by J. D. Heyes
(NaturalNews) How insanely out-of-control has the war on drugs become? Apparently now, if all you do is buy equipment to grow plants and vegetables indoors is reason enough to suspect you of conducting illegal drug activity.
Case in point: State police and sheriff’s deputies in Kansas raided the home of Adlynn and Robert Harte, two former CIA employees, in a fruitless search for marijuana as part of a two-state drug sweep in conjunction with Missouri police agencies – all because they had bought supplies to grow vegetables inside their home.
As a result of getting improperly swept up in the operation, the couple has filed suit “to get more information about why sheriff’s deputies searched their home in the upscale Kanas City suburb of Leawood last April 20 as part of Operation Constant Gardener – a sweep conducted by agencies in Kansas and Missouri that netted marijuana plants, processed marijuana, guns, growing paraphernalia and cash from several other locations,” The Associated Press reported.
That date has long been used by marijuana users as a way to celebrate the drug, which remains illegal on the federal level though voters in two states – Colorado and Washington – legalized it for recreational use last November.
‘Public has an interest in knowing’
The Harte’s attorney, Cheryl Pilate, says, however, that she believes her clients’ 1,865-square-foot split level home was targeted because they recently purchased hydroponic gear to grow small numbers of tomatoes and squash in their basement.
“With little or no other evidence of any illegal activity, law enforcement officers make the assumption that shoppers at the store are potential marijuana growers, even though the stores are most commonly frequented by backyard gardeners who grow organically or start seedlings indoors,” says the suit.
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/039794_indoor_gardening_war_on_drugs_police_raids.html#ixzz2PaZfnohP