MARIJUANA GROWERS POSED NO THREAT

To the editor:

The price support provided by prohibition is what makes marijuana
growing a dangerous business because it draws organized crime to the
business. The Deer Jump Reservation farmers are not such villains.
If you do not agree, go read the police reports and search warrant
applications. Out of curiosity I did!

These farmers did not resist and had not set booby traps. They had
no weapons with them or in their homes. Given the location of the
plants, it is unlikely an innocent citizen would stumble upon them
and been at risk, but you raise that specter. It is unfortunate
that Detective Robitaille was injured during a follow-up inspection
of the reservation when he rolled the ATV he was riding over on his
leg. His apparent negligent operation is not the farmers' fault.

Nor does it appear the farmers were in it for profit. Everything
seized is an amount more consistent with personal use over the
coming year than for profit. According to Federal guidelines, the
plants seized would yield two and a quarter pounds of merchantable
product. My own experience defending such charges and speaking to
experts is that the yield would be no more than two pounds. The
marijuana found drying in one suspect's home and the 40 small
bags allegedly found in their homes hardly amounts to a "large
quantity of marijuana." My informed opinion is these bags and
drying marijuana amount to no more than another pound.

This episode reinforces what I've been saying for decades: it is
time we legalized it, regulated it and tax it like alcohol, after
all when is the last time you read of a still being found in the woods.

Steven S. Epstein