I'm all for it, but there is one problem with that as we are seeing in places where it is legal. 8 out of 10 folks, just as they do with their tomatoes would rather buy it or can't, or won't grow it. Which brings us to the current dilemma that many of us are living and calnatv showed us. Greedy aholes are coming into the foothill "neighborhoods" and communties buying up the available realestate, clear cutting the trees, erecting bamboo and cedar dogged ear fences, and stinking up the area and screwing up the property values of their neighbors. Ask folks who can't sell there property even tho it's a "buyers market" because of the new "landscaping" covering the "neighbors" property. I'm literally surrounded by it on all sides. I live right close to the canyon edge so wind can be an issue. Because of the clear cutting by my "neighbors" we have lost most all of our Cedars trees. They can't handle the winter wind without the windbreak effect that the Ponderosa pine and Doug Fir used to provide. During big wind events they're snapping off about 20-30' up. I won't even go into the smell, other than to say it's a kin to the Coalinga stock yards in August. Problem two, we now have a new style of "migrant farm worker" ie trimmers and patch tenders. In our community we have a new addition, a large tent city of sorts comprised of all the garden workers from last year that either didn't make enough to move on or decided they liked the place, who knows. I didn't think they'd make it thru the winter but we didn't have much for snow this year so here they are and back to work in the local grows. I feel sorry for all the folks living across the road from them. I'm sure they are all all big fans of drumming circles and for sure know all the words to "One Love" by now. Not to mention the lack of running water or bathroom facilities, bet that's smelling good. Problem three- Kids in rural foothill communities have done the math and realize that they can make far more living "free" and growing pot than they ever will learning a trade or continuing their education. Don't worry about medical care they can get O'care? Problem four- the large number of truck and transfers loaded with topsoil, the water tenders, and fertilizer delivery trucks far exede the number of logging trucks that used to drive our narrow highway. How many of these grow ops are paying taxes to repair the roadways? It's not a simple issue to say the least. As I've said before I'm not anti marijuana, but I was a lot more for it before all this BS, there was a lot less hypocrisy. Ya all can stand up for it and preach about the injustices and it's undeniable value whatever, others can continue to make light of it, whatever, come live it and see how long it takes before your viewpoint changes. Funny that most don't recognize the negative effects, and consequences it's had legal or illegal on mining or public land access. Ask a warden what percentage of his job is fish and wildlife related vs. marijuana related, then ask him why that is.
Hang in there Russ this thread will probably last only a month or so!
Get your pot some where else .
Ok.
