLS AND CAN ONLY SEE HATE, WE THE PEOPLE ARE DONE BEING SLAVES. WE WERE BORN FREE, WE WILL LIVE FREE.”
The tyranny and lies will stop! Or you will not have a job as we will vote your ASS out!!!!!!!!!!
Or, something worse.
Jerry should be random drug tested.
As long as their is free will in the people to live in any way they choose and not be manipulated and coerced, their will be others who will try and domineer their own will upon society to conform to. Liberty means responsibility and thats what government fears, so they try and force their own morality onto the public the only way they know how… they get voted and elected into power by US so they can legally push their ideals and beliefs into law ….
Until they realize that the individual is the one who must assume ultimate responsibility for how they live their life and that there is no one or no law that can ever be put into place that can absolutely stop free will from continuing to guide our own destiny, the cycle will always continue.
We need to overgrow the government. Does anybody know where we can get 50,000 pounds of viable cannabis seed? 1,000 pounds for each state…. Spread everywhere.
Refresh my memory, In the 70′s didn’t he have the hot’s for some singer and enjoyed smoking the herb. What a sell out! Some people will do anything to stay in power.
I keep posting the same idea:
We could protect our forests, our communities, and our children from the drug cartels by implemetinga a Personal Use and Cultivation Permit: $100 per year for a dozen plants. Split the proceeds between the States and the Fed.
It’s time to put the cartels out of business.
It’s time to let ordinary Americans grow a little marijuana in their own back yards.
Start putting this idea in front of your elected officials. It’s money into to treasury and criminals out of the forests and off the streets.
What do you think the Americas would be like right now if we went back in time and took a different step in the Industrial revolution? I want to go back and make hemp legal. I want our government to know that we the people are getting tired of complaining without having our voices heard. Us freedom fighters will prevail in the long run even if history has to repeat itself. Everyone knows what happened the last time states’ rights were not taken into accountability? It was the Civil war. States rights. Legalize. Stop killing our own people. Stop destroying our country. Stop selling us out.
JJ- Language about “Freedom Fighters” and Civil War ignores the basic idea that we can completely revise our Federal government every four years at the ballot box (six years when you include the Senate). Violence is not the solution.
Jay #20: It was Linda Ronstad he had the hots for. And no doubt they toked back then.
I know longer believe that our ability to vote has any real bearing on public policy. The representatives we vote into office seem largely ineffectual and the ones that I have the most respect for are bullied, discredited and ignored. The senators mostly seem bought and paied, often changing their tunes once they achieve power. Again, the ones I respect are bullied, discredited by their peers and ignored.
It seems like every man and woman that makes the step into a role within our political system ends up changing their tunes as soon as they are ellected. Look at Obama’s 180 on USA drug policy. Look at Kerlikowske – one of the most liberal police chiefs around in terms of marijuana, but he’s now spouting the same propaganda as all of his predecessors.
I don’t believe violence is the answer – at least not now. I do believe that we need to pursue victory through some means other than political. Not to say we should stop fighting the political front – far from it. All I’m saying is that we can’t win on politics alone. The power of the people in the political arena is no longer anything but illusory.
It was Linda Ronstadt Jay… she pegged him…
Desperado
Why don’t you come to your senses
You’re no good
I learned my lesson, it left a scar
Now I see how you really are
Pass Pot Research Around
Note: For 40 years, federal marijuana studies have been conducted in one place — the University of Mississippi. Contracts should be awarded to several different institutions.
US CA: Editorial: Don’t Bogart That Research
I think the term “democracy” …has been hijacked, and instead, the correct term would be fascism. When a government is so corrupted by the corporations that they no longer have the ability to represent the people they are supposed to govern…hey…that’s 1930′s Mussolini’s fascist Italy. All the people, in government and in the media (corporation mouthpiece) who support and spew the Cannabis prohibition lies(while at the same time push the “death” big pharma drugs, the big agri poison gmo food, their synthetic Dow/Dupont pollution industry) are treasonous traitors, and hopefully when this wrong gets righted, there will be plenty room in prison for these rat bastards…of course that’s if they even make it to trial.
Herb (marijuana) is a Godly creation from the beginning of the world. It is known as the weed of wisdom, angel’s food, the tree of life and even the “Wicked Old Ganja Tree”. Its purpose in creation is as a fiery sacrifice to be offered to our Redeemer during obligations. The political worldwide organizations have framed mischief on it and called it drugs. To show that it is not a dangerous drug, let me inform my readers that it is used as food for mankind, and as a medicinal cure for diverse diseases. Ganja is not for commerce; yet because of the oppression of the people, it was raised up as the only liberator of the people, and the only peacemaker among the entire generation. Ganja is the sacramental rights of every man worldwide and any law against it is only the organized conspiracy of the United Nations and the political governments who assist in maintaining this conspiracy.
Other ancient Indian names for marijuana were “sacred grass”, “hero leaved”, “joy”, “rejoicer”, “desired in the three worlds”‘ “gods’ food”, “fountain of pleasures”‘ and “Shiva’s plant”.
Early Indian legends maintained that the angel of mankind lived in the leaves of the marijuana plant. It was so sacred that it was reputed to deter evil and cleanse its user of sin. In Hindu mythology hemp is a holy plant given to man for the “welfare of mankind” and is considered to be one of the divine nectars able to give man anything from good health, to long life, to visions of the gods. Nectar is defined as the fabled drink of the gods.
never seen one civil rights movement without violence before peace. All i am saying is I would rather look violence (and death) in the eye then get stabbed in the back cause I was gulable. I do agree with you christian, if we can get through this without, then I will be the first to thank your God on my knees.
oh, Bruce, what is the chances of getting a list together of every Representative in cogress showing their political stance on the 3 law reforms of either full legalization, decriminalization, and medical use? I really would like this so I know who to email every day or every hour.
# 23 christian conseviative:
Im not so sure we can change our leaders and government at the ballot box. The political arena is and has been bought and paid for. Greed and power runs deep in our government, money wont let our votes by chance put people in we want running things. Just my veiw .
There are things going on right now that tell me our leaders had better listen to our voices. The people can only be lied to, ignored,pushed into a corner so much before things turn.
As it was said,”revolution is another word for nothing more to lose.”
Oh ‘cuse me . I twisted that a bit to make a point. Freedom is always part of a revolution. Just thought it made more sense spoken that way.
Heres a thought: What if we could force everyone that leads or starts a war to to toke daily? Would wars diminish? Im not suggesting a law to make everyone to smoke ,but We all here know that if leaders of this world were to all sit in one place and toke it up, things would be much more peaceful.
I guess there are those that love to hate and hurt, and always will. Thats what jails are for, not non violent smokers.
I have a question you guys in California should ask those CAMP people. “Doesn’t bulldozing an area do more damage to our lands than adding a few plants?”
MPP should keep a running total of all the plants siezed throughout the year and in which state they were found. Then you should translate those numbers of plants into an estimate of lost revewnue potential (taxes form the sale, income tax increases form profits made, etc.) Every quarter we can send letters to our State and Local Representatives showing them the amount of revenue that is being lost.
A corresponding estimate of what the States and the Federal Government have spent to do the eradication process would be a great bonus so we can show the net difference of dollars coming out of coffers.
Just a thought!
But the majority of the “marijuana” they eradicate is HEMP, duh.
ROE I agree with you more than anyone here brother. You always hit the point on the head. I too am a very non violent smoker. I am not saying I would start something with our government with violence, for one that would be stupid, the government would have me framed (you guys know, Lee Harvey Oswald) or better yet, I would have my picture on the wall of Fallen Heroes here on this website. But the other is I have only had 3 speeding tickets, 2 seat belt tickets, and 3 littering tickets, and all came before I started smoking. Now I cruise control that shit at 55 and wear my seat belt every where I go. Oh, and I am now more enviornmentally concious because Mariujuana.
Conservative, I dont wish for a war, I am saying that if government thinks they can control my life, such as Marshall law, taking away any of my Constituitional rights, or even taxes where taxes are not represented, then I will be there to either bitch my ass off, or stand up for a “dream”. You know, the one that millions of our fathers, mothers, sisters, and brothers have fought, died, or been flat out murdered. All I know is I see how the government “controls” population. Their war on drugs caused 911, their war on drugs caused the now “depression”. At what price do you stand up? Dont tell me you dont have a little “fight” in ya. You had to make that choice to stand up for your rights on this site and get past that initial “Oh, IM a pot smoker. Cant the cops come get me when I post my opinions on the internet?”
I am no longer afraid. I am a non-violent criminal who supports a family, has a full time job, who pays my taxes, who takes care of a child that is not mine who’s father is on government money but still STILL dont pay child support, and by God as my witness, why should I not be able to do what I want behind the walls of my house? I paid for it. Its my body. I do everything the government wants me to do, except lay down my rights.
Do you think your government would do that for you? Do you think that they care about our war on drugs? They are too busy waging more wars. Wars with North Korea, Afgahnistan *who by which is 80% poppy plants and supplies over 78% of the US’s heroin*, they will run this country into the ground, just to do one thing and one thing only: THEY HAVE TO HIDE THE FACT THAT THEY ON CAPITAL HILL ARE THE DRUG DEALERS. THEY CONTROL THE DRUG BUSINESS. WHY DO YOU THNK WE JUST GAVE 2 BILLION $’s TO BRAZIL? DRUG BUY!
Last but not least, I want to say that no matter the outcome of our drug war, I will only want one thing for myself and my family, HONOR.
Camp did it all before the labor day weekend, how nice. They planned it well. I’ve wondered where they will have it next year?
funny how they wait until the quality is good before they “eradicate”. Wouldn’t it be easier to do it when the plants are young and small? No, wait, they wouldn’t get a fly high at that stage.
I was being sarcastic about the fun (C.A.M.P.) are having with your money. It’s a once in a year “HA HA” from them.
They will look silly if the plants were too small. This has been planned for a long time. They love it.
LOL, CAMP can do w/e they want but they just gonna make em go nd plant somewhere else, nd fuck up the forests even more. They need to know that once they go in one area the cartels, r planting few more plants somewhere else.
so there just wasteing more of our tax payers money.
#13
That description of prohibition missed the mark;
Instead of the instigators of this prohibition being the Government, Corporations and Church, it should read Government, Media and Corporation.
GMC: the three prongs of power and control.
If politicians were really as religious as they claim, they wouldn’t be corrupt as they are.
If the media were really as truthful as they claim, they would print the unbiased facts.
If the corporations were as honest as they claim, they wouldn’t be raping the American peoples pockets.
End #13
=================================
#24
#24 says” Violence is not the solution.”
I believe the American government thinks it has the obligation and right to kill its own people without remorse or regret solely for corporate and media interests.
America was founded on the blood of a revolution.
If we have to change our government with revolution than we have to change it with revolution.
If that cup comes to us because we are the people who have suffered under the tyranny of an oppressive government then it will be our responsibility to be that revolution.
I don’t know how many of you would be ready to bleed for a revolution.
I certainly know I could and most assuredly would.
Not because they have literally taken everything from me and millions of my fellow countrymen that is more valuable than life itself, but because I do not want to leave an America to future generations that is nothing more than a police state and without freedom.
I would bleed to leave America a better country for the future generations so that they can live in freedom.
End#24
==================================
#25
Here’s an idea:
Politics should be outlawed.
End#25
============================
The prohibition has created a anti drug user hatred that is fueling prejudice and contempt that is unequal in scale to any oppression of people in human history.
Public land being used by the public. Who woda thunk it? I suspect CAMP gets kickbacks from Mexican drug cartels for protecting their production from domestic competition. As usual, it’s all about the money. Must be, because it sure isn’t about compliance with God’s will for people to live in freedom with liberty as acknowledged and cited in the Constitution of the United States. I just thought of how we can resolve this whole mess! We just need to come up with another hobby for prohibitionists; one that does not include trying to run other people’s lives.
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