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
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
Subscribe to XpressMail. Free Sneak Peek. Every Week.
Want to know what's coming out in Xpress this week before the paper even hits the stands?
We've got your free sneak peek, along with deals available in XpressMail, our weekly email newsletter. (It's the best we can do without time travel.)
-
Comments
-
Related Articles
-
Comments
Make a comment
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.
By Bob Dobbs
12/22/2010
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.
By Michael
12/23/2010
Is the reasoning behind the "maintaining a dwelling" b.s. charge so that they can try to take the home via forfeiture laws?
By Bob Dobbs
12/23/2010
Everyone in this town wants to be a martyr, but no one is willing to die....
By HKUSP
12/26/2010
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.
By normanplombe
12/26/2010
"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).
By BigAl
12/27/2010
"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.
By bill smith
12/27/2010
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.
By Michael ivanov
12/27/2010
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.
By Aaron Brown
12/28/2010
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
By jack
01/04/2011