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Search warrants, hydro shop narcs, and some rambling

Discussion in 'Security' started by NonToker, Sep 17, 2011.

  1. #1 NonToker, Sep 17, 2011
    I've been wondering about this subject since I read the article posted by jcj77d. When I went to my local hydro shop to make my first purchases, I bought a tent and a couple odd-and-ends to start out with. The person there was helpful, polite, and all-around plain courteous as we discussed products and options. I've been to headshops and I know you don't use the "M" word or the "P" word in these establishments. It just makes sense if you think about it, these folks are in business to make money and don't need to be implicated in criminalized activities. My visit with the local hydro shop was a great first time shopping experience, until the very end. I'm saying my thanks and goodbye carrying my new tent and accessory out the front door and the guy in the shop almost insisted he help me carry it to the car. Now, I'm not a scrawny person. I'm not disabled or debilitated in any way. I could easily hold 5 or 6 of these tents without straining myself, yet this guy wanted to see my car. Maybe he was lonely. Maybe he was curious why a clean-cut guy in business casual dress was in his shop. Maybe he was taking note of my license plate.

    The above article got me to thinking about that first visit. It seemed more strange after reading that article. Does this really happen? Would the very people running these business, selling you products legally, generating sales tax for your state, honestly be in leagues with LEO's to weed out (pardon the pun) and entrap people using these products and goods for marijuana cultivation? If they got a truthful and mostly accurate survey, how much of their business is actually MJ growers vs. old ladies growing tomatoes?

    This lends to the subject of supplier/vendor vs. buyers intent. If a hydro shop keeper hears you mention MJ they can and probably should (given the current prohibition) make you leave and refuse service. But what about when you don't mention what you're growing or what the products you buy are for? You haven't implicated the store in any way. Why should they then care what you intend to use the products for?

    I also wonder about search warrants. I know every state is different. Generally speaking, what does an LEO/Municipality need to convince a judge to issue a warrant to search your home? Certainly a list of purchased goods from a legal shop couldn't be enough.. unless that list contained 300 lbs. of ANFO or the like.
     
  2. #2 Inperito, Sep 17, 2011
    that is sketchy lolll , But I don't think anything will come out of it ,
     
  3. #3 ceejr, Sep 20, 2011
    The last time I went to th "Hydroshop" a cop was coming out of the restaurant next door I said hi and he said Hi back. If they want to come get me for 2 plants I really don't care and remember paranoia will destroy ya.
     
  4. #4 marawana, Sep 23, 2011
    Maybe the guy that worked at the shop just really appreciate your business? Maybe he just wanted to help you carry your stuff to the car as a gesture of appreciation. A lot of hydro shops are privately owned. Was it the owner or just a regular employee?

    I mean, if he was a cop or working for the cops then he wouldn't do something so obvious. They'd have someone watching who comes and goes, writing down plates and all that. You'd be on security camera and they'd have your credit card info (if you paid with a card)
     
  5. #5 rhapsodyrcks, Sep 29, 2011


    Does it really happen? I am sure but rare. Most of the hydro shops been around for a while. Word would get out that there turning people in. Another thing is nothing they sell is illegal. None of it. You can use it to grow basil.

    Why would you bring up MJ at any store anyhow. If you do any consequences that come of it are your own fault.

    As for warrants well the Supreme Court ruled this year if a officer of the law has a probable cause no warrant is required. Any suspicion that a officer has is just about justifiable if he/she believes something illegal is happening at your house.

    Odds are highly unlikely that anything will ever happen from you buying squat at a hydro store.
     
  6. #6 toastybiz, Oct 1, 2011
    Your experience and the scenario in that article are different -- the article talks about cops hanging out in hydro shops to bust growers and hydro shop owners/employees, not about cops working in the hydro shop.

    There is no incentive for the hydro shop to work with the cops. Think about it -- if they have two kinds of customers, one who mentions pot and gets sent away and the other who does not mention pot and gets narced on and busted and is no longer a customer, then who is left to keep them in business?

    It is possible, though, that the cops could get to a particular employee in a hydro shop. Even so, when you buy legal paraphernalia that easily could be used for legitimate purposes, that's thin ice as the basis for a warrant and most cops and certainly most judges know that.

    My concern with hydro shop is cops taking license plate numbers in the parking lot or following you home. True that they still don't have proper basis for a warrant, but they just want to identify who they can check out and harass and maybe drum up something that will stick for a warrant.

    That's why I buy my stuff online. I believe in buying locally, but not when it incurs the risk of becoming a suspect.
     
  7. #7 NonToker, Oct 1, 2011
    I never meant to suggest that this shop was in league with LEO to bust people. Only that it was an awkward situation. That is a valid point that they wouldn't want to diminish their customer base like that. Seriously, who uses advanced indoor growing tech for tomatoes or basil?
     
  8. #8 Vox Continental, Oct 1, 2011
    Buying online ensures that some database somewhere has all your information, where you live and what you have bought. If you ever do become a suspect you will get caught easily, thats why you buy from serparate stores with cash.

    Lose trails, make sure noone is following you.
     
  9. #9 mjmama25, Oct 1, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 1, 2011
    In all the times I've been to the hydro stores and dispensaries, I've never one time seen a cop sitting outside. I've also never known anyone who got followed home or bothered after doing their shopping. I've only heard paranoid stories from people who don't actually grow. I'm sure there are towns where cops are total pricks with nothing better to do, but that's sure as hell not what it's like where I live.
     
  10. #10 beachbum616, Oct 2, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 2, 2011
    it's this simple.

    never, ever drive a car to a hydroshop with a license plate that is registered back to an address where you are conducting an illegal grow.

    options:
    borrow a law abiding friends vehicle
    rent a car

    sure 99.9% of the time you can drive up to the shop and drive away with no problem

    but i know for a fact that LEO's have been known to camp outside of these shops and either follow ppl home or atleast create a database of potential growers.

    also try to never go straight home after visiting the hydro shop and be sure you arent being followed

    like i said im sure most of the time you would be fine..but just a little extra time and some extra preperation will give you peace of mind and potentially save you some major hassle down the road.


    as far as mail order goes i have a few online retailers that i trust..but at the end of the day i never send anything to an address where i am growing, you never know whos hands billing and shipping records may fall into someday.

    i typically keep up on news stories around the country about the gray area of medicinal clinics.. the first thing the feds do when the raid a dispensary is confiscate customer records.. they want to know who is breaking the law..this happens day in day out all. if you become a lead for them to follow, you better believe they will stop at nothing to victimize you.
     
  11. #11 beachbum616, Oct 2, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 3, 2011
    your sig says you are from norcal..

    i dont think you realize how different the rest of the country is from your very liberal area.. it happens..believe me

    and guess what, the cops or whoever it is scouting these places dont pull right up to the front door in a marked cruiser.. they are a little more stealth then that my friend.
     
  12. #12 Scab Herb, Oct 8, 2011
    What areas are bad for this? I live in B.C. Canada and was nervous for about 2 seconds till I saw the big display of bongs and a stock entirely geared growing weed. I went in once to get a ballpark on decent nutes, suplies and back a second time to buy them.I was there an hour or more going over the schedule and ph and whatnot. I do like to test the ice in whenver posible so I did ask at one point "what type of plant exactly is schedule optimized for?" I got very vauge roudabout response a wink and we carried on with the instruction. She also let the word "bud" slip instead of "flower" and when I went in another time with a bug problem she went right to the "Marijuana horticulture medical growers bible" by Jorge Cervantes, I bought the book too. They are there to help you grow dope and I apluad them for standing out openly legaly doing it. Anyone in relaxed areas should stop being a pussy and put their money into these legit local businesses, if they grow we can grow.
     
  13. #13 screwstonzbo, Oct 11, 2011
    It may not be possible for everyone, but riding a road bike with a rack or a backpack is what I prefer. I don't usually get very large items though, but if you were hardcore you could get a child carraige trailer thing and load up on almost anything. Super easy to lose a cop on a bike too.
     
  14. #14 forgetitohio, Oct 13, 2011
    From the very 1st. time in a local Hydroshop we started talking tomatoes.
    From nutes to lights we always talk tomatoes.

    This is a real story happening as I type ....

    2 dudes went to a grow house and ripped off the grower of money and plants.
    They were picked up for speeding and rolled on the grower and took LEOs back to the grow house.

    This is how people get caught. Grower is a cousin to 1 of the dudes.
    REMEMBER the 1st. rule: do not tell anybody.
     
  15. #15 GrowThePainAway, Oct 13, 2011
    just a reminder that in BC and canada, we have 100% legal growers....Provincial law and federal. this is why you can find alot more "on the shelf" MJ specific books and products than some of the places in the states....

    now i am one of these legal patient growers, and i opened up on my second visit that i was setting up for my medical grow when my papers got back in a couple months. he instantly suggested the bible ( got it. love it. <3 ) as well as asked about my planned set up, number of plants, ect ect, set me up with a good "wish list to come back with as i got the cash and its been awesome since. he remembers me as a good customer and in exchange i get some decent deals here and there especially when i go bulk.

    my main point is, our hydro stores may be more receptive than one in a non Medical state in the U.S.

    either way. always talk tomatoes unless your 100% legal in your country and are following any and all guidelines as to licensing and laws.

    hope it helped :smoke:
     
  16. #16 TigerLilly, Oct 13, 2011
    True. On the other hand, tho....I prefer ordering my stuff on-line. If I do go to a hydro store, I pay in cash, never a credit card.

    My thinking is, when I ordeer stuff on line, the store Im ordering from is in another state. But a hydrostore where I live is kinda scary unless Im just getting seed starter plugs or something that could be for any kind of plant.

    I dunno....I think a little paranoia is a good thing.

    TL
     
  17. #17 TheGreenLegend, Oct 13, 2011

    This Guy Does <-----

    Actually a few things that I like to have fresh all year but then again I just love to grow things.
     

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