Whose Child are You Going to Sacrifice?

According to Ryan at the North Coast Journal, “This image was sent anonymously to the Journal with the message,

these stickers are being stuck all over the county by a “grass” roots movement of concerned growers.”

Sadly, unless we do something to prepare for the probable legalization, Humboldt CO. is going to need saving.

But the fact is, sooner or later it is probably going to go legal.

And, the morality of voting to put people like us Humboldtians in jail so that Humboldt is financially stable is …well,.. pretty damn appalling.

Why don’t we just grab some random grower’s child, slap one of those bumper stickers on them, and throw their parents’ in jail while tattooing scapegoat on their skin. Because that is what would be happening—Humboldt would be sacrificing these people in order to pay land payments and buy organic food. Basically, we Humboldtians would become what we hate—snitches—turning against our own kind, in order to profit.

Real peoples’ lives are destroyed because of bad laws. The question we have to ask ourselves is ‘are we Humboldtians willing to support our relatively fine lifestyle at the cost of someone else’s child?’

A little Morality tale:

Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Jay.  He lived with his mommy and his daddy in a beautiful piece of land at the edge of the world.  Every day, Jay would follow his mommy out to the garden and help her water and feed the magic plant.  The plant grew large and green.   The plant was beautiful and made people happy but the King of the land hated the plant.  He had ordered that all who grew it should be put in jail.

Mommy and Daddy had a magic paper spell called a ballot that could stop the wicked King but Mommy and Daddy explained to little Jay that the law against having the magic plant was good.  This meant that the plant would be worth lots of money and they could pay their land off and buy Jay lots of good food. Jay was happy and so was little May, his best friend, who lived next door.  She, too, had a magic plant with her parents.  They would all be rich come fall.

One day the King came and found the magic plant growing in May’s yard.  While May stood watching, the King’s guards put May’s mommy and daddy in chains and carried them away.  May clung to Little Jay wondering what was happening.  Then the guards took May away, too.

Jay went and got his piggybank and shook out his pennies. “Mommy? Daddy? Could I have the magic ballot to stop the wicked King?”  Mommy and Daddy were scared and sorrowful but they needed to make their land payments so they shook their head.

The next day the King came for them.

————————————————————————————————————————————-

Let’s also be clear–Humboldt Growers, business owners, and neighbors of growers all profit in some way from marijuana’s illegality–if only by the goods and services of businesses supported by them.  If they vote against legalizing marijuana for financial reasons, they are also sacrificing somebody else (sick patients, young men that go to jail for cultivating a weed, the children of the young men, the mothers of the young men, and an honest respect for what could be a more just system) so that their profits remain high enough to support a their lifestyle.  If you are one of them,  ask yourself, could you grab that child away from your neighbor just so that you could make money?  Basically, you might as well align yourself with the slaveholders and the Brownshirts of history.

I am a passionate advocate for the grower.  But there are people suffering because marijuana is illegal.  Let’s stop this damn foolishness now.

Man up and vote for the right thing, even if it is the hard thing.

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OneLoveMama
Guest
14 years ago

I agree and I thank you for speaking up and saying so. I’m positively floored by the anti-legalization movement by people in the business. There are so many people already in jail for the victimless crime of growing/selling/using a medicinal plant. People’s lives have already been ruined by unjust laws. Children have lost their parents, and so on. It’s absolutely wrong, uncivilized, and irrational. It needs to stop. Let’s legalize and let’s help each other make the transition.
OneLoveMama

Ted Kemp
Guest
Ted Kemp
14 years ago

Kim you are irrational, you do not understand the wider politics of weed.

You cannot blame growers for wanting laws to stay the way they are. It is not there fault people are getting arrested. Keep in mind folks getting arrested are doing so because it is not medicinal weed, the california 215 law did legalize marijuana in california under the guise of medical use. This means marijuana is legal for anyone who choses for it to be so and can take the time to talk with a doctor first. This law was writen perfectly. If we were to support one of these approaches to full legalization such as tom amanino’s bill. It would be nothing more than a huge government tax on an industry that is thriving desprite hard economic times. Seriously $800 a pound tax, Who would pay this and how would they regulate / mandate that you pay marijuana taxs that are so high? The whole concept that legalization will even occur is nothing more than propaganda that the new coalition of anti weed liberals is pushing. Its basicaly a fear tactic that they think will scare growers into jumping ship unweary of future job security. Even NORML says the chances of it legalizing in CA, is slim, Tom amininos bill expired on the floor and never gained enough support, all the other attempts to legalize it are also not doing well enough to get on the ballots yet. Also statisticaly marijuana initialtives always poll less on voting day usualy due to the other side spending money telling you to vote no. Lets not forget about the giant elephant in the room, AKA the federal government, whos officical position is that marijuana is illigal and will contine to remain so. Now back to my main argument, The reason growers want it to remain illigal is because this is the best option and the healthyest approach to supporting a local economy, Southern humboldt wouldnt be anywhere near where it is today without this grassroots aproach to making a living. Full legalization would centralize production and profits along the lines of corporations and such. Eventualy globalization would take over and all weed would be grown in mexico or india. The current model alows for 100,000’s of familys / individuals to create and own there own buisness and make enough profit to life themselves out of poverty thus helping to support there local community with the money they spend and the tax’s they pay. YES thats right growers do pay tax’s infact they pay more tax’s than non growers do! All that fuel that runs diesal operations has a tax on it that goes to fix your roads. Those properties growers buy those have property tax that is now super high because of the rise in real estate values, this tax goes to fund the schools and various other things in the state. The list goes on and on, anyone who is productive and spending money will pay the most taxs. This concept of growers sucking off the system and being on wellfare is just plain wrong. Sure there may be some dreadys in arcata who want to grow and are used to living the bum lifestyle but most growers are entrapanurials folks who are creating a living for themselves off the sweat of there own back and the knowledge of the plant.

anyhow, humboldt grow magazine has it all wrong and there approach to journalism makes me suspricious of there true intentions, who makes a magazine called humboldt grow magazine then lives in mendocino and somehow have media connections to do all these interviews compleatly misrepusenting the community and over exposing the area in a way that makes many people unhappy. Whats with this sohum fly over article? If you ask me humboldt grow magazine is nothing more than co intel progranda, its a communist technique to create your own opposition only to mislead them into something stupid like supporting full legalization, Think of it full legalization is the only way they can kill 215 one of the last ways to make an honest buch in the hills of humboldt

humboldtkids
Guest
humboldtkids
14 years ago
Reply to  Ted Kemp

Fiance: Did you graduate from a SoHum school? I suggest you buy a dictionary or get spell check!

Kym makes excellent points, if you don’t agree thats ok. As far as making it legal and corporate entities taking over, most would probably want to go into the production of HEMP! It is cheaper and easier to grow and does not take the careful processing that MJ for consumption does. It has so many uses that their profit margins would be extraordinary. The seeds alone are very good for not only human consumption but farm animals as well. It is too expensive now but with legalization come lower prices. There is a plethora of uses for the hemp plant………

Ted Kemp
Guest
Ted Kemp
14 years ago

“If you are one of them, ask yourself, could you grab that child away from your neighbor just so that you could make money? Basically, you might as well align yourself with the slaveholders and the Brownshirts of history.

I am a passionate advocate for the grower. But there are people suffering because marijuana is illegal. Let’s stop this damn foolishness now.

Man up and vote for the right thing, even if it is the hard thing.”

Pure scare tactics! Dont make up ridiculous circumstances and try and lay guilt on people saying that somehow they are responsible for someone else getting arested. Yes, the system is bad but legalization would only give the profits and the power to bad corporations / government regulation and would destroy the suposive “growers” you sympthesize with. Great idea kim, lets take your approach and get rid of everyones jobs just so we can feel better about the few idiots who get arrested. If we legalized like you wish, then you can say goodby to your precious hippi school up on the hill because no one would pay the ridiculous prices to live where you do. There is no transition kim, get off your high pedestool, you of all people should not be selling out like this. Were all happy you have made you share of the pie and have the luxury to just talk about weed now and not rely on it but your politics disregard everyone else around you. Whats so great about legalization what some kids will not go to jail for a couple months or get probation for smoking weed? The real question you should be asking is why are california weed laws so rediculous? why not support decriminalization and then stoners would just get fines or a slap on the wrist. Comparing folks who support the laws the current ways to brown coats or slave owners? What type of low manipulative remark is that? aprently kim you must be living in nazi slave owner land on those standards. Thanks for calling all your neighbors nazis and showing such respect for them. You really are a trailblazer in the community pushing a bunch of yuppie garbage. Thanks but no thanks your propaganda is not working and people are getting sick of it.

humboldtkids
Guest
humboldtkids
14 years ago

Fiance: AWESOME POST!

Black Flag
Guest
14 years ago

Don’t think for a minute that your “legal weed” will end oppression from armed government thugs- this is what they do. Everyday “legal” business owners are harassed and jailed by government henchmen, assets stolen. homes burned, soils salted. This is the only thing government knows and does.
They will still hunt your stoned asses, kill your children, garnish your assets, and cause you to live in fear. Thinking a vote will save you from armed agents of offshore bankers is a joke.

Stop the vote and shut down the non-sense!

If another fake government election was held and nobody voted what would the slime do?

When you vote, you agree with the system of slavery and debt service. When you vote, government thinks you are an asshole.

michael
Guest
michael
14 years ago
Reply to  Black Flag

When you spend US currency you are voting for “the system”. The least you could is use your vote to change it. It is much quicker than your ranting and non-voters are numerous enough to win any election for an alternative type. Why don’t you run for something? Let’s see how many people support your ideology!

KiraBira
Guest
KiraBira
14 years ago

What a bullshit article–expected more.

Staff
Member
14 years ago

Ted you said, “Full legalization would centralize production and profits along the lines of corporations and such.” I am also extremely worried about that. We as a county need to work to support the small grower and his/her culture. I know and you know that growers have contributed so much to this area in the form of taxes and buying power. We need to support them now (and in return, they will support Humboldt.) However, I disagree with you on several other points.

1. “You cannot blame growers for wanting laws to stay the way they are. It is not there fault people are getting arrested” I’m not blaming all growers. I’m unhappy with those who are willing to allow sick people to struggle for their medicine, fellow growers to go to jail, and families of growers to suffer. It is the responsibility of every adult to stand up for what is right. Or for God’s sake at least not obstruct justice. I understand why we don’t want marijuana to go legal. I live here. I love people who have no other way to make land payments. If you can’t actively vote against your immediate financial interest for the greater good of society, it is certainly understandable. But, make no mistake; you are making a similar argument to that of the slaveholder and the German citizen during Nazi time who turned his head as the Jews were taken to Death Camps. No one wants to do what is uncomfortable and hard. But you also have to decide which side of history you want your children to see you standing on.

2. Will marijuana be made legal in California this year? I agree wholeheartedly with your point that the current pro leaning polls may be different come Election Day. Ammiano’s bill has many flaws and could also not pass. But, then all the more reason to vote for legalization. Your conscience is clean and then, because prices stay high, your pockets are full. (I also want to point out that if California legalizes pot first then much of the legal pot will be flooding illegally out of California to the prohibitionist states and then California will benefit financially from our position as leader.)

3. Humboldt Grow’s position on legalization is theirs (and I’m surprised to realize that I don’t know what it is and I will attempt to find out in the next day or two.) This is my position not necessarily theirs.

4. I disagree that people are facing little more than slaps on the wrist for marijuana convictions. We almost all know people in jail for it. People are dead because it is illegal. Right now I know people facing long jail sentences because of it. They are scared young kids. Imagine her, she’s about 22–young and sure that her boyfriend is smart and cool. She gets in a car with him and several dozen pounds and next thing you know she’s calling a friend, her voice trembling and breaking, she’s spent her first night in jail and a month and a half later she’s still there. She’s still there because marijuana is illegal. She’s still there and we can vote to change that. We might not succeed (although, I’m pretty damn sure we will–sooner probably rather than later) but we need to try.

Ted, I think you know I love this County. I think you can see how much I love the marijuana culture. I have lain awake at night over this issue –aware that the legalization of marijuana will harm both. I want us to prepare for the tsunami of problems that can face us with legalization (I’m writing an article for the NCJ right now about some things we can do.) But, I will not stand on the wrong side of history with this one. I will not be part of the problem when I can be part of the solution. Last night, when my son heard what I wrote, he said, “I’m proud of you, Mom.” Let’s have all our children be proud of us. Let’s tell them how, when it was financially the hard thing to do, we voted to make marijuana legal because it was the right thing to do.

Dave
Guest
Dave
14 years ago

This whole issue of growers not wanting to see pot legalized has been brewing for some time. In my observations, I’ve noticed that those who don’t want it legal have a personal agenda. Quite frankly I understand this. The fear of losing their pot money motivates those growers who use scare tactics to demonize legalization.

Change comes hard. I’m not altogether convinced that the corporations will take over the weed industry. I know that’s one of the things being thrown around, but that doesn’t mean it will happen.

I foresee the general public being able to grow their own pot. If that happens, many of the growers fears will disappear. If a pot consumer just grows enough for himself (inside grow) they can avoid paying for it. Sure, there will be some who do grow acres of it. I suspect there will be a mini land rush which will stimulate California’s economy.

The bottom line: as long as legalization includes the right for the individual to grow their own, corporations will not control marijuana sales and cultivation. People will come up with new strains and there will always be a market for the little guy.
On the other hand…if the right to grow isn’t included in the legalization process, then it’s time to worry.

Mr T
Guest
Mr T
14 years ago

From what I hear of the prices lately people are going to have to look for other work soon either way.

Mr T
Guest
Mr T
14 years ago

From what I hear of the prices lately people are going to have to look for other work soon either way.

longwind
Guest
longwind
14 years ago

Great post, Kym.

Self-interest may be a euphemism for what we used to call Original Sin, our Inner Asshole selves. You’ve unintentionally evoked the wisdom of the great California health-nut commie Upton Sinclair, who observed almost a century ago, “It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.”

What some locals choose not to understand is that this issue is about many, many more people than them. You as a good mother think about prohibition’s effects on local families. I as an urban transplant think of the literal millions of people less privileged than we are, who go to jail, lose their children, ruin their lives etc by the same system that lets us carry pounds of what sends them to jail for quarter-ounces. Justifying such an immoral disgrace takes a lot of, er, self-interest. Decriminalizing may slow the leaks from the price bubble, but it doesn’t change the history of bubbles.

You’ve done good thinking about how we can adapt to the changes ahead. The idea that a handful of backwoods profiteers can reverse the winds of change isn’t just self-interested–it’s delusional. They’ve barely got bumperstickers to work with, and we all know how much good bumperstickers do.

I’m not arguing for change. I’m arguing for reality. It’s what’s for lunch.

longwind
Guest
longwind
14 years ago

Great post, Kym.

Self-interest may be a euphemism for what we used to call Original Sin, our Inner Asshole selves. You’ve unintentionally evoked the wisdom of the great California health-nut commie Upton Sinclair, who observed almost a century ago, “It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.”

What some locals choose not to understand is that this issue is about many, many more people than them. You as a good mother think about prohibition’s effects on local families. I as an urban transplant think of the literal millions of people less privileged than we are, who go to jail, lose their children, ruin their lives etc by the same system that lets us carry pounds of what sends them to jail for quarter-ounces. Justifying such an immoral disgrace takes a lot of, er, self-interest. Decriminalizing may slow the leaks from the price bubble, but it doesn’t change the history of bubbles.

You’ve done good thinking about how we can adapt to the changes ahead. The idea that a handful of backwoods profiteers can reverse the winds of change isn’t just self-interested–it’s delusional. They’ve barely got bumperstickers to work with, and we all know how much good bumperstickers do.

I’m not arguing for change. I’m arguing for reality. It’s what’s for lunch.

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[…] Addendum: As Kym notes within the thread, it’s already a hot topic over on her blog. […]

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ash
Guest
ash
14 years ago

With legalization, there are a lot of variables in play and several ways things can play out. I believe that it would be best for growers of Humboldt to prepare for it to inevitably happen, rather than fight it. It would be a good opportunity to legitimize and could benefit the area.

I myself hate the way the government and corporations fight so hard to maintain their monopolies and continually oppress the little man. However, I think this is one area that the little man has more power over them. With the legalization only in California, big corporations/government entities will not be able to enter the market initially as it would still be illegal federally. Thus, legalization would provide a larger gray area than Prop. 215 for local small time growers who already have the knowledge and resources in place to capture such a market Also, legalization would greatly increase demand as more and more people will consume MJ without fear of unfair punishment. Prices would in fact go up regardless of any imposed taxes, and the burden of the taxes would fall on the end consumer. Which, once again they would gladly pay as a premium on not having a criminal record. Having been raided by the police and awaiting charges to be filled, I sure as hell know I would.

Another thing to consider is that people demand good quality. Good quality which is hard to produce by large scale production. Even if large corporations were to enter into cultivation, the need for small time good old Humboldt grown product will always be there. Actually, with a legalized market, even more so than ever.

Plan for it and work to reap the benefits of it.

ash
Guest
ash
14 years ago

With legalization, there are a lot of variables in play and several ways things can play out. I believe that it would be best for growers of Humboldt to prepare for it to inevitably happen, rather than fight it. It would be a good opportunity to legitimize and could benefit the area.

I myself hate the way the government and corporations fight so hard to maintain their monopolies and continually oppress the little man. However, I think this is one area that the little man has more power over them. With the legalization only in California, big corporations/government entities will not be able to enter the market initially as it would still be illegal federally. Thus, legalization would provide a larger gray area than Prop. 215 for local small time growers who already have the knowledge and resources in place to capture such a market Also, legalization would greatly increase demand as more and more people will consume MJ without fear of unfair punishment. Prices would in fact go up regardless of any imposed taxes, and the burden of the taxes would fall on the end consumer. Which, once again they would gladly pay as a premium on not having a criminal record. Having been raided by the police and awaiting charges to be filled, I sure as hell know I would.

Another thing to consider is that people demand good quality. Good quality which is hard to produce by large scale production. Even if large corporations were to enter into cultivation, the need for small time good old Humboldt grown product will always be there. Actually, with a legalized market, even more so than ever.

Plan for it and work to reap the benefits of it.

Eric Kirk
Guest
Eric Kirk
14 years ago

I love the argument against legalization because it will be taxed. What most people don’t realize is that illicitly obtained income is also taxable. That’s how they nailed Al Capone.

I’m with Kym wholeheartedly. This could open up the community, remove some of the paranoia, some of the deaths, some of the locked gates, fear of walking on the trails, save a few lives, and maybe allow us to discuss the problems in a much more open and honest manner. If we start planning for the transition, we can weather the storm.

Changes tend to snowball. Prohibition may be nearing its end. If the measure passes, the issue will definitely be revisited at the federal level.

Maybe we need some economic diversity around here. Organic farms. Bring back some of the orchards. Maybe some ranching. Alternative energy technology. We’d better think of something.

Eric Kirk
Guest
Eric Kirk
14 years ago

I love the argument against legalization because it will be taxed. What most people don’t realize is that illicitly obtained income is also taxable. That’s how they nailed Al Capone.

I’m with Kym wholeheartedly. This could open up the community, remove some of the paranoia, some of the deaths, some of the locked gates, fear of walking on the trails, save a few lives, and maybe allow us to discuss the problems in a much more open and honest manner. If we start planning for the transition, we can weather the storm.

Changes tend to snowball. Prohibition may be nearing its end. If the measure passes, the issue will definitely be revisited at the federal level.

Maybe we need some economic diversity around here. Organic farms. Bring back some of the orchards. Maybe some ranching. Alternative energy technology. We’d better think of something.

ted kemp
Guest
ted kemp
14 years ago

Kim, legalization would almost certainly lead to corporate production and eventualy will be outsources to india, brazil, china, thailand, mexico or where ever can grow it the cheapest. Marijuana doesnt take a rocket science to grow so the idea that local knowledge matters is irrelevent, humboldt was once a trailblazer in lumber technology, not much is invented along those lines localy anymore. Also how can you say you are supporting growers by advocating for the abolishment and eventual corporate takeover / outsourcing of there jobs? What exactly to you sudgest doing to support these new growers without jobs?

How come you claim “some growers” allow sick people to struggle for there medecine? What does this have to do with all growers in general? Also what is this claim about? are you sudgesting that growers charge too much for it and that affects medical users? This is simply not true, local humboldt medical mj clubs offer the lowest prices in the state almost 1/2 the price of L.A. Clubs, true the clubs have been ripping off medical patients for years, if your problem is with them then thats fine but truth be told growers localy only help the sick people by supplying them with wholesale prices and trim jobs etc. We must remember its a free market and prices are subject to be whatever the seller wants. If there is some sellers who are not as generous as you state that is that individuals problem not a problem of growers as a whole. Once again lets not lump in all growers as some generalization term, the term growers covers almost ever demographic in the county so its hard to say its just one person or one type of people doing this.

Also you say “fellow growers to go to jail, and families of growers to suffer. It is the responsibility of every adult to stand up for what is right.”

This is just a bait and hook line. If you looked at california MJ laws, you would know that for serious non medical offences the most time most people are looking at is 6-18 months in state prison or less and thats only if your growing 100’s of pounds! Federal laws is a whole other story / topic. My point being is you claim we should all stand up and be “men” and vote out of existance most the people in humboldts jobs just so a couple of kids who were growing way too big in the first place have to go to jail for a couple of months of have there assets taken by the police. Oh

Also you said “But, make no mistake; you are making a similar argument to that of the slaveholder and the German citizen during Nazi time who turned his head as the Jews were taken to Death Camps.”

Once again with the refferences to death camps and calling folks nazis, isnt this a little childish and nothing more than a dramatic statment? Seriously somehow a grower who likes the current laws is responsible for a couple of idiots getting busted and going to jail or getting probation for a couple of months. This is marijuana, not cocain and heroing or meth. VERY VERY FEW familys have been broken up over the marijuana issue. How can growers be compared to nazi supporters? asif these growers to get busted because of our support of current laws are going off to death camps or are going to be worked to death and then killed. Yes, kim great comparison!

Also you said: “We almost all know people in jail for it. People are dead because it is illegal. ”

Yes it can be sad that folks have been killed in the past over bad buisness but this cannot be blamed on marijuana being illigal, cattle ranchers used to kill each other over things as simple as someone putting up a fence! plenty of buisness deals go wrong both legal and illigal. It is sad but its not exclusivly a problem because of its illegality! As for your story about the young girl who wound up in the wrong car at the wrong time, once again, this is not the growers problem, fault or responsibility, if you dont want such tough measures for folks getting arested then go ahead and decriminalize marijuana state wide and then the young girl would of gotten a slap on the wrist and sent home.

Also you said “I will not be part of the problem when I can be part of the solution. Last night, when my son heard what I wrote, he said, “I’m proud of you, Mom.” Let’s have all our children be proud of us. Let’s tell them how, when it was financially the hard thing to do, we voted to make marijuana legal because it was the right thing to do.”

Kim i think you compleatly mislead on your role and what side you truely will be on in the “history books” The sentiment that will be felt against pro legalization folks in this county will be the same felt by timber works against enviormentalist coming in and destroying there jobs. Also im sure your kid is proud of you except i dont think that alone means much, i would expect anyones kid will most likely agree with them, and i doubt your kid has a full scope of knowledge on the issues, however im am happy he was proud of you. All in all i dont mean to be such a harsh critic of your writing, i really enjoy your blog and your photography in wonderfull. I know you really care about this community but i think your position is too prgresive for the current agenda in america. We are entering a DEEP DEEP depression unemployment will soon be at 20% nationwide like it was in the great depression and it is already double digits in humboldt county. Plus the roler coaster ride down is nowhere near from being finished! My point being is we have alot of tough times ahead of us and money is going to be tought and in short supply for all of us. If humboldt county is going to continue its steady rate of growth and things getting nicer and maintained then we are going to need this income from marijuana dollars. Yes in a perfect world there would be some other alternative but almost every other attempt to restart the local economy has failed, tourism alone will not the the future of the county. Perhaps we should expand the schools at HSU to provide marijuana specific horticulture degrees, it could be the first in the state and it would alow the college / the area to have a higher educated level of graduated these folks could help breed local seeds and humboldt would be where all the strain / seed banks are held. much like amsterdam is to euro seed companys. This is just a thought.

Anyhow, i hope you will seriously consider some of the positions i am making are realize the tough choice we have to make is to keep the current laws the way they are and push for wider decriminalization of marijuana.

Also i would like to point out that both mexican cartels / the CIA run almost all the cocain, heroin, and meth in the county aswell as pharmacutical companys make all the extasy and morphine, etc etc. Marijuana is one of the only drugs whos profits actualy support and flow back to the community. legalization would only alow bad corporations to take over and have another monopoly on drugs that would then be used to destroy our communities turning marijuana into a negative force in your community.

Staff
Member
14 years ago
Reply to  ted kemp

Ted,

In the comment below, Ash points to an article that offers some solutions to the worry about the corporatization of pot (which I agree is a real worry!)

I agree with you that average pot is easy enough to grow (though so are tomatoes and luscious heirloom tomatoes are about worth their weight in gold because people don’t grow their own, they buy them) but specialty strains have been developed by the good growers and there is a market for those specialty strains. I also agree with you that people are going to lose a good portion of their income if marijuana is legalized. (The amount of growers to consumers is obviously proportionally much less so probably eventually marijuana will be legalized and I want to prepare the county and the growers as much as possible for this eventuality.)

1) The sick people comment was in reference to the fact that the more we move the paradigm towards legality in our state, the more likely people (sick or otherwise) will be able to get marijuana legally everywhere.

2) In my opinion, the “only” 6 or 18 months of prison can dramatically effect people for the worse. But I am mostly talking about moving the paradigm. If California votes to legalize marijuana, it throws a huge weight behind groups seeking to legalize elsewhere–places where simply having a roach clip can result in serious fines and where possession of mere grams of pot can result in jail time.

3) As to “death camps’, etc you are right. It is over exaggeration and simplification. I feel passionately that voting against marijuana legalization while at the same time growing marijuana is hypocrisy. Equating one form of hypocrisy to the other is a bit much though, I apologize.

4)I disagree with you about marijuna’s illegality not leading to deaths. When it is illegal, people are forced to deal with disagreements themselves. Sometimes this leads to an escalation of violence. I’m not one of those that would say there are dead bodies hidden all over these hills but there have been marijuana related deaths.

5) I love your idea about encouraging HSU to expand degrees in horticulture to marijuana specific degrees. (Who would rather go to Oakland to Oaksterdam, when they could come to beautiful green Humboldt State?)

Like you I think Marijuana has been a mainly beneficial partner to the North Coast region. I just think that
a) it is morally right to vote for marijuana to be legal.
b) we can minimize the damage by
i) Having California legalize ahead of the nation (our weed will almost assuredly cross borders to other states which will function as a price support.)
ii) Helping the Emerald Triangle prepare for the coming legalization in any way we can.

Here is an example of a small harm with repercussions that exists only because marijuana is illegal.

ted kemp
Guest
ted kemp
14 years ago

Kim, legalization would almost certainly lead to corporate production and eventualy will be outsources to india, brazil, china, thailand, mexico or where ever can grow it the cheapest. Marijuana doesnt take a rocket science to grow so the idea that local knowledge matters is irrelevent, humboldt was once a trailblazer in lumber technology, not much is invented along those lines localy anymore. Also how can you say you are supporting growers by advocating for the abolishment and eventual corporate takeover / outsourcing of there jobs? What exactly to you sudgest doing to support these new growers without jobs?

How come you claim “some growers” allow sick people to struggle for there medecine? What does this have to do with all growers in general? Also what is this claim about? are you sudgesting that growers charge too much for it and that affects medical users? This is simply not true, local humboldt medical mj clubs offer the lowest prices in the state almost 1/2 the price of L.A. Clubs, true the clubs have been ripping off medical patients for years, if your problem is with them then thats fine but truth be told growers localy only help the sick people by supplying them with wholesale prices and trim jobs etc. We must remember its a free market and prices are subject to be whatever the seller wants. If there is some sellers who are not as generous as you state that is that individuals problem not a problem of growers as a whole. Once again lets not lump in all growers as some generalization term, the term growers covers almost ever demographic in the county so its hard to say its just one person or one type of people doing this.

Also you say “fellow growers to go to jail, and families of growers to suffer. It is the responsibility of every adult to stand up for what is right.”

This is just a bait and hook line. If you looked at california MJ laws, you would know that for serious non medical offences the most time most people are looking at is 6-18 months in state prison or less and thats only if your growing 100’s of pounds! Federal laws is a whole other story / topic. My point being is you claim we should all stand up and be “men” and vote out of existance most the people in humboldts jobs just so a couple of kids who were growing way too big in the first place have to go to jail for a couple of months of have there assets taken by the police. Oh

Also you said “But, make no mistake; you are making a similar argument to that of the slaveholder and the German citizen during Nazi time who turned his head as the Jews were taken to Death Camps.”

Once again with the refferences to death camps and calling folks nazis, isnt this a little childish and nothing more than a dramatic statment? Seriously somehow a grower who likes the current laws is responsible for a couple of idiots getting busted and going to jail or getting probation for a couple of months. This is marijuana, not cocain and heroing or meth. VERY VERY FEW familys have been broken up over the marijuana issue. How can growers be compared to nazi supporters? asif these growers to get busted because of our support of current laws are going off to death camps or are going to be worked to death and then killed. Yes, kim great comparison!

Also you said: “We almost all know people in jail for it. People are dead because it is illegal. ”

Yes it can be sad that folks have been killed in the past over bad buisness but this cannot be blamed on marijuana being illigal, cattle ranchers used to kill each other over things as simple as someone putting up a fence! plenty of buisness deals go wrong both legal and illigal. It is sad but its not exclusivly a problem because of its illegality! As for your story about the young girl who wound up in the wrong car at the wrong time, once again, this is not the growers problem, fault or responsibility, if you dont want such tough measures for folks getting arested then go ahead and decriminalize marijuana state wide and then the young girl would of gotten a slap on the wrist and sent home.

Also you said “I will not be part of the problem when I can be part of the solution. Last night, when my son heard what I wrote, he said, “I’m proud of you, Mom.” Let’s have all our children be proud of us. Let’s tell them how, when it was financially the hard thing to do, we voted to make marijuana legal because it was the right thing to do.”

Kim i think you compleatly mislead on your role and what side you truely will be on in the “history books” The sentiment that will be felt against pro legalization folks in this county will be the same felt by timber works against enviormentalist coming in and destroying there jobs. Also im sure your kid is proud of you except i dont think that alone means much, i would expect anyones kid will most likely agree with them, and i doubt your kid has a full scope of knowledge on the issues, however im am happy he was proud of you. All in all i dont mean to be such a harsh critic of your writing, i really enjoy your blog and your photography in wonderfull. I know you really care about this community but i think your position is too prgresive for the current agenda in america. We are entering a DEEP DEEP depression unemployment will soon be at 20% nationwide like it was in the great depression and it is already double digits in humboldt county. Plus the roler coaster ride down is nowhere near from being finished! My point being is we have alot of tough times ahead of us and money is going to be tought and in short supply for all of us. If humboldt county is going to continue its steady rate of growth and things getting nicer and maintained then we are going to need this income from marijuana dollars. Yes in a perfect world there would be some other alternative but almost every other attempt to restart the local economy has failed, tourism alone will not the the future of the county. Perhaps we should expand the schools at HSU to provide marijuana specific horticulture degrees, it could be the first in the state and it would alow the college / the area to have a higher educated level of graduated these folks could help breed local seeds and humboldt would be where all the strain / seed banks are held. much like amsterdam is to euro seed companys. This is just a thought.

Anyhow, i hope you will seriously consider some of the positions i am making are realize the tough choice we have to make is to keep the current laws the way they are and push for wider decriminalization of marijuana.

Also i would like to point out that both mexican cartels / the CIA run almost all the cocain, heroin, and meth in the county aswell as pharmacutical companys make all the extasy and morphine, etc etc. Marijuana is one of the only drugs whos profits actualy support and flow back to the community. legalization would only alow bad corporations to take over and have another monopoly on drugs that would then be used to destroy our communities turning marijuana into a negative force in your community.

Staff
Member
14 years ago
Reply to  ted kemp

Ted,

In the comment below, Ash points to an article that offers some solutions to the worry about the corporatization of pot (which I agree is a real worry!)

I agree with you that average pot is easy enough to grow (though so are tomatoes and luscious heirloom tomatoes are about worth their weight in gold because people don’t grow their own, they buy them) but specialty strains have been developed by the good growers and there is a market for those specialty strains. I also agree with you that people are going to lose a good portion of their income if marijuana is legalized. (The amount of growers to consumers is obviously proportionally much less so probably eventually marijuana will be legalized and I want to prepare the county and the growers as much as possible for this eventuality.)

1) The sick people comment was in reference to the fact that the more we move the paradigm towards legality in our state, the more likely people (sick or otherwise) will be able to get marijuana legally everywhere.

2) In my opinion, the “only” 6 or 18 months of prison can dramatically effect people for the worse. But I am mostly talking about moving the paradigm. If California votes to legalize marijuana, it throws a huge weight behind groups seeking to legalize elsewhere–places where simply having a roach clip can result in serious fines and where possession of mere grams of pot can result in jail time.

3) As to “death camps’, etc you are right. It is over exaggeration and simplification. I feel passionately that voting against marijuana legalization while at the same time growing marijuana is hypocrisy. Equating one form of hypocrisy to the other is a bit much though, I apologize.

4)I disagree with you about marijuna’s illegality not leading to deaths. When it is illegal, people are forced to deal with disagreements themselves. Sometimes this leads to an escalation of violence. I’m not one of those that would say there are dead bodies hidden all over these hills but there have been marijuana related deaths.

5) I love your idea about encouraging HSU to expand degrees in horticulture to marijuana specific degrees. (Who would rather go to Oakland to Oaksterdam, when they could come to beautiful green Humboldt State?)

Like you I think Marijuana has been a mainly beneficial partner to the North Coast region. I just think that
a) it is morally right to vote for marijuana to be legal.
b) we can minimize the damage by
i) Having California legalize ahead of the nation (our weed will almost assuredly cross borders to other states which will function as a price support.)
ii) Helping the Emerald Triangle prepare for the coming legalization in any way we can.

Here is an example of a small harm with repercussions that exists only because marijuana is illegal.

Black Flag
Guest
14 years ago

You must be so stoned to not see the blinders you wear with government. You want stoners to not fear government and ask which humdum will be tossed under the bus next for weed.

Yet, you don’t seem to think about anyone else and how government might hunt and steal from them=

pretty simple minded.

There is a world beyond weed- put down the pipe, and stop drinking Sohum well water- it’s tainted.

Black Flag
Guest
14 years ago

You must be so stoned to not see the blinders you wear with government. You want stoners to not fear government and ask which humdum will be tossed under the bus next for weed.

Yet, you don’t seem to think about anyone else and how government might hunt and steal from them=

pretty simple minded.

There is a world beyond weed- put down the pipe, and stop drinking Sohum well water- it’s tainted.

Staff
Member
14 years ago
Reply to  ash

Ash, that is an excellent article. I read it yesterday and think all growers and local lawmakers should look at it, too. The idea of protecting the grower with some of the same legislation as Ohio and Pennsylvania have in place to protect the small farmer sounds very workable for Humboldt County.

ash
Guest
ash
14 years ago
Reply to  Staff

Thanks Kym.

I was most intrigued by the part about strict corporation guidelines and the part about mandating that all members of a corporation must live in the same county. This could work to a great benefit in Humboldt County, small time growers can band together to be a larger player in the market.

Staff
Member
14 years ago
Reply to  ash

Ash, that is an excellent article. I read it yesterday and think all growers and local lawmakers should look at it, too. The idea of protecting the grower with some of the same legislation as Ohio and Pennsylvania have in place to protect the small farmer sounds very workable for Humboldt County.

ash
Guest
ash
14 years ago
Reply to  Staff

Thanks Kym.

I was most intrigued by the part about strict corporation guidelines and the part about mandating that all members of a corporation must live in the same county. This could work to a great benefit in Humboldt County, small time growers can band together to be a larger player in the market.

Tj
Guest
Tj
14 years ago

WOW. What a hot topic.

Kym I think your argument is congruent. Whether one votes to legalize weed or not, should not be motivated by money, but by consideration of the facts. Government has problems, but ‘we’ are the solution, not some selfish idea that we should cheat the government because it cheats us. This idea really pisses me off sometimes. People I know getting government money for health care because their taxes show no income. The health care they receive is being paid by folks who pay their taxes and keep the system going, same thing about the roads etc., etc, etc. It is not right to be parasitic.

humboldtkids
Guest
humboldtkids
14 years ago
Reply to  Tj

Fiance: I have to agree with TJ. We are now paying excessive child support because the ex got on welfare, she was receiving Medi-Cal, Welfare to Work and AFDC, all things she herself told me she didn’t need. That is pretty much what makes me the angriest. DCSS refused to acknowledge that we had the child on HK’s health care insurance for almost two years because she was on Medi-Cal and “he might lose it.” We pay the taxes that provide that money for Medi-Cal, as well as the taxes that fund DCSS so in effect we feel like we are paying double for everything. She only calims an income of $670 a month for tax and child support purposes! Gimme a break, she is now paying $675 an hour for two family law attorneys yet the court still accepts her deflated income because they get more money out of the deal. DCSS refuses to look closer into her income because then they would have to admit that they let her commit welfare fraud for three years.

Tj
Guest
Tj
14 years ago

WOW. What a hot topic.

Kym I think your argument is congruent. Whether one votes to legalize weed or not, should not be motivated by money, but by consideration of the facts. Government has problems, but ‘we’ are the solution, not some selfish idea that we should cheat the government because it cheats us. This idea really pisses me off sometimes. People I know getting government money for health care because their taxes show no income. The health care they receive is being paid by folks who pay their taxes and keep the system going, same thing about the roads etc., etc, etc. It is not right to be parasitic.

humboldtkids
Guest
humboldtkids
14 years ago
Reply to  Tj

Fiance: I have to agree with TJ. We are now paying excessive child support because the ex got on welfare, she was receiving Medi-Cal, Welfare to Work and AFDC, all things she herself told me she didn’t need. That is pretty much what makes me the angriest. DCSS refused to acknowledge that we had the child on HK’s health care insurance for almost two years because she was on Medi-Cal and “he might lose it.” We pay the taxes that provide that money for Medi-Cal, as well as the taxes that fund DCSS so in effect we feel like we are paying double for everything. She only calims an income of $670 a month for tax and child support purposes! Gimme a break, she is now paying $675 an hour for two family law attorneys yet the court still accepts her deflated income because they get more money out of the deal. DCSS refuses to look closer into her income because then they would have to admit that they let her commit welfare fraud for three years.

Eric Kirk
Guest
Eric Kirk
14 years ago

Kim, legalization would almost certainly lead to corporate production and eventualy will be outsources to india, brazil, china, thailand, mexico or where ever can grow it the cheapest.

Gosh, maybe we should make everything illegal including avocados and pinto beans. Hell, maybe even officially ban newspapers, toasters, and greeting cards. Then nothing would be outsourced.

Eric Kirk
Guest
Eric Kirk
14 years ago

Kim, legalization would almost certainly lead to corporate production and eventualy will be outsources to india, brazil, china, thailand, mexico or where ever can grow it the cheapest.

Gosh, maybe we should make everything illegal including avocados and pinto beans. Hell, maybe even officially ban newspapers, toasters, and greeting cards. Then nothing would be outsourced.

Eric Kirk
Guest
Eric Kirk
14 years ago

The sentiment that will be felt against pro legalization folks in this county will be the same felt by timber works against enviormentalist coming in and destroying there jobs.

Yup.

Eric Kirk
Guest
Eric Kirk
14 years ago

The sentiment that will be felt against pro legalization folks in this county will be the same felt by timber works against enviormentalist coming in and destroying there jobs.

Yup.

Tj
Guest
Tj
14 years ago

As a side note… corporate america/ big business is currently doing their best to raise and fatten cattle on subsidized feed. They have all the advantages that they would bring to bear in producing MJ for the legal market. And yet Local, sustainably raised and harvested and humboldt grass fed cattle STILL provide the income we need on our little ranch. Our fellow citizens are due some credit… we all want and care about quality in our lives and what we buy. We will survive! And thrive! mark

humboldtkids
Guest
humboldtkids
14 years ago
Reply to  Tj

Fiance: Speaking of the beef you raise, where could I get some if I happen to be wondering the streets of Humboldt? Can you ship it to other states?

Tj
Guest
Tj
14 years ago

As a side note… corporate america/ big business is currently doing their best to raise and fatten cattle on subsidized feed. They have all the advantages that they would bring to bear in producing MJ for the legal market. And yet Local, sustainably raised and harvested and humboldt grass fed cattle STILL provide the income we need on our little ranch. Our fellow citizens are due some credit… we all want and care about quality in our lives and what we buy. We will survive! And thrive! mark

humboldtkids
Guest
humboldtkids
14 years ago
Reply to  Tj

Fiance: Speaking of the beef you raise, where could I get some if I happen to be wondering the streets of Humboldt? Can you ship it to other states?

Randy
Guest
14 years ago

The question here is not whether people will still buy “Humboldt” after legalization. Maybe they will, maybe they won’t. one of the many variables that no one seems to take into account is that we no longer have a corner on the genetics that we had 20 years ago. Take, for example, Colorado’s recent surge in medical marijuana production. If they keep going, Denver is going to be the Humboldt of the central U.S. So it’s not a matter of if people will still recognize “Humboldt” but rather what happens when we have to compete on the open market with Colorado Chronic or Mariposa Meltdown. As an example I’ll offer a highly subjective personal anecdote. When I was a kid, we drank a lot of European beer because it was so much better than anything produced in the U.S. Now, I can’t remember the last time I drank a Euro-beer because the advent of more localized microbrews won my allegiance years ago. Hell, I don’t even drink Sierra Nevada anymore and it’s only brewed 5 hours away.

The gourmet niche, such as the free range beef comment, is possibly one viable option. But don’t count too much on that option, as it pays to remember that alcohol is deeply entrenched in our society on a level that marijuana can only dream of. Also, remember that vineyards are expensive to buy, own, and operate and not everybody could leap into that business when Napa took off in the 70s. I’ve actually reconsidered whether we can Napa-ize our local economy because a subsequent investigation of the topic revealed something that I think we’re all missing: there are few successful small, family enterprises existing in the Napa wine economy. Either they sold out to larger firms because they couldn’t compete or the went the way of Mondavi and became multinationals. I cringe a little bit when I try to imagine my neighbors trying to run a business venture of this scale; they can’t even synchronize the timers for their lights together.

What would be especially funny would be to see the local “liberal” growers reaction to organization of their labor forces, something that wineries in Napa deal with on a daily basis. Can you imagine if the trimmers formed a local union? “Nothing gets trimmed until we get $40 an hour, two breaks a day, and paid holidays.” Ha!

michael
Guest
michael
14 years ago
Reply to  Randy

Trimmers will be worse off. No $40 union will survive when growers needn’t know and trust their employees, who are competing against a vast pool of poor workers with no real job skills.

Randy
Guest
14 years ago

The question here is not whether people will still buy “Humboldt” after legalization. Maybe they will, maybe they won’t. one of the many variables that no one seems to take into account is that we no longer have a corner on the genetics that we had 20 years ago. Take, for example, Colorado’s recent surge in medical marijuana production. If they keep going, Denver is going to be the Humboldt of the central U.S. So it’s not a matter of if people will still recognize “Humboldt” but rather what happens when we have to compete on the open market with Colorado Chronic or Mariposa Meltdown. As an example I’ll offer a highly subjective personal anecdote. When I was a kid, we drank a lot of European beer because it was so much better than anything produced in the U.S. Now, I can’t remember the last time I drank a Euro-beer because the advent of more localized microbrews won my allegiance years ago. Hell, I don’t even drink Sierra Nevada anymore and it’s only brewed 5 hours away.

The gourmet niche, such as the free range beef comment, is possibly one viable option. But don’t count too much on that option, as it pays to remember that alcohol is deeply entrenched in our society on a level that marijuana can only dream of. Also, remember that vineyards are expensive to buy, own, and operate and not everybody could leap into that business when Napa took off in the 70s. I’ve actually reconsidered whether we can Napa-ize our local economy because a subsequent investigation of the topic revealed something that I think we’re all missing: there are few successful small, family enterprises existing in the Napa wine economy. Either they sold out to larger firms because they couldn’t compete or the went the way of Mondavi and became multinationals. I cringe a little bit when I try to imagine my neighbors trying to run a business venture of this scale; they can’t even synchronize the timers for their lights together.

What would be especially funny would be to see the local “liberal” growers reaction to organization of their labor forces, something that wineries in Napa deal with on a daily basis. Can you imagine if the trimmers formed a local union? “Nothing gets trimmed until we get $40 an hour, two breaks a day, and paid holidays.” Ha!

michael
Guest
michael
14 years ago
Reply to  Randy

Trimmers will be worse off. No $40 union will survive when growers needn’t know and trust their employees, who are competing against a vast pool of poor workers with no real job skills.

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[…] By j2bad Leave a Comment Categories: Uncategorized I was pretty surprised to see that Kym’s perfectly-reasonable objection to the homegrown campaign that’s sprung up in the local grower-community in opposition to legalization was met with […]

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[…] By j2bad Leave a Comment Categories: Uncategorized I was pretty surprised to see that Kym’s perfectly-reasonable objection to the homegrown campaign that’s sprung up in the local grower-community in opposition to legalization was met with […]

suzy blah blah
Guest
suzy blah blah
14 years ago

Self-interest may be a euphemism for what we used to call Original Sin,

LOL!!! sounds like some ppl believe that soHum sold its soul to the devil like Pat Robertson told us Haiti did.

trimming my fig leaf,
s

suzy blah blah
Guest
suzy blah blah
14 years ago

Self-interest may be a euphemism for what we used to call Original Sin,

LOL!!! sounds like some ppl believe that soHum sold its soul to the devil like Pat Robertson told us Haiti did.

trimming my fig leaf,
s

Scott
Guest
Scott
14 years ago

I agree with you Kym, and Randy, I think you raise a good point mentioning the gourmet niche. Sure, beer and wine were illegal for a while, and yes, we have miller, bud, coors, but we also have four local Humboldt breweries and more local wineries providing high quality products. Cypress Grove? Humboldt can produce quality products that are in demand nationwide and can compete with the big guys. Why can’t we do the same with pot (at least in California) once it is re-legalized (remember, it was legal).

Scott
Guest
Scott
14 years ago

I agree with you Kym, and Randy, I think you raise a good point mentioning the gourmet niche. Sure, beer and wine were illegal for a while, and yes, we have miller, bud, coors, but we also have four local Humboldt breweries and more local wineries providing high quality products. Cypress Grove? Humboldt can produce quality products that are in demand nationwide and can compete with the big guys. Why can’t we do the same with pot (at least in California) once it is re-legalized (remember, it was legal).

Chris
Guest
14 years ago

Great job speaking out, Kym. llegitimi non carborundum, as my father is fond of saying.

Staff
Member
14 years ago
Reply to  Chris

They sharpen my sword;>

Chris
Guest
14 years ago

Great job speaking out, Kym. llegitimi non carborundum, as my father is fond of saying.

Staff
Member
14 years ago
Reply to  Chris

They sharpen my sword;>

Chris
Guest
14 years ago

Oh, and by the way, you are not “irrational” at all…

Ben
Guest
Ben
14 years ago

Capitalism is capitalism. The advent of 215 dispensaries stimulated the pot market and kept the price up. Now, dispensaries are setting up proto-legal warehouse grows using commercial electricity rates and sophisticated systems. Already this tactic has dramatically reduced the demand for indoor regardless of the variety or quality. They are growing it cheaper and making a far greater profit without fear of law enforcement. The business to be in now is the dispensary business…. Or we could sell used generators to Haiti.
Actually indoor production has a very high profit margin still and the growers will have to lower prices dramatically to compete. The tendency at that time will be to produce more and drive the price further down. The days of dispensary demand are ending. Outdoor has the real profit margin yet the same supply and demand conditions apply. In a few years outdoor may be selling for less than $1000 a pound and trimming machines will be the norm for the profit strapped grower.

Staff
Member
14 years ago
Reply to  Ben

Will the legalization of pot also drive up demand? Will this keep prices somewhat high?

Ben
Guest
Ben
14 years ago
Reply to  Staff

That is a really interesting question. Crucial to local economics.

Ben
Guest
Ben
14 years ago

Capitalism is capitalism. The advent of 215 dispensaries stimulated the pot market and kept the price up. Now, dispensaries are setting up proto-legal warehouse grows using commercial electricity rates and sophisticated systems. Already this tactic has dramatically reduced the demand for indoor regardless of the variety or quality. They are growing it cheaper and making a far greater profit without fear of law enforcement. The business to be in now is the dispensary business…. Or we could sell used generators to Haiti.
Actually indoor production has a very high profit margin still and the growers will have to lower prices dramatically to compete. The tendency at that time will be to produce more and drive the price further down. The days of dispensary demand are ending. Outdoor has the real profit margin yet the same supply and demand conditions apply. In a few years outdoor may be selling for less than $1000 a pound and trimming machines will be the norm for the profit strapped grower.

Staff
Member
14 years ago
Reply to  Ben

Will the legalization of pot also drive up demand? Will this keep prices somewhat high?

Ben
Guest
Ben
14 years ago
Reply to  Staff

That is a really interesting question. Crucial to local economics.

Eric Sligh
Guest
Eric Sligh
14 years ago

Amazing post kym, I’m surprised this didn’t come up a year ago. I saw earlier in the post that there were some questions as to the stance of Humboldt Grow Magazine on the legalization of marijuana, so here it goes!

A quick history of Humboldt Grow:

My name is Eric Sligh. I was raised in Willits and Ukiah. My mother was an English teacher and the head librarian at Mendocino College. I basically grew up in Libraries. My entire childhood was spent roaming the stacks of books at the various libraries my mother worked at. Spending so much time in a library made me truly appreciate something: Freedom of Speech: the freedom to express one’s self and their unique human experience. This is going to sound naive, but up until I started this magazine, I never imagined that someone would would actually have the guts to tell me to stop publishing factual information. Humboldt Grow Magazine doesn’t have a stance on Legalization. The goal of the magazine is to have a coherent discussion on the issue of marijuana, whether its diesel spills in the mountains or a 420 celebration at Redwood Park.

If you advocate that people should give up the right to express themselves and stop talking about the marijuana industry so that people can keep making a buck… you need to spend some time at a library. The freedom to speak about an issue that affects our community is vital. The freedom to do so is far more important than any single issue at any point in time.

If you want a few answers to some of the other questions from previous posts, by all means keep reading. Otherwise, I said what I had to say.

Humboldt Grow Magazine was created in an appartment at the woodridge appartment complex, formerly known as “the greens”, in Arcata, California in 2007. For this reason the magazine is called Humboldt Grow Magazine. I was living in Arcata for several years while completing my undergrad at HSU. I, Eric Sligh, the publisher of Grow, am from Willits and Ukiah. This is why I lived in Mendocino county during the taping of “Marijuana Inc.”

I started Humboldt Grow Magazine as a celebration of the marijuana industry in Northern California. I, like most people who read this blog, was raised in a culture where marijuana was part of our everyday lives: socially, politically and economically.

Our first couple of issues were really basic and didn’t contain much more than a few general articles about growing organically. I came across Kym and a few others not long after I had printed the first two issues and realized that people were talking about marijuana issues in creative and coherent ways.

When I recieved a call from CNBC about a “10 minute piece” on the marijuana industry in Mendocino, I agreed to get involved. They interviewed me for three days. We spoke about about every topic imaginable. I thought the “10 minute piece” was going to be great, shedding light on the myths about our region and giving Mendocino a human face.

Well, what appeared on T.V. screens in early February 2008 was not a 10 minute piece, it was an hour long documentary. I agree that Marijuana Inc. came out pretty shitty and definitely perpetuated stereotypes about our region that we could do without. What could I do? Nothing. They told the story from an outsiders perspective, so we all thought it sucked.

Marijuana inc. made me realize that our story will always be told from an outsiders perspective unless we create our own narrative. I will continue to publish Grow to do just that.

Staff
Member
14 years ago
Reply to  Eric Sligh

Eric, you should do more writing–you said this so clearly.
For years, the marijuana story has been told from an outsider’s perspective and we in the Emerald Triangle need to speak up and own our story! (as varied and nuanced as that can be ;>)

Eric Sligh
Guest
Eric Sligh
14 years ago

Amazing post kym, I’m surprised this didn’t come up a year ago. I saw earlier in the post that there were some questions as to the stance of Humboldt Grow Magazine on the legalization of marijuana, so here it goes!

A quick history of Humboldt Grow:

My name is Eric Sligh. I was raised in Willits and Ukiah. My mother was an English teacher and the head librarian at Mendocino College. I basically grew up in Libraries. My entire childhood was spent roaming the stacks of books at the various libraries my mother worked at. Spending so much time in a library made me truly appreciate something: Freedom of Speech: the freedom to express one’s self and their unique human experience. This is going to sound naive, but up until I started this magazine, I never imagined that someone would would actually have the guts to tell me to stop publishing factual information. Humboldt Grow Magazine doesn’t have a stance on Legalization. The goal of the magazine is to have a coherent discussion on the issue of marijuana, whether its diesel spills in the mountains or a 420 celebration at Redwood Park.

If you advocate that people should give up the right to express themselves and stop talking about the marijuana industry so that people can keep making a buck… you need to spend some time at a library. The freedom to speak about an issue that affects our community is vital. The freedom to do so is far more important than any single issue at any point in time.

If you want a few answers to some of the other questions from previous posts, by all means keep reading. Otherwise, I said what I had to say.

Humboldt Grow Magazine was created in an appartment at the woodridge appartment complex, formerly known as “the greens”, in Arcata, California in 2007. For this reason the magazine is called Humboldt Grow Magazine. I was living in Arcata for several years while completing my undergrad at HSU. I, Eric Sligh, the publisher of Grow, am from Willits and Ukiah. This is why I lived in Mendocino county during the taping of “Marijuana Inc.”

I started Humboldt Grow Magazine as a celebration of the marijuana industry in Northern California. I, like most people who read this blog, was raised in a culture where marijuana was part of our everyday lives: socially, politically and economically.

Our first couple of issues were really basic and didn’t contain much more than a few general articles about growing organically. I came across Kym and a few others not long after I had printed the first two issues and realized that people were talking about marijuana issues in creative and coherent ways.

When I recieved a call from CNBC about a “10 minute piece” on the marijuana industry in Mendocino, I agreed to get involved. They interviewed me for three days. We spoke about about every topic imaginable. I thought the “10 minute piece” was going to be great, shedding light on the myths about our region and giving Mendocino a human face.

Well, what appeared on T.V. screens in early February 2008 was not a 10 minute piece, it was an hour long documentary. I agree that Marijuana Inc. came out pretty shitty and definitely perpetuated stereotypes about our region that we could do without. What could I do? Nothing. They told the story from an outsiders perspective, so we all thought it sucked.

Marijuana inc. made me realize that our story will always be told from an outsiders perspective unless we create our own narrative. I will continue to publish Grow to do just that.

Staff
Member
14 years ago
Reply to  Eric Sligh

Eric, you should do more writing–you said this so clearly.
For years, the marijuana story has been told from an outsider’s perspective and we in the Emerald Triangle need to speak up and own our story! (as varied and nuanced as that can be ;>)

Muse
Guest
Muse
14 years ago

“…our story will always be told from an outsiders perspective unless we create our own narrative. I will continue to publish Grow to do just that.”

Accurate and perceptive, thank you very much, Eric. And thanks, Kym, for the discussion.

Ted, Decriminalization is not an answer to the issues of non-medical cannabis. Decriminalization measures already in place in various jurisdictions permit individual possession and use. They do not decriminalize non-medical cultivation, transport, or sale of cannabis. Not overlooking, of course, that where there is no local decriminalization, someone who likes to get baked on Saturday night risks jail time. Adults over the age of 21 go to jail for smoking weed. Tens of thousands of them. In 2007, per CalNORML, there were 74,119 arrests for marijuana in California, the vast majority for non-violent offenses. Isn’t that reason enough to legalize it?

People lose jobs, they face crippling legal expenses that can bankrupt them. My god, how can you be so callow as to dismiss it as “some kid getting probation”? Talk to CalNORML, or look at their website.

This state cannot afford to keep prosecuting these drug wars. No amount of growers paying property taxes can compensate for the starvation budget the state has put our schools one while they continue to bloat the prisons.

No one should go to jail for weed unless they’re spilling diesel.

At first I thought the comparison of anti-legalization growers to German citizens not speaking up against the Nazis a bit over the top, but as I thought about it, I agree. They are afraid, and people who are afraid don’t care about the ethics of a situation.

Or maybe they are simply selfish and self absorbed, like shopaholics or fashionistas who buy a $90 pair of jeans without thinking about the fact that it cost only $5 to manufacture using slave labor in a foreign country. The evil is invisible to them. They think they are doing something good, or making themselves look good when they buy them. Their evil is banal, as Hannah Arendt said of Eichmann.

Legalization is coming, just as the the end of timber was coming all those years. Adapt. It will take some brains and come creativity to adapt, but it won’t be insurmountable change.

I don’t know if it will happen this November. If it were an election like ’08 with lots of young and progressive voters it would be more likely. Like the legalization of gay marriage, it may take a few rounds on the ballot or in the legislature. But it will happen after a few rounds, because the efforts to educate people of the benefits of legalization through each attempt will have a cumulative benefit.

Staff
Member
14 years ago
Reply to  Muse
Muse
Guest
Muse
14 years ago

“…our story will always be told from an outsiders perspective unless we create our own narrative. I will continue to publish Grow to do just that.”

Accurate and perceptive, thank you very much, Eric. And thanks, Kym, for the discussion.

Ted, Decriminalization is not an answer to the issues of non-medical cannabis. Decriminalization measures already in place in various jurisdictions permit individual possession and use. They do not decriminalize non-medical cultivation, transport, or sale of cannabis. Not overlooking, of course, that where there is no local decriminalization, someone who likes to get baked on Saturday night risks jail time. Adults over the age of 21 go to jail for smoking weed. Tens of thousands of them. In 2007, per CalNORML, there were 74,119 arrests for marijuana in California, the vast majority for non-violent offenses. Isn’t that reason enough to legalize it?

People lose jobs, they face crippling legal expenses that can bankrupt them. My god, how can you be so callow as to dismiss it as “some kid getting probation”? Talk to CalNORML, or look at their website.

This state cannot afford to keep prosecuting these drug wars. No amount of growers paying property taxes can compensate for the starvation budget the state has put our schools one while they continue to bloat the prisons.

No one should go to jail for weed unless they’re spilling diesel.

At first I thought the comparison of anti-legalization growers to German citizens not speaking up against the Nazis a bit over the top, but as I thought about it, I agree. They are afraid, and people who are afraid don’t care about the ethics of a situation.

Or maybe they are simply selfish and self absorbed, like shopaholics or fashionistas who buy a $90 pair of jeans without thinking about the fact that it cost only $5 to manufacture using slave labor in a foreign country. The evil is invisible to them. They think they are doing something good, or making themselves look good when they buy them. Their evil is banal, as Hannah Arendt said of Eichmann.

Legalization is coming, just as the the end of timber was coming all those years. Adapt. It will take some brains and come creativity to adapt, but it won’t be insurmountable change.

I don’t know if it will happen this November. If it were an election like ’08 with lots of young and progressive voters it would be more likely. Like the legalization of gay marriage, it may take a few rounds on the ballot or in the legislature. But it will happen after a few rounds, because the efforts to educate people of the benefits of legalization through each attempt will have a cumulative benefit.

Staff
Member
14 years ago
Reply to  Muse
Muse
Guest
Muse
14 years ago

I forgot to mention, I have one serious serious reservation about the wording of the Tax Cannabis 2010 initiative. It makes it illegal to smoke in the presence of a minor. If a 21-year-old passes a joint to a 20 year old, could he get busted? Or, if a parent smokes after putting his kid to bed, is he in violation of the law? I think this is unmanageable legally, and an opening to all manner of unintended consequences.