Pot Grower's Privacy Challenged

damaged_sectors writes "A map marking what are supposed to be secret locations of 60 warehouses and other buildings where medical marijuana is grown in Boulder has accidentally been made public by the city. Officials say an 'oversight' led them to publish the map on the city's Web site. Kathy Haddock, Boulder's senior assistant city attorney who advises the council on medical marijuana issues, said Thursday that the map would be removed from the city's Web site. No conspiracy here folks. In other news the council will decide at its Jan. 18 meeting whether Boulder should circumvent the open records act exemption for cultivation centers by requiring applicants for medical marijuana business licenses to waive their right to privacy. The council could force all growing centers to sign such a waiver as a condition of receiving a city-issued business license. While the risk this would make it easier for Federal authorities to raid grow-ops might not concern council members and others opposed to medical marijuana — I have to wonder what sort of mentality thinks exposing growers to the very real risk of armed robbery by criminals is justifiable."

businesses have little "right to privacy"

[Mr. Slippery]

I support medical cannabis -- indeed, I support the end of all drug prohibition laws. But how is there a "right to privacy" any more than for any other pharmacetuical? Every pharmacy has stuff with more street value than weed, yet the locations of licensed pharmacies are public records, aren't they?

Re:OK, so I don't know the whole story...

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

I'm fairly sure that banks choose to advertise their places of business, rather than having them helpfully outed by the local government...

Further, while retail establishments, banking and otherwise, are made as public as possible for obvious reasons, it is quite common for actors in a wide variety of legitimate industries to be somewhat cagey about the locations and precise purposes of their various "back office" facilities. Keeps security costs lower, provides less information to competitors, and so forth. Most of this stuff isn't truly "secret"(in the sense that it is nothing a PI or decent reporter couldn't dig up with a bit of work); but there are tens, probably hundreds, of thousands of industrial parks and office complexes around the country, often gated and typically deliberately understated, quietly doing assorted stuff, under the (small) placards of various corporations that may or may not be under some other umbrella entirely. In addition to static facilities, things like shipments of cash, high-value consumer or industrial goods, hazardous chemicals, and pharmaceuticals are quite commonly done quietly. Again, not secret; but the local government sure doesn't "accidentally" reveal the time and route that the next shipment of medical opiates is going to be taking into the local oncology hospice...

Obviously, this isn't the end of the world; but conflating retail and backend operations is pretty misleading.

Not an Issue

[Lord Byron II]

As a former Boulder resident, I challenge anyone who thinks this is a privacy issue to find any address in Boulder where they aren't growing pot. It's as "legal" there as it is anywhere.

Re:OK, so I don't know the whole story...

[stonewallred]

I do work for a business in my town. It has a emergency generator, a secondary generator for HVAC/R and lights, and a tertiary generator for the -30F freezer. The stuff in the walk-in cooler (36F), the walk-in freezer (0F) and the other walk-in freezer(-30) (reachable only by going through the cooler and 0F freezer) are all small boxes and insulated containers marked with bio-hazard symbols. They keep a rotating temp chart that if it varies by more than 3F in an hour period, they call me for immediate service and inspection. And when I asked them what was in the boxes, they said "stuff". When I asked abut the temp requirements, they said the "stuff" gets unstable above 40F. The company name is very generic. The staff, about 30 or so, don't wear name tags. There checks are drawn on a local bank. And when I google them, there is no information other than their phone number and address. That's the "I don't know the whole frickin story" I am interested in. Oh, and they have never questioned any of my bills, or prices. I show up, verify the equipment is functioning within parameters (Amp draw, operating pressures, etc) and give them a bill. They write me a check then and there, no matter if it is 2pm on a Monday, or 3am on Christmas Eve (yeah, called me three years ago because the temp varied by 4 degrees F at approximately 11pm.)

Re:Stop with the "Just a plant" nonsense

[HomelessInLaJolla]

If a bunch of pot smokers want to turn their brains to Jello and wreck their lungs, throats and mouths, let them
And if the voice of all ignorance continues to spread fear, uncertainty, doubt, and lies, let them.

Tax and regulate, tax and regulate, that's all we hear is tax and regulate. First you spread lies and then you want to tax and regulate--taxations and regulations justified by the lies previously spread. Control freak much?

Re:OK, so I don't know the whole story...

[stonewallred]

Mostly white, 30-40 year old appearing staff. Everyone polite, and well spoken, but not talkative. No extremes, as in no ultra-short haircuts, but no pony tails and piercing either. No visible tats on anyone, and, which is strange, no secretary nor any place for a secretary. There is a front door, locked with blinds over it, a side door, a loading bay door and a enclosed ramp with the entrance door at the side of the building. And I live in a fairly Podunk town, in the south. Been doing the work there for almost 12 years, after a former boss closed shop and recommended me to them for their service needs. On the article topic, I have built three grow rooms for "customers" and helped another guy design one, and supplied him with all the equipment, but he built it himself at his private location. A large walk-in cooler shell, with a AC system, makes an excellent grow room, and prevents most of the odor problems.

Re:Decriminalize it

[Master Moose]

Always when pot is brought up, so to is this argument: "Decriminalise it. .". . . "Alcohol is worse. . "

I work in public heathcare, and have had many dealing with mental institutions, the patients and the staff (many of which are indistinguishable - but that is another issue).

Take a look inside any mental hospital, now look at the "Mad" people in there - people not born with retardation but rather who went mad later. In my experience, the vast majority of them are in there because of Drug use and abuse. (I do not deny that this also includes alcohol abuse.) Many peoples psychosis is triggered solely by their use of Drugs. This does include people who "only smoke weed"

One of the key challenges faced bystaff members is trying to keep the grass out from visiting family members/Friends. People of the "it's harmless and besides, it should be legalised/decriminalised" mentailty believing they are doing the mental patient no harm by trying to smoke a joint with them.

Just because there are (only debatably) worse things out there, this does not make it a good idea. In reality, all you are doing is making a case for another round of alcohol prohibition.

Re:what, are you high?

[jav1231]

Bob!? Is that you? Of course not. You have no idea who I am. Let me "learn ya." At the age of 7 I had already been exposed to marijuana. An older sibling who had traded joints for cigs and remained a user for some 40 years discovered that it was easier to babysit me, and thus fulfill his mandate from my single mother of taking me where ever he went so she could work to support 6 children, if I were stoned. Sitting me in front of the stereo stoned out of my mind, I was allowed to direct the party's music. (As a side I developed a keen sense what constitutes good music, but I digress.) Additionally, my brother-in-law by that time was a huge user and dealer as were many in my immediate and distant family. I'd seen more J in my first ten years than most would see in their life. So while you sit behind your keyboard smug in your anonymity, you might stop and at least check the "someone who" assumptions.

Re:Let's put it up on Wikileaks

[JoeMerchant]

On one there is personal freedom, on the other is personal responsibility and accountability.

I used to believe that, when I was 12. The longer I live, the more I realize that life is a lottery - you can make all the best choices and be absolutely screwed, and you can screw off and do grossly irresponsible things and be rewarded for them like a King.

Odds are better that you will do well if you "follow the path" - you've got maybe 60% chance of being "average," but I know way too many people who have followed that responsible path just to be kicked to the gutter by things totally out of their control.

On the other hand, it is all to easy to throw yourself in the gutter - we are all presented with hundreds of opportunities to do so every day. It's a miracle that there is anything resembling civilization at all, considering how easy it is to screw it up.

Re:Let's put it up on Wikileaks

[shiftless]

You're an idiot. I'm an every day, all day long type of smoker. The other day I ran out of pot. I'm kinda broke for the next few weeks (college student), and have other obligations, so can't buy a bag. Oh well. Not even the first hint of "jonesin" for a smoke. Not even the first hint of feeling bad or withdrawing or feeling "addicted" in any way. And you don't think I know what that's like? I used to smoke cigarettes. When I quit, I felt like shit for weeks, and thoughts constantly ran through my head of wanting to go buy a pack of smokes.

So in conclusion, you're ignorant, and a loud mouth, which equals = a dumb ass.