SPIKING THE FOR-PROFIT GROWERS

It was sudden, it was well-orchestrated, it was a success -- and it was
welcome. We're referring to this week's large raid on commercial-scale
illegal marijuana-growing operations.

The big target was a 2,000-acre operation in southern Humboldt County.
Along the way, some 450 federal, state and local law enforcement
personnel used 29 search warrants to raid grow houses and other
facilities in Arcata, McKinleyville, Miranda, Phillipsville, Redway,
Ettersburg, Whitethorn and Shelter Cove. This netted them some 10,000
marijuana plants with a street value of $25 million to $50 million,
$160,000 in cash, firearms and a vehicle. At this writing, no arrests
have been made, but the team seems to be on the track of the operators
who are described as not a Mexican cartel, but "homegrown."

Since the passage of Proposition 215 a decade ago made dispensing of
medical marijuana legal, many citizens have adopted a laissez-faire
attitude toward medical users and private users. This extends to the
authorities. The district attorney's office, for example, does not
prosecute users of small amounts. Those growing "pot" for profit,
however, are a different matter. The proliferation of "grow" houses in
Arcata and the resulting fire hazards and neighborhood disruptions are
a serious problem the Arcata City Council has yet to deal with.

Mexican cartel "grows," usually on remote sections of national forest
land, have been the subject of many raids in recent years. This week's
raid may have the effect of setting back large-scale growing for some
period of time. It was the result of an investigation and surveillance
begun two years ago by the state's Department of Justice Bureau of
Narcotic Enforcement. The teamwork between federal, state, county and
local law enforcement agencies was impressive and we applaud it.