Illicit marijuana tied to Chinese criminal networks infiltrates Maine

CBS News investigates illicit marijuana grow operations tied to Chinese criminal networks in Maine.
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[@rebeccalankford9810]

Let people grow their own and this issue will stoo.

[@jeffdur1330]

People can grow their own. It's not 1982.

[@seeharvester]

@@jeffdur1330 I've been growing my own since 72. Just don't tell anyone and don't try to sell it.

[@WithoutRemorse12]

The Black Market is an essential part of Capitalism.

[@Morgan_Layfay]

​@@jeffdur1330 yea you'd think .. Clark County NV: Adults 21 years and older can legally grow cannabis plants at home for their personal consumption, but only if there is not a state-licensed retail cannabis store within 25 miles of the home. The following rules apply: Up to 6 plants per person, but no more than 12 plants per household Plants must be grown within a closet, room, greenhouse, or other enclosed area that is equipped with a lock or other security device Plants must not be visible from a public place The grower must own the property or have the permission of the legal owner And there are 3 dispensaries within a one mile radius lol So... They rent you a pony for your birthday and say "Look! We got you a pony!!" .. Then pony has to go home 😑😂

[@xrayron1]

@@Morgan_Layfay But this was Maine. Every state has their own rules. ainers can grow cannabis for personal use. As many as six mature, 12 immature plants, and an unlimited number of seedlings are allowed per resident 21 years of age or older. And NO rules containing to any miles from a dispensary.

[@captainakeaton5572]

Fully legalize cannabis and there wouldn’t be these problems!

[@Mac-po1sr]

the same is true for all drugs

[@americatruecrime]

No regulation or taxation?

[@moment-of-glory]

Nah they need to tax it.. but that would make too much sense

[@BreezybriefswithBrooke]

@@Mac-po1sr stupidest statement I’ve ever heard😂 They decriminalized it, and then those states went to hell in a hand basket. NOW , they are criminalizing it again.😅

[@TRAVIESO_NA]

That’s not true bro not at all, it’s legal in California and we got the biggest illegal market place now.

[@mrboatshoe]

Politicians robbing us blind but they worried about a high electric bill😂😂

[@emsauce75]

China learned this from England when England was flooding H to China back in the day.

[@benjamintribe4652]

Exactly the chickens have come home to roost!!😆🤷‍♂️

[@zealoustherealous]

They learned from thier abusers

[@MrMrabaunza]

@@benjamintribe4652England not the US.

[@moddedaccount6758]

​@@MrMrabaunza same sht

[@MrMrabaunza]

@@moddedaccount6758 🤡

[@WhatsupPattaya]

The government has to make their Tax revenues in every way possible. No making money without paying Uncle Sam.

[@j2323j]

What makes you think you can’t pay?

[@user-iq9qr5cx3h]

Yes... and if you start your own business or your own company, Uncle Sam takes a cut as well. Thats the cost of living in a 1st world country. If you don't like it, go to South America.

[@illcauze6108]

@@user-iq9qr5cx3hthat’s BS… if it’s legal it’s legal!!! PERIOD… you should be able to grow what you want. It’s state and government legal. How do they know he’s not claiming the money he making?? And in some cases what if they growing for personal reasons?? How about the so called “war on drugs” they supposedly spending all our tax money on!!?? The country Afghanistan own 80% of the poppy farms in the world (which we control now) and we have the biggest heroin epidemic on the planet!! How’s it getting here?? So I don’t wanna hear ish about that what it cost to live in a top tier country bro… bunch of ish

[@allenbeardsley6382]

@@user-iq9qr5cx3h only dumb poor people pay taxes. the rich people who actually make money aren't giving it all to uncle sam.

[@chrisfrank6776]

The government is a joke if there not making money from you it's no good, funny how they had to bring fentanyl,and other drugs into it, marijuana was grown on earth all those other drugs where made from man made products.

[@DUBSTEP_KUSH305]

Why make marijuana recreational and you CAN'T grow your OWN smh

[@GaryBScary]

When you can get a ounce for $100 all day from the dispensaries theres no need for a black market. My old dealer is a roofer now

[@davidmatela9868]

And buying up all the land & real estate too. In other words slowly but surely taking control of this country

[@PM2024-]

This is why the USA needs to completely legalize weed 💨

[@KNxkyle82]

Lol bro I think this of china plan bring us down from the inside anyway possible. Americans especially young stoners and jus smoking working at a regular fast food job. There is a reason they call weed a crutch makes a bad situation breathable, why do a lot of poor people smoke weed

[@timothydempsey3763]

That would nip that problem in the BUD

[@sendthis9480]

Aahhhhhhhh man! I remember when it was all in big jars, and you could smell it, and they used chopsticks to weigh out your order right in front of you. Lolol I hate having to buy sealed packages. I end up being stuck to a certain brand / flavor that I already know, and it’s hard to try new things.

[@petermccavington8232]

Hmu

[@KathyJensen-vh2yk]

In Az we have it both ways , mylar and open jars .

[@shatikaconward7247]

I don’t buy nothing I can’t smell or see

[@ianbattles7290]

The government can't tax you for growing your own supply!!!

[@schulzg]

It should be legal, and we would have much less of these issues.

[@JerettFranklin]

This is the third time I'm hearing the Chinese are at it again with this marijuana.

[@GhostWriter-wt8pb]

3 guys running all grows in maine😂

[@SWFloridaRealtor]

China packs everywhere

[@staymad2811]

They’ve been doing it for decades .They’re just more lowkey compared to cartels or street gangs

[@GlennDuke-yc5ky]

Lies

[@user-cc5pq4yp8u]

Legalize my medicine federally!!!!

[@bryanwillingham7023]

Also same corruption in Oklahoma here where we grow legal medical

[@angelahoward6256]

No country should be able to come here and start a drug business. The city and county should know of any property that is empty. Then when there is a lot of traffic, they can investigate.

[@davidanderson8469]

Yeah squatters are one thing and now illegal growers using questionable growing techniques like petro based fertilizers and pest control. Support your local grown with better strains.

[@GlennDuke-yc5ky]

China isn't able to come here because of the physical structure of our planet.

[@whoyawit]

Weed is go for you better than Liquor!!👀

[@smrk2452]

It also kills more brain cells.

[@chrismoore1372]

And tobaccy

[@user-zt9ws2dz4c]

That electric bill would be a dead giveaway

[@codingprograms2078]

"Marijuana lying all over the place." 😂😂😂Imagine that.

[@davinxi5926]

Cartels have been doing it since the 80s

[@buzz5969]

And still doing it today only on a much larger scale!✌🏻🍻🇺🇸

[@lillyboldlyshewhispers7145]

The troubling illicit Chinese crime organizations in America is not just illegal marijuana but the amount of it on the streets laced with fentanyl. Not to mention the human trafficking attached as henchmen. Thats the high priority of it all.

[@nunyadambusiness3530]

No weed is laced with Fentanyl.

[@LouieOcean.]

Yeah they got the strongest mob around but the prisons have like no Asians somehow lol

[@whitephantom3774]

Not to Bidens administration it isnt

[@taylorkirkland3529]

Meanwhile you got Americans spending their whole paychecks on Chinese products on Amazon, Wish and Temu 😂

[@robstaccs6128]

Its only illegal because of taxes, majority if not all of laced fentanyl drugs come from Mexican cartels, they do buy the precursor from the triads. Majority of the trafficking triads do is illegally helping people move from one country to another, is it dangerous? absolutely, but I find trafficking woman and children in the states far worse and its done by American gangs or criminal organizations.

[@PsycheDolo]

1000 dollars a month to work 24 hours 😂😂😂

[@scozbert]

😢 this should not be a crime at all.

[@davidanderson8469]

I'm concerned with the fertilizers and pesticides and of course eventually fentanyl. Grow your own or support a local grower. I'd like to see the locales test some of this Chinese grown stuff. Cheaper is not better folks.

[@user-un1fm4jk5j]

Stores sealing white powdered weed😮

[@Genghiscore]

Once every states legalized marijuana than there would be 80% less black markets growers.

[@PRBSurfer84]

So just fully legalize it and let the value drop and make it less desirable. Quit allowing certain people to profiteer from outdated laws.

[@markrogers503]

The states need to keep all chinese businesses away from here.

[@captainflannel8558]

end prohibition of weed in all this would end

[@33Thrty]

i love how they still found a way to bring up fenty🤣🤣the new "covid" word

[@ned_interrobang]

just legalize it already. no black market if i can grow my own

[@nowzthetime]

I remember hearing this like 5 years ago old news

[@chicfini]

Stop lying for them, they know very well what they are doing, they didn't come here under no false pretence.

[@chemistcurtis]

First of all, marijuana is not a deadly drug. It is safer than alcohol. Make it legal for medical and personal use and you don’t have to worry about that type of issues. People would rather buy medical than black market for the reason of fear of fentanyl

[@earnesthillsdale9218]

Can you imagine people were ready to go to war over the price of ☕️ nothing would surprise me .

[@daxomegajr2620]

I’m in central California and i grow my own it’s super hard to grow the right way. If you order a full unit u get it in 2 or 3 days ticket is cheap cheap

[@TRAVIESO_NA]

Legally = bigger market. Bigger market = competition Competition = illicit black market

[@beethao9380]

Legal = less search Less search = black market

[@TRAVIESO_NA]

@@beethao9380 👍 well said

[@martymar1]

So if its legal. Do they get fines for the amount?

[@TheTonialadd]

Time to legalize cannabis!

[@penitenttangent7346]

Enjoy your laced pot 😂

[@sendthis9480]

⁠@@penitenttangent7346 lol…you sound like my mom did in the 90s. I’ll ask you the same thing I always asked her: This guy that takes pot…charges you only for the amount you want…and also puts extra drugs into it for free… You got his number?

[@andyjohnson3790]

I agree but that still wont stop illegal grow operations

[@KillingthisLane]

Weak Government

[@donaldfeger91]

They made legal to cut down on crime not support it?;!?

[@stevetube486]

After seeing this, I am tipping my legal budtenders more.

[@davidmirandajr]

50 dollar eights bout to bankrupt me in chi town i got so used to the dispensary 😔

[@UncommonSense1776]

…but there is no problem at the southern border…..

[@GlennDuke-yc5ky]

Not as bad as Republicans claim. I think to some extent prejudice is involved in these political exaggerations.

[@petermccavington8232]

How are they victims if tthey're growing marijuana illegally?? So stupid 😅😅😅😂😂

[@risingsun31]

Just Legalized in all states???

[@TippDrill]

With every struggle come relief My friend 💪🏿✊🏿

[@lemontadams3029]

They came with the legal legislation

[@tonypalermo5796]

Grow your own!

[@tvviewer4500]

Just make the good drugs legal again so we can buy the good stuff at the drug store

[@user-mw8bc6st4p]

The legal market has been created for taxation. The original black market sales were to individuals and largely grown by fellow consumers. The new black market, is different. When states like Washington established their legal markets, they created a divided supply, distribution, and sales market. Producers are not selling their cannabis directly to the consumer. This divided market approach works well for taxation, but leaves the user without adequate safety measures. Retailers will refund/exchange cannabis oil cartridges for mechanical malfunctions, but will not return/exchange other cannabis products for safety or quality reasons. Not only will they not guarantee the products they sell, they get upset when product safety is brought up for discussion. The regulating authority, has failed the consumer and created the pathway for the "new black market". "Farm to table" is the solution to the current safety crisis that the State regulating agency has created. Consumers buying directly from the producer, with quality and safety reporting pathways established. Why is Washington State profiting millions of dollars from tax revenue, without adequate safety measures for the consumer?

[@user-mw8bc6st4p]

Additionally, overproduction and distribution has made bad cannabis spread farther faster. Regional production and distribution would limit the spread of bad cannabis products.

[@gapingpeanut]

So basically if they had their license to grow, it wouldnt look any different than any other commercial dispensery grow operation

[@chrisk7626]

When do you think it's about time to sound the alarm about the dirty labor unions in New York City. What about the ghost employees at the Dock Workers. Sound the Alarm it's been going on for 100 years😢

[@QueenBDreamwalker]

So where's this "illicit marijuana" ending up? In the streets, at dispensaries, at dude's crib down the road? Is it legal for People to grow their own for personal use in Maine? What if it wasn't declared a drug - like before the 1930's - maybe there'd be less confusion about a plant that has many beneficial uses. 🌱🌎

[@chinablack]

Sounds like a small grow

[@klosar80]

They have huge grow operations here in bay area all Chinese

[@Neppy1414]

Let us grow

[@DROPKICKaZOMBIE]

It's a great way to control the people, especially the government weed

[@VolkXue]

i'm from Oklahoma and you're on that anything for a headline clickbait

[@danfriel9608]

If the government wasn’t so concerned about getting paid off it these issues would solve themselves

[@angelahoward6256]

If the electric co. would inform police would a large amount of electricity, then we could be on top of within a month.

[@lemontadams3029]

They are not trying to stop their Mafia partners. Mexicans or Chinese

[@user-ox8ud9ys9m]

They got LED grow lights now they use minimal lectricity

[@juelz4516]

Not when there’s that many plants bud. That’s going to be a huge spike

[@user-ox8ud9ys9m]

@@juelz4516 maybe so I got 22 Gorilla Glues and my electric is basically the same

[@user-uv7nl8kz2o]

Why not legalize weed nationwide & eliminate this criminal issue??

[@buzz5969]

Some of us just dont care about it’s illegalities. Weed has been illegal yet available in EVERY COUNTRY Ive travelled, in some places its a death sentence, and still prevalent with the right peeps, let that sink in.

[@evanmurphey]

A lot of states make money of illegality and profit hand over fist. That is the reason

[@davidanderson8469]

I every state that's completely legal illicit grows exist. They don't have to test and if a sample is tested you'll find all kinds of adulterants.

[@michaelb7718]

It’s easier to disappear in a big city vs the country

[@xtintit]

He said clam and log all in the same sentence.

[@Zerocrash-]

This is what happens when you don’t legalize cannabis nation wide. How do we stop this. Legalizing the rest of the country.

[@voltage3681]

I love when they make up numbers 😭😭 1 million is wild unless they’re absolutely milking the value of all 2600 plants

[@713Clayboy]

When you smoke it it gives you squinty eyes.

[@dalepotter6918]

Yeah, and its pissing off the legal growers. They are popping up all over the state.

[@wornout3499]

In California I can get $10 1/8th at my dispensary why Go to the black market where they use pesticides

[@matthewlazalde561]

Marijuana and fentanyl are pretty much the same exact thing too

[@Dablackstoic]

Transportation would be the main issue

[@infinidominion]

Need to get their priorities straight

[@zackmi2]

Doesn't help state law makers are pushing customers away from the legal market with remediation, nobody wants weed that smells and tastes like hay from being microwaved or washed with hydrogen peroxide to remove microscopic mold spores that will not harm you.

[@mattmedina7903]

It's happening everywhere I live on a reservation in Washington state tulalip tribes on they just busted this big grow operation ran by Chinese here on visas

[@markicangelo8282]

Lots of crime going on here in Maine

[@youtubejunkie8053]

😂😂😂 this is hilarious! Y’all are SUPER LATE to the party with this story! The Chinese have been producing platinum bubba and now Runtz by the truck load since 2010 or so. Super cheap packs and they always deliver, you never have to worry about them ripping you off. The cannabis isn’t great but most of the smokers out there have no clue what good cannabis really is. Here in the Bay Area it’s all ran by the Triads and they operate untouched.

[@user-ov6fv3qr2n]

So MAKE IT LEGAL and give the profits to LOCAL INVESTORS

[@ArtTheSinger]

They are not that dense to only receive $1000 dollars a month. That amount is a petty crime. They will be released. The cops want the big guys.

[@anthony1life2live]

Glad they are slowly leaving oregon

[@user-to2gh7sg3l]

I LIVED IN MAINE FOR 4 YEARS, I WAS MISERABLE AND SAW NEEDLES ON GROUND WALKING TO SCHOOL, HOW ABOUT FIXING THAT FIRST? GLAD I LIVE OUT WEST NOW. THE EAST IS SO LAME.

[@jeepernj99]

Yeah the west has it figured out

[@bushikciwa]

@@jeepernj99😂😂

[@omnipresentwaves3117]

Just quit. Smoking causes stress.

[@ZaySmokes]

So the government can grow it, but no one else can? It’s a damn plant lol

[@fakereality96]

not surprised

[@apollolee1313]

Just free the plant already so many worst things you can be taken care of absolutely ridiculous

[@loadedfun4764]

Support your local growers!

[@cabinmusikslaps]

Thanks for the weed a decade ago!!! Made high school fly for me!!

[@JohnLaFosse]

It’s hilarious to see senator Collins from my home state of Maine speaking about how bad all this is when she first got elected her brother got busted for a huge grow operation. On top of that how could law enforcement not know when marijuana grow supply shops are all over Maine. How are these rural communities going to earn a living? Give the growers a pathway to sustainably growing or convert it to industrial hemp products. It’s stupid to incarcerate and label it a China problem.

[@jacksonliddiard4326]

Haha they're always complaining about what hurts their bottom line when we should have the right to manage our own plants. Something like this certainly wouldn't be a problem.

[@lowlifetrent959]

quite the stretch

[@handsomethecat13731]

Get over it. Government not making ALL the money?

[@Distilled1]

legalize.

[@TheBlackmanIsGod]

WE NEED LIVABLE WAGES!!

[@devonbrown2104]

It’s legal in Ohio and we can grow it

[@GhostWriter-wt8pb]

Since when?cant even buy it in ohio

[@pudintain9656]

Cali has so many regulations and has taxed it so much, legal dispensaries have a hard time making a profit. And everybody seems to have a "dude down the street" with better and cheaper product anyway.

[@billydee6106]

So if the Weed growers would have used generators they wouldn't have gotten caught

[@maineman152]

Gee,..... just come to Parsonsfield, Maine, you can grow all the WEED you want here, there are already dozens of grow operations here and more starting up by the week, the law won't bother anyone for growing here in York County because they have had no guidance from the State Legislature on growing regulations, so, come one,come all, it's A FREE FOR ALL here in Parsonsfield !

[@moosebrandon8665]

Stop calling weed drugs

[@uptownog8889]

These cops aren’t smart. Just go check the local energy companies and you’ll catch the criminals

[@fldon2306]

Used to summer in Machiasport and Jonesport Maine, way up in Washington county!! Would think anyone Asian would stand out in the old-timer’s area…

[@TheJereld]

Tony Dokoupil's dad used to sell.

[@hailseasare]

goottteeeeeeeeem lol