DES MOINES, IOWA — In recent weeks, agents with the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, in partnership with local officers, have discovered and eradicated several large, outdoor marijuana growing operations in Southwest and South Central Iowa, and in Northwest Missouri.
Rural land owners, farm workers, and hunters who may be traversing remote and seldom-visited areas in the coming month are advised of the recent marijuana plant seizures. Common trademarks of recently eradicated marijuana grow operations include:
- Use of private land owned by individuals unaware of the grow operation;
- All of the marijuana grow sites have been found in dense timber areas;
- Marijuana growers live full or part time at the grow site in small, make-shift camps;
- Grow operators will abandon the site for several weeks if they suspect the operation has been discovered;
If you encounter a location or items that appear suspicious, law enforcement encourage you to leave the area immediately to ensure personal safety. Be sure to avoid disturbing the area, as items of evidence may be present. Once at a safe location please call your local law enforcement agency to report what you’ve seen. There have been no reported violent encounters with marijuana growers, however public safety remains a priority. Do not take action on your own.
Over the last three weeks, three large marijuana grow operations were detected and eradicated by Iowa law enforcement. On September 14, 2012, law enforcement eradicated a 3,850 plant marijuana growing operation that had been abandoned in Taylor County, Iowa. On September 25, 2012, law enforcement eradicated a 571 plant marijuana growing operation in rural Decatur County, Iowa. Also on September 25, 2012, law enforcement eradicated a 1,124 plant marijuana grow in rural Worth County, Missouri.
Law enforcement officers from the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa State Patrol, Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office, Decatur County Sheriff’s Office, Lamoni Police Department, and Worth County Sheriff’s Office in Missouri assisted in the eradication of the marijuana grow operations.
I always enjoy reading the comments from those who think pot should be legalized.
I’m reminded of a person who was once caught shoplifting. When asked why they stole from the store, they replied they did it because the prices were too high. Justify it how ever you want, but the fact of the matter is…shoplifting, like smoking dope is still illegal, so get over it.
We don’t need more spaced-out slackers. I remember how many of those there were when I attended college back in the early 70’s during the hippy dippy days. They were worthless students who only went to school because of the easy access to pot and they could get exempted from the draft. Why on earth should this country legalize something else that takes away all motivation and initiative?
This issue is about decriminalization. Substance abuse is a public health issue. The criminal courts are ill eqipped to deal with this problem. Hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent on interdiction and yet the problem remains. In fact, it is more deeply rooted than ever before because of the incredible riches bestowed on those who controll the supply.
Katie, you need to get out more. Sounds like you’re still living in the 70’s. Do you realize how many doctors, lawyers, company executives, teachers, computer programmers, etc. unwind at the end of the day with a little toke? And (surprise!) they somehow still manage to show up for work the next day. No need to call in with the excuse that they’re suffering from the “brown bottle flu”. I don’t think you realize that many very successful and highly productive people like to smoke a little weed to help them relax. It’s just a crying shame that they can’t do this legally.
Just because “everyone” else does it hardly makes it right.
There are so many ways to “unwind”, including a swim at the Y, a good meal (sans vino), a hot shower or soak in the hot tub. One needs not addle the brain to accomplish relaxation.
Justify it as you may, most folks still say nay nay!
I always thought of it like this. Would you want to be working on a construction site. And have a crane operator running a crane with a 20 thousand pound peice of steel over your head right after he smoked a joint at lunch time. Not me.
I’m scared of imaginary situations too. OMG What if the crane operator had a beer at lunch? Could you imagine? So frightening.
What scares me even more is the fact that members of Congress go out for a two or three martini lunch and then head back to work and pass laws that affect all of us. Now THAT’S something to be scared about!
The truth is, not enough people know the facts about marijuana. Many people think of it as being similar to cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. This is just wrong. Cocaine, heroin & meth are all capable of killing, either by overdose or a fatal reaction such as a heart attack or stroke. When was the last time you heard of anyone dying from marijuana use alone? A car accident, you say? I would wager to say alcohol or other drugs were also involved.
It’s still illegal, so get over it. Unless of course you are the sort of person who thinks they are better than the rest of us, by picking which laws to obey, and which ones to ignore.
Like the almost never-ending blather from Mr. L, the justifications are tiresome, and lack much merit. It still remains illegal, get over it.
No Observer, the people are sick of unjust laws being rammed down our throats by a totalitarian tyrannical government. Residents of Colorado, Washington and Oregon are voting on legalization next month. Once it happens, others will soon follow. The 75 plus years of this failed policy of prohibition are coming to an end. Cops, get your resumes ready.
One may well ask: “How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?” The answer lies in the fact that there are two types of laws: just and unjust. I would be the first to advocate obeying just laws. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. I would agree with St. Augustine that “an unjust law is no law at all.”
Now, what is the difference between the two? How does one determine whether a law is just or unjust? A just law is a man made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law. To put it in the terms of St. Thomas Aquinas: An unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law. Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Letter from a Birmingham Jail”
April 16, 1953
Observer, your argument is very weak.
Have you ever gone just a few mph over the speed limit? Have you ever driven your vehicle with an alcohol buzz on, even a slight one? Ever coasted through a stop sign or parked in a No Parking zone? How about taking something that wasn’t yours?
All of the above are ILLEGAL. If you’ve done any of these things you’ve been choosing which laws to obey and which to ignore. Your “holier than thou” attitude isn’t very becoming.
Alcohol? No. Speeding? I go too slow, and back that up with my driving recorded on GPS. Person with halo over my head? No, I am as human as everyone. Have I made grievous mistakes in my past. Yes, without question! No day can pass without reminders of the ghosts of my past.
But, does my past transgressions on a whole display a callous pattern of anti-social behaviors based upon conscious choice? No. Illegal drug use is just that, a pattern of conscious choices to which are not only illegal, but show a blatant disregard for the rest of society.
I will pose this question to the whole. Would you rather live in a community free from illegal drug users, including the all related crime that goes along with it, or on the other hand, would you not care if said illegal drug users walked freely in your neighborhood, free to display their disdain for society’s rules?
Observer. Laws change with the will of the people. Clearly the will is changing. Prepare to “Get over it”.
Thank you Peter Logios.
Try again. I also notice how you discount the same logic you stand behind. Quite hypocritical.
Do you care to expand upon where my logic is wrong?
I explained I am not a perfect human being, and that I had failings. I also explained the difference between most people, and those who show patterns of constant disregard for society through illegal drug use.
Total waste of time….regulate it, control it and then tax it just like everything else.
They make it sound so dangerous…lol..please. How about we focus on the meth labs.
Two words: seed bomb.
Pretty soon the Gov. Will be at your door asking for your guns too.
Time for an administration change.
Heard that 4 years ago. Try to come up with something original if it can’t be true.
I really doubt that it will be our current Governor. He has done more to help gun owners and sportsmen than Vilsack would have ever thought of doing.
Leave the plants alone. They’re not hurting anyone, marijuana should be legal anyways.
So it is ok to put whatever into your body and then expect others to pay for the adverse outcomes? Just look how tobacco has worked out for us.
Not whatever.“In strict medical terms marijuana is far safer than many foods we commonly consume. For example, eating 10 raw potatoes can result in a toxic response. By comparison, it is physically impossible to eat enough marijuana to induce death. Marijuana in its natural form is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man. By any measure of rational analysis marijuana can be safely used within the supervised routine of medical care.
[DEA Administrative Law Judge – 1988]”
― Francis Young
Yearly deaths from tobacco: 443,000
Yearly deaths from marijuana: 0
How about just leave these people alone and let them live their lives.
you do know the hancock county fairgrounds was built to supply hemp for the WWII effort
Why do you think the old timers call it the hemp plant?
You know of course the constitution is written on a piece of hemp paper ! Was it rolled in IOwaaa? Ask the teachers 40% of them would know.
Decriminalize and tax.Vote Johnson 2012.
Just say NO.