MyFox Gulf Coast | Landmark bill targeting marijuana grow houses becomes law
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Attorney General Bill McCollum announced Tuesday that the Marijuana Grow House Eradication Act has been signed into law, giving Florida’s prosecutors and law enforcement essential tools to combat for-profit growers of marijuana.The new law, sponsored by Senator Steve Oelrich (R-Gainesville) and Representative Nick Thompson (R-Ft. Myers), passed as House Bill 173 during the 2008 Legislative Session and was signed into law by Governor Charlie Crist Tuesday. The bill was developed because of the increasing number of grow houses operating in the state and violent crime which tend to be associated with these operations.
The new law makes it a second-degree felony to grow 25 or more plants, targeting for-profit growers who exploit Florida’s previous threshold of 300 plants. The law will also make it a third-degree felony to own a house for the purpose of cultivating, packaging and distributing marijuana and a first-degree felony to grow 25 or more plants in a home with children present.
Other important aspects of the law will provide substantial benefits to Florida’s law enforcement community. Previously, law enforcement around the state were required to store cumbersome grow house equipment in order to preserve it as evidence.
To address this growing storage burden, the new law allows a photograph or video recording of equipment used in the cultivation of a marijuana plant to be considered as evidence in the prosecution of the crime. The law will also allow law enforcement to destroy grow house equipment upon the completion of all investigations and provides immunity from any civil liability to law enforcement for the destruction of the grow house equipment.
The Marijuana Grow House Eradication Act goes into effect on July 1, 2008.
Well, then, that should do it. Now nobody in Florida will ever exploit the profit potential of owning a suburban marijuana grow house. Now that it is a second-degree felony, the camouflage of an unassuming suburban home won’t be enticing to a commercial grower who can produce enough profit in one crop to buy the house outright.
And the marijuana smokers in Florida, now that this law has passed, will curb their demand for fine suburban grow house marijuana. That way, when some of the more timid growers get out of the business, the price won’t increase due to supply and demand, and the growers who do remain won’t earn an even healthier profit.
Certainly, we won’t see any unintended consequences of this bill, like perhaps an increase in violence when grow house owners have nothing to lose and decide to shoot their way out of a raid. It’s not likely that as competition for grow houses grows that an organized criminal gang finds a way to control that market. And since Florida doesn’t have medical marijuana, there couldn’t be any patients there growing over 24 plants just to keep themselves alive.
i have been mentally ill for 24 years. my story is amazing and i NEED to share it with all those suffering people because pot is illegal……i have been treated by some of the best psych doctors in the world every drug ever drug i ever took did nothing to restore my sanity and had horrible side effects. pot keeps me alive and it was such gift. I AM NORMAL i can function and smell the flowers again………i would love to get my story public…just tell me where and when
This Bill is awsome.. Just think of all the revenue it will generate for the State. I love my grow just as much as the next guy here in Florida But I am tired of seeing my neighbors getting decapitated.
I LIVE IN SOUTH FLORIDA AND MY DAUGHTER HAS CANCER THEY DID GIVE HER MERINOL (MARIJUANA) PILL FORM ..I AM 59 YEARS OF AGE AND SHE IS 31 MY WIFE IS DEAD AND MY DAUGHTER IS DIEING I HAVE TO GROW THIS STUFF BECAUSE THATS ALL SHE CAN SMOKE. I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY I HAVE TO BREAK THE LAW I’M A VET (NAM) AND UNDER MEDICATION. I HAVE MORE THAN 50 SMALL PLANTS FOR HER AND LIVE ALONE AND HAVE 3 FULLY AUTOMATIC WEPONS LOCATED BY EACH DOOR WITH 100 ROUND DRUMS I HAVE MADE MY MIND UP TO JUST SHOOT IT OUT WITH THE GOVERMENT AND HOPE TO DIE AND I DONT EVEN SMOKE THE STUFF. WHEN I WAS IN NAM I WAS SENT OUT ..ON WHAT WE CALL SWEEP MISSIONS AT NIGHT… THAT MEANS ..(KILL EVERBODY). I WAS AN AIRBORN RANGER WITH THE 42ND & SERVED MY COUNTRY I WILL GO OUT FIGHTING SORRY I FEEL THIS WAY AND HAD TO WRITE THIS LETTER.
THE LAKMAKERS IN FLORIDA SHOULD ALL BE VOTED OUT OF OFFICE. THE DON’T CARE WHAT THE POPULUS SAY’S OR CARES ABOUT.
THEY JUST WANT TO MAKE THEIR OWN MONEY UNDER THE TABLE.
JUST ASK 10 PEOPLE WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT POLITICIANS.
THEY CRAM GOV. SPENDING,CORP.BAILOUTS,&GOV. HEALTH CARE DOWN OUR THROATS. I AM SICK OF THIS WE ASK FOR 1 THING AND THIS IS YOUR ANSWER!FROM NOW OWN IF YOU DO NOT SUPPORT LEGALIZATION I DO NOT SUPPORT YOU!!! NO VOTE FOR YOU! PS.ENJOY THE REST OFYOUR FINAL YEAR
yes a walk or rally here would be great.. they have them all the time at Sims park in new port richey,florida for the politics and fairs.Why not decriminalize or atleast vote for medical use.I feel I am more calm and pain free when i smoke..I dont abuse it nor am i addicted to Marijuana.It’s a Herbal plant that was given to use from god.So your going to tell god you must not use the herb? come on legalize it
I adding to my comment above:
I have done some research into the newer and latest in growing technology. LED technology was introduced to the inside horticulture market not too long ago. The two of the benefits are NO HEAT and lower electric bill which means for the horticulture enthusiast it is harder to detect thier gardens.( called labs to the prohibitionists}.
My conclusion based on this research is that the legislation was enacted not only for those reasons stated above but the main thrust was to counteract this new technology until they conjur up more legislation or make technological advances in the areas of detection either on the LED technology or biological controls in which I am sure they are working on feverishly and as fast as they can to tip the scales.
It reminds so much of radar detectors and laser guns. Someone is making big money on both sides of the fence and they do not care who or what is wrong or right, ethical and moral only to keep the ruse going as long as one can and make the money all along the way.
The prestige of government has undoubtedly been lowered considerably by the prohibition law. For nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced. It is an open secret that the dangerous increase of crime in this country is closely connected with this.” Albert Einstein
IF YOU GET UP TO 5 YEARS FOR GROWING AND 5 YRS FOR SELLING AND UP TO 15 FOR NEAR A SCHOOL OR CHURCH = UP TO 25 YRS, ITS BETTER TO SHOOT IT OUT WITH THE COPS ANY DAY THAN SIT IN PRISON FOR YEARS ON END ONLY TO COME OUT AND HAVE NOTHING AND LIVE UNDER A BRIDGE. IM LATE 40S SO GET OUT AT 60 AND THEN WHAT? NO WAY…
despite the positive outlook of this article and while most states seem to be moving forward towards humanness, decriminalization, and safe medical marijuana(14 states at present) , Florida is moving backwards towards feudal, draconian tyranny. In fact Florida Canabis laws are MORE SEVERE than even federal laws. And changes have been made this year to make them more severe. Mere possession of small amounts can land you in jail for 10 years. Florida legislators are too busy making Florida’s marijuana laws tougher than federal law to worry about sick and dying patients this year. look into Steve “enemy of the people” Oelrich (R-Gainesville) and Representative Nick “Draconian Law Sponsor” Thompson (R-Ft. Myers) and Charlie”Special Interest Group Whore” Crist
What happens when you get busted with 24 plants and then they cut them down and the wieght of the plants come out to 31 pounds do you get charged with a second de-gree felony?
what is it that you all dont understand?
it IS ONLY ABOUT MONEY ! it IS ONLY ABOUT MONEY it IS ONLY ABOUT MONEY it IS ONLY ABOUT MONEY it IS ONLY ABOUT MONEY it IS ONLY ABOUT MONEY it IS ONLY ABOUT MONEY it IS ONLY ABOUT MONEY it IS ONLY ABOUT MONEY it IS ONLY ABOUT MONEY it IS ONLY ABOUT MONEY it IS ONLY ABOUT MONEY it IS ONLY ABOUT MONEY it IS ONLY ABOUT MONEY!
THEY MAKE MORE BEING ILLEGAL AND ALWAYS WILL.
IT WILL NEVER BE LEGALISZED UNLESS THE PEOPLE…YOU AND ME
RISE UP AND DEMAND IT!
Skin inwards is my domain quote from
Dr.Alexander Shulgin, Thanks “Sasha”
The draconian policies of the state of Florida makes me a criminal and many more like me is that
I use a sacred medicine for my chronic myofascial pain,a muskeletal disease, as it works better for me without the side effects of the pharmacueticals and opiates, the only side effect I suffer is arrest.I can’t help that this medicine works better than others that I have been prescribed.Why would they take this of path of punishing the diseased with lock & key, when we are punished enough with disease, all for relieivng our suffering? One word greed.
It is my decision what I should put in my body and brain.Skin inwards is my domain not the goverments or an institutions.
Governor Crist is for a no helmet law saying it is a personal decision. Now think about that,
Why would he not than be for decriminalization and or at least medical marijuana?
If the outside of your skull and head is a personal decision then is it not a personal decision for the inside of your skull and head? We are truly living in a prison without bars.
We are more discriminated than other group,
all because of the way we relieve our suffering by a sacred medicinal plant given to us by our creator.
Florida has shamed the creator and his creations.
The rule of law has become the law of rule.
Those that rule the law will be zealots,jingoes, and hypocrites.
To any and all who read this…
It seems that what we could use here in Florida is a WALK, a RALLY, a DEMONSTRATION from our compassionate communal of caring enthusiasts to the politicians and people of this beautiful and historically sacred state. I too feel drawn to leave this state because I don’t want to fall under the STRONG ARM of INDECENCY. Protect and Serve means to care for the community and the INALIENABLE RIGHTS on which our Nation was founded.
Please email me if you would like to put our ideas and will to the test in order to coordinate a rally in 2009!
spencermj@gmail.com