NZ hydroponics stores raided

[cybergenesis]

surely they could spend it on something more important like oohh i dunno, homeless people. maybe they`d like a cheeseburger and a cone before they settle down to thier warm cosy park bench that night....

 

OMG Man you've almost made it sound enviable to be homeless

 

Imagine the soup kitchen in the legalized marijuana future:

 

Meal Provider: Enjoying your meal?

 

Homeless person: Mmmm yes, haven't eaten in days.

 

Meal Provider: Would you like a bong with that? It will make it easier to sleep on the park bench.

 

Homeless person: wow this just is better than alcohol. If only I had known that when I started drinking, wouldn't be homeless

Edited May 3, 2010 by cybergenesis

[mull-ray]

Gotta love it when one drug user disparages another for their choice of psychoactive.

 

"This isn't a war on drugs it's a war on personal choice please keep that in mind at all times okay?"

 

The guys at these shops are just like you or me or anyone else. Well, maybe a little stupider but not much. This is little more than a political play for power by the police forces. The Switched On Gardener stores just made themselves too big a target and because the individuals involved in the business weren't very subtle about their activities they got busted. Unfortunately to make a political point the police have taken down everyone involved.

 

Won't be surprised if we see a few of those charges dropped in the end, and certainly won't be surprised if this kicks up a nasty political shitfight over decriminalisation/legalisation at the same time.

 

Just the personal choice happens to involve what the authorities deem to be illicit drugs. I don't think it's healthy to compare a nasty street gutter drug like Ice/Meth/P to mj. Norm Stamper, an ex Seattle Police Chief who wrote the book 'Breaking Rank' and perhaps one of the most important people in the legalization movement said they should legalize all drugs except Meth because there was just no way to use it safely. I tend to agree. BTW - I never talk about legalizing mj - my view is we need to talk about legalizing all drugs (as is Norm Stamper's) so we're on the same page. BTW - a call out to the Kiwi's. Go well and stay safe. Here's the latest news.

 

Customers of raided shops will have to show ID

By BRITTON BROUN and KATE NEWTON - Wellington 29/4/2010

Last updated 05:00 29/04/2010

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/3635...have-to-show-ID

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Taking an entire chain of hydroponics stores out of the market will have no effect on commercial cannabis cultivation, a cannabis law reformer says.

Police swooped on 35 businesses allegedly supplying cannabis growing equipment on Tuesday, including all 16 branches of Switched On Gardener.

Police allege some employees were caught smoking cannabis.

More than 500 police were involved in raids this week that led to the arrests of almost 100 people and the busting of 42 commercial cannabis operations.

Business employees face charges including selling cannabis plants and dried cannabis over the counter. Some managers and directors have been charged with participating in an organised criminal group and cultivating cannabis.

Among those arrested in Auckland were the management of Switched On Gardener, including its director, distribution manager, business development manager, operations manager, general manager and four area managers.

Michael Maurice Quinlan, of Rodney, the director of Switched On Gardener's umbrella company, Stoneware 91, faces 35 charges.

Managers Brent Gestro and Peter John Bennet, both of Waitakere, were jointly charged on 70 counts.

Detective Inspector Stu Allsopp-Smith said police had not asked for the stores to be closed but all customers would have to supply photographic ID, such as a passport or driving licence, their name, address, contact phone number and date of birth.

Staff would have to record a description and serial number of the item sold, and their own name and signature as seller. It is understood the conditions apply to all 35 companies raided by police.

Police said they were focused on tackling organised crime behind the $800 million cannabis industry, not small private growers.

But National Reform of Marijuana Laws spokesman Chris Fowlie said people who grew cannabis for themselves or a few friends were the businesses' main customers.

People who genuinely bought hydroponic gear for growing vegetables would also be intimidated by the trading conditions.

"The serious commercial guys don't want to be anywhere near those places, they think they are too hot."

But police believe criminal organisations were involved in the businesses. Detective Sergeant Paul Hampton, who headed the Wellington operation, said gang members had turned up while police were at one of the three Wellington businesses raided.

As part of Operation Lime, police have busted more than 100 commercial cannabis growing operations and seized more than 6000 plants during the past two years.

Edited May 8, 2010 by mull-ray

[mull-ray]

Support Switched On Gardener on facebook. They've set it up to tell the real story. Hit them with a friend request.

[psychoresin]

yeh sounds like they got a bit greedy . but then who has more greed the gov or the poor business man trying to make a buck . what about all the fucking churches why dont you raid all of them and try catch some pedophiles you fuckin arragont cunt cops.

fuck off and smoke a dick. we all know cops and polis are the biggest pedos or you guys would have been raiding and surveilling the shit out of churches and all these dodgy old men going around fingering your children. would you rather your child be a drug addict or fucking dead because they commited suicide . your choice . i hope heaps of pedo hating cops are reading this

[mull-ray]

yeh sounds like they got a bit greedy . but then who has more greed the gov or the poor business man trying to make a buck . what about all the fucking churches why dont you raid all of them and try catch some pedophiles you fuckin arragont cunt cops.

fuck off and smoke a dick. we all know cops and polis are the biggest pedos or you guys would have been raiding and surveilling the shit out of churches and all these dodgy old men going around fingering your children. would you rather your child be a drug addict or fucking dead because they commited suicide . your choice . i hope heaps of pedo hating cops are reading this

 

Dude you have some serious issues:-) We love cops. What would we be without them?? Not.

 

Latest news. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article....jectid=10649868