Well, there are less special agents than thieves in Humboldt County.

I don’t know if you’ve ever seen the dispensaries in L.A., but they are a far cry from the little places in Arcata.

I hear you. I was reading about the Planco over the weekend. Not an authoritarian in that group, no way! (sarcasm)

I did come across this:

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents served search warrants on four medical marijuana vendors in the Los Angeles area on Tuesday, seizing more than 200 kg (440 pounds) of cannabis, edible marijuana products and about $10,000 in cash, a DEA spokeswoman said.

There were no arrests, according to the spokeswoman, special agent Sarah Pullen.

I can’t see the difference between that and being burgled. Seems like they’re just enriching themselves from all the theft.

Just follow some guidelines and you’ll be okay.

Don’t go over whatever the local limit is. You might get off in a jury trial, but who wants to go through all that?

Don’t tell anybody what you’re doing. Especially don’t tell other people who are doing the same thing as they will bug you about it for sure.

Don’t ever favor efficiency over stealth. If a piece of equipment makes too much noise, either spend $200 on sound proofing or forget about it.

Don’t damage your expensive house. Keep humidity under 65%. Don’t cut holes in the wall. Don’t do anything on top of carpet.

Don’t hang lamps from the ceiling. If you can’t afford a vertical light tube, buy/build a sturdy light hanging structure. Push on the structure like an earthquake was happening to test it. Don’t rely on hooks in studs as you are hanging a 2000 degree lamp, not a fern.

Don’t plug lamps into cheap plastic timers. I can’t stress this one enough. At least get a heavy-duty grounded timer. If you want to use multiple lamps, plug them into a MLC or (better yet) a Solatel.

Buy a heat/power loss cutoff switch so that if the power fluctuates or if it becomes too hot, the lamps turn off. Buy a smoke detector and a fire extinguisher as well.

Whatever you do, don’t reference the bonehead rules from Arcata Planco and think that if you follow those that you are doing things correctly. The people who came up with those guidelines couldn’t grow dandelions in a windowsill. Their “fireproof” structure is flawed, their rules illogical, and their justifications dubious. Like I said, they justify their design because of brilliant advice from the volunteer donation-stealing fire department, not because they actually tested anything.

Wow, thanks much for the advice and information. I hadn’t even thought about thieves. I’m in the information gathering process right now so you guys’ comments are appreciated.

What Mark S. said is a tad bit inaccurate.

It is 6 mature OR 12 immature, not “and.” The minute you have one mature plant (e.g. a mother), the limit becomes 5 clones from that mother. Botanically, a mature plant is not defined as a flowering plant or even a big plant. Once an angiosperm establishes secondary xylem and phloem, it is mature. The 6/12 limit is designed to accommodate seedlings. It is not designed to sex seedlings as you have to grow plants to “maturity” in order to sex them. Great set of rules the legislators came up with there… I bet they garden all the time.

The guidelines differ depending on what agency you are dealing with. The Eureka and Fortuna PD as well as the CHP go by SB 420 6/12/8 guidelines. Arcata goes by a set of wacky guidelines with such brainy contributors as the dunderheads who write letters to the editor on the subject and the Arcata Volunteer Fire Department… the same geniuses who embezzle donation money. (/end libel) The rest of Humboldt County goes by Gallegos’ 100 square foot/3.5 lbs guideline.

None of this applies to so-called “concentrated cannabis.” There is no guideline for an acceptable amount of kif, hashish or honey oil.

I wouldn’t worry so much about cops or neighbors. Your neighbors may not know what an exhaust fan sounds like or what color that thin stripe of HPS light not quite hidden behind a blackout curtain is, but crop jackers will spot this and more. Potential thieves should be reason enough to keep everything cool. Keep it simple if you are going to embark on any horticultural adventures. Don’t think about if your redneck neighbor notices or if the cops notice, think about if a thief would notice. It is also a good idea to buy supplies in bulk and not be in the nursery every week asking for a bag of 707 and Power Flower. Sure, grandma behind you in line has no clue, but any thug-minded evil person will know exactly what is up. It’s pretty easy to be a legitimate patient who attracts no trouble… obey the law but think like a criminal.

Hey Mark, thanks very much for the information. I’m reading about People v Kelly right now.

Just remember, unless the document say so, you may only posses 8 ounces of cannabis, 6 mature plants and 12 immature plants. Especially in Eureka.
Unless and until the California Supreme Court affirms People V Kelly.