T4H-SPECIAL: Operation Green Merchant

First broadcast on Time4Hemp.com and iHeartRadio 10/26/15.Host: Wolf SegalGuests: Tom Alexander, Jorge Cervantes, Steve Hager, Ed Rosenthal, and Bill Lermer. On October 26th, 1989 the DEA executed one of the biggest attempts to shut down the then blossoming indoor cannabis cultivation industry. Conducted in over 46 states simultaneously, “Operation Green Merchant” sent shock waves through the cannabis community.The now infamous operation started with one DEA agent named Jim Stewart. He concocted the initial plans for Operation Green Merchant while thumbing through an issue of HIGH TIMES magazine. Stewart noticed the overwhelming amount of ads for seed banks and grow supply stores in the magazine. To hack into the seed system, Stewart then devised a plan to send undercover agents to the companies that advertised in “counter-culture” magazines to inquire about growing cannabis.This investigation led to multiple businesses being raided and even shut down. The crazy thing about all of this was that the DEA seized business records from all of these businesses. DEA agents started harassing customers of these businesses on the sole fact that they had purchased goods from a hydroponic supply store that advertised in Sensimilla Tips or HIGH TIMES. Operation Green Merchant eventually led to the demise of Sensimilla Tips and the world’s first seed bank ran by the legendary Neville.Operation Green Merchant sent the cannabis scene into the complete underground. It wasn’t until 1996 when Proposition 215 passed in California that the cannabis growing scene would peek its head out in the open. As you can see, the DEA’s attempt did nothing to stop the proliferation of cannabis in the country. The operation’s end result was another futile attempt to control the country, and a definite waste of tax dollars. As we look back on this day known by growers as “Black Thursday”… we can without a shadow of a doubt say that we are winning the fight.Please share this with your friends.