We’re number 2
WBIR:
Authorities have eradicated an estimated $1.2 billion in marijuana in the state this year.
More than 440,000 plants were seized in 2005 — 20,000 more than last year. Advertisement
Each plant is believed to be worth about $2500. The figures are estimated to rank the state second in the country, behind only California.
The DEA, TBI and THP are just some of the state agencies working together in the marijuana crackdown. Five helicopters from the Army National Guard were used.
In years past, officials would find huge patches of pot plants, but now say one or two plants are found here and there. They say this is a direct result of their crackdown.
That’s a lot of money.
October 20th, 2005 at 10:03 am
$2500 per plant? What have they been smoking?
I’m assuming they got the biggest plant of the lot and weighed it green (not dried). Then they multiplied that by the cost of the highest grade stuff, sold at the street level.
I don’t know what the going rate is, but even the dopey dumbass people I happen to know aren’t that stupid.
Looks good on paper though.
October 20th, 2005 at 10:47 am
Isn’t using National Guard helocopters in the act of law enforcement unconstitutional?
I thought that could only be done if a State of Emergency were declared.
I don’t know anyone who buys the entire plant…
October 20th, 2005 at 2:14 pm
Head on over to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posse_Comitatus_Act
Enough loopholes to drive an armored personnel carrier full of gun grabbing national guard troops through.
“The President of the United States can waive this law in an emergency”
“In December 1981 additional laws were enacted (codified 10 USC 371-78) clarifying permissible military assistance to civilian law enforcement agencies—including the Coast Guard—especially in combating drug smuggling into the United States. Posse Comitatus clarifications emphasize supportive and technical assistance (e.g., use of facilities, vessels, aircraft, intelligence, tech aid, surveillance) while generally prohibiting direct participation of Department of Defense personnel in law enforcement (e.g., search, seizure, and arrests). For example, Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachments (LEDETS) serve aboard Navy vessels and perform the actual boardings of interdicted suspect drug smuggling vessels and, if needed, arrest their crews.)”
For that matter, after you see Nagin’s Navy, there’s enough of a loophole to drive a water buffalo and a truck full of MREs through.
October 20th, 2005 at 4:09 pm
You guys are missing the point. They are bragging about moving One Billion, Two Hundred Million Dollars worth of revenue from Tennessee to other states. You think that demand isn’t being met? It is being met — it is just someone outside of Tennessee getting that money.
October 20th, 2005 at 9:26 pm
Vice always wildly inflates the street value of the drugs. I keep waiting for an anchorman to say “Wow, that’s twice what I’ve been paying!” 🙂