Chicago police find about 1,500 pot plants in city

[rockin'robin]

CHICAGO (AP) — In Chicago, a bustling urban metropolis where skyscrapers are as likely to sprout up as anything a farmer might plant, someone decided there was just enough room to grow something a little more organic: Marijuana.

The plants grew even taller than the tallest Chicago Bulls. However, just days before the crop on a chunk of land the size of two football fields would have been ready to harvest, a police officer and county sheriff's deputy in a helicopter spotted it as they headed back to their hangar about three miles away.

On Wednesday, a day after the discovery of the largest marijuana farm anyone at the police department can remember, officers became farmers for a day as they began to chop down about 1,500 marijuana plants that police said could have earned the growers as much as $10 million.

No arrests had been made as of Wednesday, and police were still trying to determine who owns the property that housed the grow site on the city's far South Side. But police said they were hopeful that because of the size of the operation, informants or others might provide tips about those involved, including a man seen running from the area as the helicopter swooped low.

James O'Grady, the commander of the department's narcotics division, said they've never seen anything like it before, in part because Chicago's harsh winters mean growers have a lot less time to plant, grow and harvest marijuana than their counterparts in less inclement places such as California and Mexico. The bumper crop was likely planted in spring, O'Grady said.

Add to that the urban sprawl: there are few spots in Chicago where such an operation could go unnoticed because of all the buildings, roads and residents. The growers took pains to ensure their crop was largely hidden by a canopy of trees and surrounding vegetation.

"Somebody put a lot of thought into it," O'Grady said. "But they probably didn't anticipate the helicopter."

Chicago Police Officer Stan Kuprianczyk, a pilot, said police helicopters flew "over it all the time," to and from their hangar, without spying the grow site. Yet somehow, a number of factors came together to allow Cook County Sheriff's Deputy Edward Graney to spot the plants.

"We had the right altitude, the right angle, the right sunlight, and I happened to be glancing down," said Graney. He said he initially spotted five plants or so through the trees before he asked Kuprianczyk to circle around for a closer look.

"We just happened to be right over a small hole in the trees and we looked down," Kuprianczyk said.

They also happened to have the right training, Graney said, explaining that just a few weeks earlier a much smaller operation in suburban Chicago prompted them to fly over and videotape the scene so they might be able to recognize marijuana if they ever saw it from the air again.

So, by the time Graney spotted the marijuana plants, which are a much brighter shade of green than the surrounding vegetation, he had a pretty good idea what he was looking at.

Superintendent Garry McCarthy, whose officers are more used to intercepting shipments of marijuana grown elsewhere or discovering hydroponic growing operations inside buildings, said the discovery of the marijuana is significant in a larger fight against street violence.

Those involved with narcotics, whether it is marijuana, heroin or cocaine, purchase firearms with their profits and have shown they're willing to use them to protect their business, he said.

"That's where the violence comes in, the competition for the markets," he said.

Chicago police find about 1,500 pot plants in city - Yahoo! News

 

[rolling7]

CHICAGO (AP) — In Chicago, a bustling urban metropolis where skyscrapers are as likely to sprout up as anything a farmer might plant, someone decided there was just enough room to grow something a little more organic: Marijuana.

The plants grew even taller than the tallest Chicago Bulls. However, just days before the crop on a chunk of land the size of two football fields would have been ready to harvest, a police officer and county sheriff's deputy in a helicopter spotted it as they headed back to their hangar about three miles away.

On Wednesday, a day after the discovery of the largest marijuana farm anyone at the police department can remember, officers became farmers for a day as they began to chop down about 1,500 marijuana plants that police said could have earned the growers as much as $10 million.

No arrests had been made as of Wednesday, and police were still trying to determine who owns the property that housed the grow site on the city's far South Side. But police said they were hopeful that because of the size of the operation, informants or others might provide tips about those involved, including a man seen running from the area as the helicopter swooped low.

James O'Grady, the commander of the department's narcotics division, said they've never seen anything like it before, in part because Chicago's harsh winters mean growers have a lot less time to plant, grow and harvest marijuana than their counterparts in less inclement places such as California and Mexico. The bumper crop was likely planted in spring, O'Grady said.

Add to that the urban sprawl: there are few spots in Chicago where such an operation could go unnoticed because of all the buildings, roads and residents. The growers took pains to ensure their crop was largely hidden by a canopy of trees and surrounding vegetation.

"Somebody put a lot of thought into it," O'Grady said. "But they probably didn't anticipate the helicopter."

Chicago Police Officer Stan Kuprianczyk, a pilot, said police helicopters flew "over it all the time," to and from their hangar, without spying the grow site. Yet somehow, a number of factors came together to allow Cook County Sheriff's Deputy Edward Graney to spot the plants.

"We had the right altitude, the right angle, the right sunlight, and I happened to be glancing down," said Graney. He said he initially spotted five plants or so through the trees before he asked Kuprianczyk to circle around for a closer look.

"We just happened to be right over a small hole in the trees and we looked down," Kuprianczyk said.

They also happened to have the right training, Graney said, explaining that just a few weeks earlier a much smaller operation in suburban Chicago prompted them to fly over and videotape the scene so they might be able to recognize marijuana if they ever saw it from the air again.

So, by the time Graney spotted the marijuana plants, which are a much brighter shade of green than the surrounding vegetation, he had a pretty good idea what he was looking at.

Superintendent Garry McCarthy, whose officers are more used to intercepting shipments of marijuana grown elsewhere or discovering hydroponic growing operations inside buildings, said the discovery of the marijuana is significant in a larger fight against street violence.

Those involved with narcotics, whether it is marijuana, heroin or cocaine, purchase firearms with their profits and have shown they're willing to use them to protect their business, he said.

"That's where the violence comes in, the competition for the markets," he said.

Chicago police find about 1,500 pot plants in city - Yahoo! News

First, the murder capital of America and now the pot capital. Must be something in Chicago's water.

 

[diehardbiker]

This is only a fraction of cannabis industry, isn't it time to forget the stupid idea of prohibition? This is just another proof of truly failure and waste of tax payer money. In fact, this is really a laughable news for those who are in Cannabis business (Mainly due to the fact that they are making money not Uncle Sam).

Here is the truth that government don't want to tell you. During 80's news headline like this cause drug addicts on street panicking, worry about the supply of dope in the end. Today, the exact same news headline, these drug addicts on street don't give a damn and go by with their lives as if that bust were never happened. That message was said though Philadelphia police officer and himself said that prohibition is a truly failure.

Now, here is concern and how I see it (Prohibition) is a gateway to harder drugs rather than of the cannabis itself. Have you heard of several newer dangerous drugs coming out in the market? And dangerous behavior that is going on in college like these alcohol enemas that send student into emergency room. It is like anyone who wants to get high, see that couldn't find weeds, hmmmm said to themselves try something else that is more of bizarre like alcohol enemas that happened in University in Tennessee. Wow, Prohibition actually encouraged these stupid students try something more lethal than Cannabis.

Bottom line here, ask yourself this very question, how many times have you heard of anyone high on cannabis actually got killed from cannabis itself, like overdose (Never going to happen), fatal accident? Died from direct itself of Cannabis?

Alcohol causes hundred of thousands death, overdoses, emergency visits, fatal car accident that left innocent victims dead, yet perfect legal while cannabis have not cause single death and still illegal.

We had our jail full already, many of prisoners got there just because they smoke a joint, what a waste of money. We have the most prisoners per capital than any other countries in the world, what does this prove? It proves that our system actually utterly failure. It appears that government failed on learn lesson on alcohol prohibition that was proven failure and repealed.

Government is so broke, and should never be in business legislation on morale. I bet you, government will get out of debt and cut taxes faster once legalize Cannabis and tax em.

BTW, the Cannabis prohibition just celebrated its 75th anniversary and still millions have smoked em anyway.

Oh wait! How many times have you seen or heard of bunch of guys in bars drinking, getting drunk and decided to start fight and brawl? Im sure many of you already heard and even seen em, so here is question, how many times have you heard or seen those who smoke joints and decided start fight? I haven't seen but seen the opposite effect (More peaceful). Isn't it time to vote out prohibition?

 

[diehardbiker]

Not just Chicago, it is EVERYWHERE. You may not even realize your neighbor may gown some already. Cannabis industry is already in Multi-billion dollars business. And that bust is just a drop in a bucket. Many already growing even on national parks! Get the picture of how big it is.

First, the murder capital of America and now the pot capital. Must be something in Chicago's water.

 

[BornMellow]

Lol. Wonder how many of the cops kept the plants for themselves.

 

[diehardbiker]

The chances are, probably some would do that and get away. That is why Prohibition is not working, period.

If you watch TV documentary where in Seattle, WA got a Mayor that is cool with people smoking joints and there was no war, no fights no whatever, One could smoke joint in front of cop and cop just left him alone and go on other business. On the other side of coast there is a city called New York in New York cops are all over busting people for having a joint in pocket throw them into slammer constantly, and the crimes have climbing in NY, NY. In fact, NYC police almost killed a woman that only had one joint in purse, she was diabetic and was close in coma and almost died from diabetic shock due to NYC police failure to protect this woman all because she had a joint. Seattle, crime climbing? Nope!

Lol. Wonder how many of the cops kept the plants for themselves.

 

[caz12]

all laid back and relaxed in chicago then

 

[DeafTim]

Marijuana kills brain cells and if the law legalize marijuana, more people will become potheads. I dont want to see that in america.

EDIT: drivin stoned is just as dangerous as drivin drunk

 

[diehardbiker]

Proof?

Did you know that there was a documentary tv show about Cannabis, and the person actually volunteered test drive when drunk verses get high verses sober. If you watch that tv, you will be surprised the outcome of the test. (She passed test when sober and high too but flunked when drunk)

Marijuana kills brain cells and if the law legalize marijuana, more people will become potheads. I dont want to see that in america.

EDIT: drivin stoned is just as dangerous as drivin drunk

 

[ambrosia]

Marijuana kills brain cells and if the law legalize marijuana, more people will become potheads. I dont want to see that in america.

EDIT: drivin stoned is just as dangerous as drivin drunk

Cannabis does not kill brain cells « Truth About Cannabis

Nope it doesn't, myth. Driving under the influence of marijuana does impair you, but it does not even compare to driving drunk. back in the day when I blazed I drove super slow lol. I'd catch myself driving at least 5 miles under the speed limit all the time. i'd have to disagree with the idea that if it was legal that everyone would all of a sudden become potheads. The fact that it's illegal isn't much a deterrent in the first place. I bet you'd be surprised just how many people smoke it.

Did you know that marijuana does not effect pregnancy? When you go to the OB the first time the give you this bag full of magazines and pamphlets. One of those pamphlets is a list of drugs and it's effects on pregnancy, including caffeine. For marijuana it says "no known effects". I was telling a girlfriend about that, and she said when she was pregnant she told her Dr. that she quit smoking weed but was having a hard time with quitting cigarettes. He told her if she could only quit one or the other he'd rather she quit the ciggies and keep smoking the pot. me? I had the same problem, quit the weed but hard a hard time with the ciggies, cut down to 2 or 3 a day. But after I had my son I tried a weed again a few times, but I lost my tolerance for it, makes me feel blah and want to take a nap. That's why i don't do it anymore, just lost it's appeal. But I don't have anything against it all. Think it should be decriminalized, let all those people out of jail, tax it, make some money. Cigarettes have become a tax cash cow, "we don't have money for this, okay let's raise the taxes again" why not do it with weed?

The whole reason it was made illegal in the first place was because Dupont came up with a synthetic fiber that's only competition was hemp. So they lobbied to get pot made illegal to take hemp off the market. You should hear some of the propaganda they used. "Smoking marijuana cigarettes makes white kids listen to jazz music" "Smoking marijuana cigarettes makes a a black man look at a white woman".

 

[deafdrummer]

There is a lesser-known side to the Mari prohibition - that the plant hemp can be grown and made into so many useful things, like ropes capable of holding very large ships at port, clothing, and many other things. It appears, if you believe the stories, that the oil/chemical industries had it banned because it threatened their businesses, among other people involved in the outlawing. THAT is why it's illegal.

 

[TXgolfer]

Cannabis does not kill brain cells « Truth About Cannabis

Nope it doesn't, myth. Driving under the influence of marijuana does impair you, but it does not even compare to driving drunk. back in the day when I blazed I drove super slow lol. I'd catch myself driving at least 5 miles under the speed limit all the time. i'd have to disagree with the idea that if it was legal that everyone would all of a sudden become potheads. The fact that it's illegal isn't much a deterrent in the first place. I bet you'd be surprised just how many people smoke it.

Did you know that marijuana does not effect pregnancy? When you go to the OB the first time the give you this bag full of magazines and pamphlets. One of those pamphlets is a list of drugs and it's effects on pregnancy, including caffeine. For marijuana it says "no known effects". I was telling a girlfriend about that, and she said when she was pregnant she told her Dr. that she quit smoking weed but was having a hard time with quitting cigarettes. He told her if she could only quit one or the other he'd rather she quit the ciggies and keep smoking the pot. me? I had the same problem, quit the weed but hard a hard time with the ciggies, cut down to 2 or 3 a day. But after I had my son I tried a weed again a few times, but I lost my tolerance for it, makes me feel blah and want to take a nap. That's why i don't do it anymore, just lost it's appeal. But I don't have anything against it all. Think it should be decriminalized, let all those people out of jail, tax it, make some money. Cigarettes have become a tax cash cow, "we don't have money for this, okay let's raise the taxes again" why not do it with weed?

The whole reason it was made illegal in the first place was because Dupont came up with a synthetic fiber that's only competition was hemp. So they lobbied to get pot made illegal to take hemp off the market. You should hear some of the propaganda they used. "Smoking marijuana cigarettes makes white kids listen to jazz music" "Smoking marijuana cigarettes makes a a black man look at a white woman".

I am leaning toward legalizing it now. I didn't smoke very often because it seemed to have zero effect except for making me hungry.

There are so many different varieties though that I think it would be hard to say how safe it is to drive. I saw some in Little Rock in the 90's and no way anyone could drive after that.

 

[rockin'robin]

Beg to differ somewhat...I knew a hard-core pot head who could not remember his Social or his drivers license numbers...even his house number...he was so messed up all the time....and thought it was a ....He also had 2 accidents in 1 day!

It's addictive to some people also, just like cigarettes...and their driving reaction time is very slow...some drive fast...some slow...back and forth.....some go on eating binges......some go to sleep.

 

[Foxrac]

I just want end the drug wars and it didn't work for us, but caused overcrowded in prison.

 

[ambrosia]

I am leaning toward legalizing it now. I didn't smoke very often because it seemed to have zero effect except for making me hungry.

There are so many different varieties though that I think it would be hard to say how safe it is to drive. I saw some in Little Rock in the 90's and no way anyone could drive after that.

Oh it impairs you, just not to the degree of being drunk. If they did legalize I think it would and should be treated like drinking and driving. Just because I did stupid crap when I was in my late teens and early twenties doesn't mean I think it was a okay lol. I lived in NH when I used to smoke it and every now and then some really green bud would come through. I got some stuff that was so sticky with THC you could hardly get it to burn, yep that stuff would knock you on your butt! I probably wouldn't want to drive anywhere anyway

 

[Grummer]

damn just bet me by nearly 4x the amount of pot...but in a city of about 100,000 people not 9.8 million LOL
oh that was 20 years ago the town is still about 100,000 ...

 

[ambrosia]

Beg to differ somewhat...I knew a hard-core pot head who could not remember his Social or his drivers license numbers...even his house number...he was so messed up all the time....and thought it was a ....He also had 2 accidents in 1 day!

It's addictive to some people also, just like cigarettes...and their driving reaction time is very slow...some drive fast...some slow...back and forth.....some go on eating binges......some go to sleep.

Some people are just stupid RR, whether they smoke or not, but it's also pretty likely he did a lot of other stuff. For instance.....if he was a Dead Head, it's probable he's done a lot of acid and nitrous. for the rest of it I already posted in regards.

 

[Foxrac]

Beg to differ somewhat...I knew a hard-core pot head who could not remember his Social or his drivers license numbers...even his house number...he was so messed up all the time....and thought it was a ....He also had 2 accidents in 1 day!

It's addictive to some people also, just like cigarettes...and their driving reaction time is very slow...some drive fast...some slow...back and forth.....some go on eating binges......some go to sleep.

Just like old saying... The smoking is bad for you.

 

[diehardbiker]

About a month ago, there was court here in New York accusing a driver for smoking pot and a pain killer in his body after a fatal car accident. He was found not guilty, know why?

First of all, there is no known threshold for cannabis that would impair the driving. There is no hard document showing how much cannabis in body would impair the driving like where we know alcohol with .08 would impair the driving ability. There also the pain killer, there is no known threshold that would impair the driving. Without threshold, one can not be charge and guilty of. Case closed.

http://www.13wham.com/news/local/st...s-Gap-in-DWAI-Law/bKcc4dfB2UK1lYzhgOTDAA.cspx

Cannabis is one of only drug that one can not cause overdose like any other dope. Scientist already tested and the possible overdose threshold is 600 pounds of cannabis before one get overdose, how many times one smokes 600 lbs of weeds in just an hour? I bet none.

I personally have ride motorcycle and high on cannabis 20 years ago, and have not had any issue with.

Trust me, I bet there is at least 15% of drivers on the road is high on Cannabis, so far no known accident caused directly by Cannabis since 75 years. At same time hundred and thousands of car accidents involved alcohol many of them got killed and booze still legal, go figure.

Finally I have the feelings that Cannabis will become legal within near future. The result would be surprising nothing major.

 

[DeafTim]

Well, I do know majijuana have negative side effect...memory loss, burn-out, etc... I've been there and done that. No one should be drivin stoned. The more you smoke pot, the more intoxicated you are...same thang with booze. Hell, I can drink two beers and drive just fine. :roll: I can smoke half joint and just be fine. :roll: