RE: POLICE ASK PUBLIC TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR GROW OPS

Dear editor,

Here is a letter a pot grower might send: " Dear police, " Thanks
large for cutting down all those pot plants. Tearing out 5 - 10% of
the area's pot crop each year secures our continued funding like no
other policy.

"As you know, legalizing pot would cripple us, because everyone who
wanted to could simply grow some in their yards or homes, and that
would put us right out of business. But, thankfully, your ongoing
eradication efforts secure future customers coming to us for this
oh-so-easytogrow medicinal herb.

" We simply cannot thank you enough, although we suspect you are
pretty happy about your everincreasing anti-pot budgets. You make
money, we make money, there is lots of pot on the street - everyone is
happy! Well.... except the taxpayers, but who cares what those suckers
think, right?

"Also, your propaganda in the news really helps us too. We can charge
anywhere from $ 2,600 - $ 3,500 per pound for this simple weed,
because of the ' perceived threat' you generate with the help of the
media. Our customers ask us why pot is so expensive, and we tell them
that the police are 'cracking down' and we are ' facing big risks' and
so on. They have no choice but to accept it. So, thanks large for that, too.

" So, by all means; please keep tearing out as many plants as you can,
and keep lobbying for longer jail sentences. Even if you catch twice
as many growers this year as you did last year, you still couldn't get
more than 20% of us, and that stimulates our entire industry - and
yours! We will thank you for your efforts by calling in tips against
our competitors."

Russell Barth

Federally licensed medical marijuana user

drug reform analyst and consultant Educators for Sensible Drug Policy