By "Radical" Russ Belville on August 11, 2008
Wine-makers turn to marijuana – Americas, World – The Independent
The vineyards of America’s Washington state do not all, it turns out, grow grapes. Increasingly, they are growing marijuana, a plant that could surpass grapes in value this year.
So far this summer, law enforcement officials in the Yakima Valley have converged on seven vineyards that had been converted to marijuana. In 2006 more than 144,000 plants were seized; the following year the total more than doubled to 296,611 plants.
Finding farmers willing to sell their property isn’t difficult. In one case, drug operatives approached a farmer who didn’t have his farm listed for sale. He resisted until, asked to name a price, he threw out a figure: $263,000 for 27 acres and no building. The buyer returned a few days later and bought the property for cash.
The funny thing is that the previous wine-grape crop was responsible for far more deaths and mayhem than the current cannabis crop.
Posted in ACTIVISM, LAW ENFORCEMENT, SOCIETY | Tagged vineyards, Washington
I am the host of the NORML SHOW LIVE and The NORML Stash Blog. I'm married, live in Portland, Oregon, and I am a registered medical marijuana caregiver in this state. I've worked days as an IT geek and nights as a professional musician. Previously, I have been the host of my own political talk radio show on satellite radio. I've been the High Times "Freedom Fighter of the Month" for my work producing Oregon NORML's TV show, "A Cannabis Community Forum", and for helping to institute Portland's wildly successful medical marijuana cardholders meetings, where we help sick and disabled Oregonians acquire cannabis plant starts, learn gardening, and understand the medical marijuana law. I've dedicated my life to bringing an end to adult marijuana prohibition and re-legalizing cannabis hemp, and I'm honored to be chosen by NORML to be our daily voice.
