Weed Wars
Weed Wars, the new four-part series on the Discovery Channel,
Here it is folks, marijuana being bought and sold shown on national TV just like it was “PawnStars.” It’s so outrageously blatant that it’s like a gauntlet thrown directly at the federal attorneys. That’s why this show presents a Hobson’s choice to the feds, who have been trying to restrict California dispensaries. The feds can ignore or prosecute. Both are losing positions. If they ignore Harborside it will stoke the fire of entrepreneurship the same way that NBC’s “Marijuana Inc.” did a year ago.
Many recently unemployed will follow the lead and make a decision to join the marijuana industry, regardless of whether their state has medical exemptions to the laws. There are already dispensaries in non-medical states such as New York and Wisconsin. This will fuel the trend, making federal control more problematic.
The other choice, to indict and prosecute, is also perilous. In my federal trial eight years ago, we were very close to a juror rebellion. Actually it occurred, but after the verdict was delivered. This time the government is not likely to be so lucky. The defense team will be honed by years of trial, the public is better informed and jurors will take marijuana’s medical qualities and Harborside’s upright position with the state into account. The feds are more than likely to lose and if they do, the fed’s breath will no longer intimidate the dispensaries. New ones will spring up.
If Harborside should lose, the situation is even worse. One thousand customers a day will be looking for medicine. Will they be forced to go back to street or home dealers who provide virtually no choice of medicines? Is this what city and state governments want in their community?
Andrew and Steve DeAngelo
Harborside is run by Steve DeAngelo, who has an independent background and sophisticated political analysis developed by close association with the Yippies! People associated with the movement tend to be very self-sufficient, insightful, and determined, even when they are faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. As a result, in most encounters with the law, they usually gain the upper hand.
I suppose most people would say they wouldn’t like to be in Steve’s position. I wouldn’t relish being in Attorney General Holder’s. He doesn’t realize the ideological zeal of medical marijuana adherents, their frustration with the Democratic Party and with the Obama Administration in particular. So that surge of internet donations he received in 2008 won’t be floating in from potheads this time. Their votes will be reluctant rather than enthusiastic. And now there’s a trend that can be stated as “I pledge not to vote for any candidate that wants to put me in jail, even for a short time.” The rock is about to meet the hard place.
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- Andrew and Steve DeAngelo
Nice article Ed! I especially honed in on the very end, where you mention people re-electing Obama “with reluctance”. Why in the hell would anybody be so foolish as to shoot themselves in the foot and vote for 4 more years of this shit?? Rather, it is as you said; there is a growing trend indeed to refuse to vote for a lesser of two evils. That paradigm is outdated and no longer necessary. We the People get the government we tolerate, and ultimately, the government We (collectively) deserve. We have a TRUE alternative in the campaign of the Good Doctor Ron Paul in 2012. We would be doing ourselves a HUGE disservice to not get behind his honorable campaign in full force. He will restore Integrity to the office of the White House.
I agree Paul!
I’m looking forward to tonight’s episode, I really like this show. I was reading yesterday that the recent federal crackdowns forced as many as 20% of all the dispensaries in CA to close, could this be true?
I was wondering where you got your info on there being Medical Marijuana Dispensaries in Wisconsin……
Weed Wars – First Episode 12/1/11
I was compelled to watch this first episode for many reasons, not the least of which is my fascination with this plant called Cannabis. I also happen to use Harborside as a provider from time to time.
I was curious to see how the Discovery Channel would portray the neatest, cleanest, most thoughtful, safe and welcoming environment I’ve ever been in when procuring my favorite plant (identified, weighed, measured and professionally packaged in it’s many forms). And here’s what I saw…
Problems.
Tax problems.
City government problems.
Basement grow problems.
Even what some might see as “personal” problems.
Heck, there were even “entry” video shots where they just focused on a puddle-filled empty parking lot!
Ha! Yeah, right. Show up there and find out for yourself. I’ve stood in lines OUTSIDE where the security detail checks your legal status prior to allowing you to ENTER the building!! I’ve never once been there when the parking lot was empty….never.
The point is, if you’ve never been to nor heard about Harborside and the Discovery Channel was your introduction…take a second look or better yet, talk to someone who’s been there.
Seek Truth,
Royal Hippie Gangster
PS Terryn (sp?) is an EXCELLENT bud tender. Educated about the product, a willingness to assess his customer’s needs/desires and match that to the currently available strains…and beyond that, he’s pleasant to chat with. Whatever he does when he’s not helping others is no concern of mine.
PPS There’s another alternative to the underground market if they shut down dispensaries…stop pawning off the responsibility of growing your medicine to some one or some thing else, and provide for yourself! (or ask a loved one for help if you happen to be infirm)
The cannabis industry is born of a place of love. Americans are seeing the intelligence behind the ganja movement through the day to day actions of the employees of Harborside. To all Americans who have not yet been lucky enough to visit a medicinal cannabis collective in California, please know that the spirit of well being and health is pervasive in the industry throughout the state. Community offers its own source of healing and Weed Wars celebrates the plant that brings us all together. Viva Sativa!
We need to make this our mantra and repeat it over and over:
“I pledge not to vote for any candidate that wants to put me in jail, even for a short time.”
Politics is like betting on the horses. If you pick the one that everyone knows can win then you don’t really win shit! Vote for the person that you think would make the best president and get past the small minded thinking that says – “I like him/her but he/she can’t win”. That kind of thinking is what has brought the political crap that we have been trudging through for years. Do you want more of the same? I hold everyone who says this kind of thing personally responsible for everything that I can’t stand about government! I want you to vote your conscience and quit trying to predict what the crowd wants. You are an adult now and hopefully you can think for yourself and are not so insecure that you need to vote for who others like. Step up and vote for the person that you think would be the best person to have in the office!
Say it out loud now!
“I pledge not to vote for any candidate that wants to put me in jail, even for a short time.”
All due respect, Steve Deangelo is not an honest or good person. He is the George W. Bush of the movement. If you doubt this, speak to him sometime. It will not take you long to identify.