Photo by Getty Images
Leave it to the DEA to compare growing your own pot at home to the “meth houses of the 1990s.”
In a puzzling new report, the DEA claims that Colorado’s homegrown pot has led to large-scale operations that risk occupants, neighbors and first responders because of a series of conditions that will probably remind most people of their first apartment or their college dorm room.
In its so-called Intelligence Report for June, the DEA lays out what it regards as the dangers of growing pot at home, which include strong odors, excessive noise from air-conditioning, electrical transformers, heavy traffic, moisture, condensation, mold and loose or entangled electrical wires.
Naturally, legalization advocates were not happy with what they viewed as a report based on faulty science and wildly incorrect and unsubstantiated information.
For starters, Mason Tvert of the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) told Marijuana.com that home-grows are not what they used to be.
“Colorado’s laws have shifted the vast majority of marijuana growing out of homes and into tightly controlled facilities,” he explained.
What the DEA did not take into consideration is that any clean home grow facility can be just as well maintained and clean as any facility—whether outdoor, commercial or a home hobby gardener.
Mold, while a real health issue, depends on humidity, which can be easily measured with a hygrometer and controlled by using a dehumidifier or air conditioner.
Paul Armentano, of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), pointed out that the “DEA’s ‘Flat Earth’ position toward marijuana” was based on “outdated and ineffective scare-tactics that contribute nothing productive to this ongoing, important nationwide narrative.”
Tvert also suggested that the DEA’s attempt to compare a home-grow to a meth house is more outrageous than ever as more states are moving to legalize recreational marijuana.
He called comparing marijuana growers to meth chefs “ridiculous,” which is why the DEA is the “the least credible government agency in America.”
In the ever-evolving world of cannabinoid products, Binoid has emerged as a go-to brand for…
One thing that’s clear is that THCA flower isn’t going anywhere any time soon. In…
Rappers Xzibit and Snoop Dogg have each opened dispensaries in California, aiming to bring the…
Coir is widely utilized by numerous cannabis companies worldwide due to its ease of use…
He was already big enough to control one ton of racing beast. But could he…
View Comments
I think any sane person would prefer their neighbor grew some weed over cooking some meth.
Another example of the DEA lying and using fear to protect their existence. A tradition since 1937.
So if I grew tomato starts in my basement, wouldn't there be the same alleged risks and hazards that the DEA spokes-idiot suggests? Or peppers? mint? Basil? Thyme? Poinsettias?
Cannabis is just another plant.
Why can't the DEA pick up the country's budget. They confiscate large amounts of money and drugs where does all of that go the question is no one ever asked do anybody know the percentage of drugs that enter the United States of America on a daily basis nope no one ever asked and they never show up they just bring up things like war and politics and terrorists and zika to keep your mind off this s*** that they do but yet they do not want to legalize marijuana why because that is a crutch is a easy way to make money the cartels grow it she push it shipping and They confiscated water main drugs like opium cocaine also the new drug that the federal government legalized and it's now on the street liquid marijuana sounds like k2 synthetic to me all this is on the internet do you research Free Press a man
Can we knock it of with all this "out-dated views, misinformation and propaganda" shit? It's gotten old YEARS AGO!!! And we are sick and tired of it. Just stop and accept that Cannabis isn't going anywhere anytime soon so stop this "OMFG weed is so bad because we said so" crap!
First of all we haven't said a damn thing the federal government says marijuana it's dangerous and addictive. You probably don't get the picture because you do not have to go to the black market to buy cannabis you probably drink or do hard drugs that are easily to get like your openings AKA painkillers that are prescribed by doctor number one number 2 probably smoke tobacco that is a plant that is grown and regulated that has no medical values but yet they sell it we buy it just like the rest of this b******* you're talking about you're talking about stop and give up they're not going to legalize no time soon that's what's wrong with the United States of America we give up too damn easily and give into the lies the plant is more innocent than me and your ideas put together you probably feed the feds b******* and pay your taxes Faithfully like most Americans do thank you for your comment and have a good day
These idiot pieces of shit need to just go away...a major waste of government resources and tax dollars. Funny how it is us (the taxpayers) that are paying for this bullshit. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!! Worthless government agencies wasting our hard-earned tax dollars.
Noise from air conditioners? Strong smells? Heavy traffic???? Are you fucking insane!!! This is normal for ANY house in the summer time....... DEA needs to fuck off.
And if you're growing pot you're going to have fewer people visiting, not more.
Well they do have a point about tangled wires. One could possibly overload an electrical circuit and you might be at work so you would not be home to mitigate any fire hazzard. It's a tough issue. One does not want one's cannabis habit to be out in the open in which case minors and others who would prefer not to be influenced by cannabis culture would be exposed to it if allowed to grow in your backyard or patio. Because even if legal I would not want my young neices and nephews to know that I occaisionally imbibe in canabis culture. Until at least the age of reason. Then there is the old folks who can't program an alarm clock , they can't be expected to read up on the new thinking on the internet regarding canabis and insist that it is the type of thing that contributed to people jumping out of windows.That kind of retardism that is likely being exploited to full advantage by the DEA.
What about cigarettes or alcohol.... There are no difference between those too and Marijuana. But yet we consume and watch commercials in front of kids. Us as humans made cannabis a worry cause of the lack of education and information made on cannabis. Without the info needed to learn about cannabis these laws need to be passed, so that scientist can study and learn the actual effects that cannabis has on the body. There should be no shame on how much you imbibe or consume in front of anybody. Its not a bad drug, its a drug that just got a bad rap from uneducated people that think they know everything. Or politicians use it to gain votes. For DEA... Well like everyone has said they use scare tactics and it seems to work... Well what gets me upset is the fact that they compare a meth house to a grower, is uneducated, selfish and out right ignorant. You don't hear growers using explosive chemicals or trying to mixed home cleaning products to make cannabis. Its all medium soil, water, plant food, light and air.
Stupid comment from a prohibitionist troll!
The laws in Colorado are still patchy. Denver and the Front Range (as well as liberal islands like Aspen and Telluride) are really the only places where commercial grows are permitted. In most of the rural counties, the local governments have prohibited commercial grows and recreational (and even medical) dispensaries. This creates an environment where there is even more motivation for the general public to do residential, indoor grows. The problems mentioned by the article are legitimate, though admittedly over-hyped, comparison to meth-labs being hyperbole. But there are solutions to all of them. "Tangled Wires" or more generally electrical issues are probably my biggest concern as sufficient lighting and ventilation constitute a huge demand on your typical residential service, and utilizes components (ballasts, 240V lines, large air-conditioners) that your average person just doesn't understand. Add together a water reservoir and irrigation tubing and you have a big potential for electrical fires. Properly designed, installed, and maintained grow closets, tents, or rooms can eliminate the risks and other nuisances.
I am absolutely against prohibition, but many people are still sitting on the fence. The best way to get the rest of the people to accept the inevitable is for the vanguard to treat cultivation and consumption with the respect they deserve.
Sounds like somebody holding on to a crappy job
When you’re dealing with the DEA you’re dealing with Amalek. That “UNCLASSIFIED” report is blather behind a thin veneer of a crew cut and pressed grey uniform. Get to know that feeling of contempt and hatred for this pseudoscience sob story. It will be needed to get rid of this monstrosity of crude ignorance.
I can't wait to the whole medical cannabis communities in the United States stand up to the DEA and show them facts and prove their options to be false, cannabis is a plant and meth are chemicals a scientist knows that from a rocket. The DEA keeps buying time to keep from telling us the truth they come up with lies uneducated people believe them study the facts for yourself and don't forget no matter what state you vote for medical cannabis.
I get it I understand Free Press and everything but I don't understand why companies are allowed to put out negative things about cannabis but very few positive Topix on the plant as a whole. The World shows less respect for medical cannabis and look past the purpose which is used for healing that's sad!! An that's the truth and no one can deny it, try being a sick patient is no joking matter.