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Photograph of a Kentucky grow house from the SEA
Apparently the DEA has been looking at a "narcotics trafficking organization that grows marijuana in houses in Queens and sells it throughout the New York region," according to the NY Times. It's believed that Murray was a part of the group, and when feds received a tip about him moving "high-power lights"—the sort that are used for grow houses—into a U-Haul, investigators moved in. From the Daily News:
Murray was sitting in the U-Haul truck when cops approached him and asked what he was doing, the complaint states.The street value of the marijuana plants found was $500,000. Murray, who didn't enter a plea, was released on $250,000 bail and faces between 5 and 40 years in prison if convicted. He has been suspended from his position at Engine 292 as well. second firefighter may be charged as well.The firefighter claimed he was just making a U-turn in the driveway, but cops knocked on the door of the house and a tenant told them Murray had been moving items out of the basement, which reeked of marijuana.
The cops followed the strong smell of pot wafting from the basement and found the plants growing in an unlocked room. The off-duty firefighter was also carrying keys to three doors in the house.
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If your drug of choice is branded with Merck or Wyeth or Phizer - that's ok - in fact it's encouraged, by everyone from your doctor to your family to Madison Avenue.
But if you choose the DIY route, Big Brother is not taking their share - and that's a no-no.
The fucked up thing is that there are laws on the books for taxing marijuana as the cash crop that it is. But, you can blame Nixon for the current Drug War and all of its inherent stupidity.
And to all of those people who are part of the underground grow houses... please watch Weeds. It will help you avoid all of the dumb mistakes you're making. Also, put something with a very strong odor in with the plants to keep them from reeking and if you're going to be moving grow lights anywhere, cover them up so the dumbass nosy neighbors can't see what you're doing.
also be careful so that ConEd doesn't rat you out when your electricity use skyrockets. I'm not really sure how people get around that unless they live in a large apartment building that doesn't have meters for each apartment.
You mean all those old ladies in Roosevelt Island have grow rooms?
people steal power from neighbors to cover this up, I remember reading it in one of the other pot-bust stories not too long ago.
And the cops wonder why everyone hates them. They can say they're just enforcing the law, but the reality is they choose which laws to ignore and enforce. And they chose to enforce this one, which makes them assholes.
DUDE, Someone got access to my account!!!! wtF???? Gothamist has a security breach! seriously, someone hijacked my account and posted stupid shit for the last 6 posts. I don't mind if people hate my ass for the shit I posted but if someone else posted stupid shit in my name then what's the point?
Babyhitler—we noticed and are trying to figure out what's happening. In the meantime, can you please email me directly — jen(at)gothamist(dot)com (I tried sending you an email but it bounced back... )
Jen, why have you suspended Felixthecat account? that is wrong. Felixthcat was defending his mother's honor since valeriob made offensive remarks about her. Only a slimeball would insult someone mother. I think you should reinstate felixthecat account.
Yes, that is a great idea Felixthecat.
Your pleading and changing your account to something derogatory is a great way to get what you want.
Isn't there an 18 y/o disclaimer on Gothamist?
ok. em'd you.
I thought I noticed a strange unbabyhitlerianism in those comments. Chilling.
"But if you choose the DIY route"
Come on. 100 pounds of weed? That's not recreational "DIY," which certainly wouldn't require growing so many plants that the neighbors are complaining about the smell.
"And the cops wonder why everyone hates them. They can say they're just enforcing the law, but the reality is they choose which laws to ignore and enforce. And they chose to enforce this one, which makes them assholes."
This was the DEA, not NYPD. Being, you know, the Drug Enforcement Administration, they don't really get to choose to enforce other kinds of laws.
They don't? Funny, I thought there were plenty more illegal drugs in this country besides marijuana. I must have been stoned.
This was the DEA, not NYPD. Being, you know, the Drug Enforcement Administration, they don't really get to choose to enforce other kinds of laws.
And the DEA has been so successful, in, oh, how many decades now? And how is the Drug Czar doing? Who is the Drug Czar? And all of this DEA activity is on your tax dollar - because this country has so much money to waste on nonsense enforcement like this.
Hey, I believe pot should be legal. I was just pointing out the lack of logic in the statement that people "hate cops" because the DEA arrests people running large scale grow operations.
Nope. That's not the reason.
Pot is good, why the big deal. we can strengten our economy if pot is legalized.
Pot is fun, we can strength our economy if we make pot legal.
So he grew some good indoor bud. chances are i could have enjoyed a strain since its Queens. AND he would race into a burning building? These laws against herb have to go. tax him and let him go be a firefighter (who incidentally dont get paid enough)
What a non-crime! When will this stupid waste of taxpayer money end? LEGALIZE AND TAX IT!
I agree with the legalize but no need to tax it. geez.
Like Peter Tosh said Legalize it. Then tax it. Do the same for prostitution.
Legalize it and we will advertise it!
Five to 40 years for growing plans. WTF?
That's what it ultimately comes down to right? Because all the negative stuff involving marijuana - drug runners, gang/cartel turf wars, etc - are all because this particular plant is illegal.
What a sad, fucked up world.
Full disclosure: I don't touch the stuff or anything else illegal. Alcohol is so much more readily available!
So to sum up: the DEA have destroyed 100 marijuana plants out of the (easily) millions in New York State alone, and have taken a fireman off duty forever.
I feel safer already!
Taxing it will help keep the city fat and happy. Gotta love that. I read yesterday that taxing and legalizing it will potentially make California a billion yearly. NY can use that dough! We're already paying alot for it, anyway. I don't mind if some of it goes to the city or state.
This town would really mellow out with people toking up legally.
The only aggressors here are the DEA officers.
This would be the kind of economic enviroment to end marijuana prohibition.
A few years ago, Harvard University's Jeffrey Miron produced a report titled The Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition. Among the findings, quoting from the summary:
"The report estimates that legalizing marijuana would save $7.7 billion per year in government expenditure on enforcement of prohibition. $5.3 billion of this savings would accrue to state and local governments, while $2.4 billion would accrue to the federal government."
"The report also estimates that marijuana legalization would yield tax revenue of $2.4 billion annually if marijuana were taxed like all other goods and $6.2 billion annually if marijuana were taxed at rates comparable to those on alcohol and tobacco."
http://www.prohibitioncosts.org/index.html
Great stuff.
I didn't check the site, but I assume this only considers marijuana, and not hemp.
If so, then we could probably double those numbers.
Again I ask where and when are they burning this devil weed?
This was very informative.
Thank you for posting!
But we already did that on Londonist...
No. it taught me that I'm so fucking awesome that someone actually cared enough to stalk me and hack into my account to swf my ass. I didn't even think my ego could get this big. thanks a lot bro.
I knew of DEA agents who would stuff extra bales in their trunk at the incinerator, and threatened my friend, an employee, with a gun if he mentioned it.
It was 20 years ago, so I guess it is OK now to divulge that.
But this is a case of the fox guarding the hen house.
yes, thanks, excellent link!
Is this why I see a fire truck in front of Pathmark at 10:00PM?