In March I was arrested for growing three marijuana plants in my home. It was 2 a.m. and I was sitting on my couch eating potato chips. Flash forward 30 minutes: I am being led to the back of a line of seven police cars (including forensics and dogs). I was not charged with harming anyone, or intent to distribute. The police said they knew I was not trying to sell; they understood that I was growing marijuana in my home to avoid dark dealings with drug dealers.
Even though that was understood, I was charged with three felonies and forced to plead guilty to “maintaining a dwelling for drugs” to avoid a prison term.
So, [having] three marijuana plants for personal use [qualifies as] maintaining a dwelling for drugs? I will be thankful in advance to the landlord who does not assume I am a meth-cooking drug dealer. Who will rent a home to someone who maintains a dwelling for drugs?
I realize that marijuana is illegal, but I also realize that it is only by breaking the law and speaking up that things can be changed. You have a duty to disobey laws that are morally corrupt.
The N.C. House Bill 1380 [Medical Marijuana Act] sits dormant in the capitol, waiting on intelligent progressive citizens to stand up and say, “Yes, there is a place for medical marijuana.” The U.S. government is on the wrong side of history on marijuana, and we in Asheville — a city known nationwide for high-quality marijuana, a city with at least two indoor grow shops and a half-dozen smoke shops — need to send a message to Raleigh: More weed, less greed.
Call the General Assembly in Raleigh, and tell them it's time for a little common sense in our Democracy.
— Michael Ivanov
Asheville
how did you get caught? i wouldn’t think that Asheville police would have the resources to put that much effort into busting someone growing a few plants for personal use.
it was never disclosed to me how i was caught. i believe i was the victim of a ‘narc.’ Sadly, they absolutely do have those resources.
Is the reasoning behind the “maintaining a dwelling” b.s. charge so that they can try to take the home via forfeiture laws?
Everyone in this town wants to be a martyr, but no one is willing to die….
mike:
a) you need to chose your friends more wisely…obviously somebody tattled on you.
b) nobody has to plead guilty to anything…if your story is accurate, i can’t imagine a jury that wouldn’t nullify.
c. it’s obvious that every rape, murder, and child molestation case in the city/county/state has been solved…therefore our cops have the time and resources to devote to your HUGE criminal enterprise! if i had a badge, i’d use it as a license to go confront people who actually HURT other people….but that’s just me…best of luck, bro.
“mike:
a) you need to chose your friends more wisely…”
You really expect a pot-head to have such reliable, loyal friends?
“therefore our cops have the time and resources to devote to your HUGE criminal enterprise!”
I doubt it took very much work to take down this criminal mastermind (snicker).
“nobody has to plead guilty to anything…if your story is accurate, i can’t imagine a jury that wouldn’t nullify.”
LOL. I would not recommend taking the legal advice of normanplombe.
The idea of a jury nullification did cross my mind, but the odds are about 5%. i’m not going to gamble 3 years in prison on a 5% chance that a jury nullifies.
I use to live in Asheville buy now,i am in the BayArea,it’s not the best but you can grown and have less than a once they need to reduce the laws against hemp,harm reduction,P.T.S.D and it is needed the reason why i left Asheville was stress of from the Diversity of Racism to the fact that i would like to start and end my day with a Good Joint.Again it is not the best here ,but you can grow( 7 Plants),and you could get a ticket for Smoking,you need a Club Card but if you look at the overall you don’t have to trip about a 2:am raid for Hemp.
SmokefortheSeason, and Stay-Warm.
Mike…..what do you mean it was never disclosed to you?? The police must declare in discovery what info was used to obtain a warrant