Thankfully, these desperadoes will appear in court to answer for these heinous offenses. Thus, saving America's women and children from degenerates such as these.

This is pathetic.

Law enforcement needs to re-direct its focus on crimes... to those that are REAL crimes.

I spent 5 years in Federal Prison for a marijuana offense. While I was there, I watched armed bank robbers come and go in as little as 20 months.

After 3 years 'behind the wall,' I pointed this out to the parole board. Their response: “You must understand, yours was a very serious offense.”
How do you respond to that mentality?

I laughed about the parole panel's comment for 2 more years (as I still sat in prison), then wrote my book:
Shoulda Robbed a Bank

No, it is not a treatise on disproportionate sentences ...but tales of the escapades that led to my incarceration. I admit, I had a great time. No one was injured, no one was killed, firearms were not involved...there were no victims.

We were Americans pursuing happiness in our own way. Harming no one...nor their property.

That’s my contribution to helping point out just how ludicrous our pot laws truly are.
I would be honored by your review.

All card-carrying members of the DEA need to read: Shoulda Robbed a Bank
Here is one of its reviews:

5.0 out of 5 stars... If David Sedaris had written 'Catcher in the Rye'..this would be it, June 30, 2012

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Shoulda Robbed a Bank (Kindle Edition)

I have never smoked pot in my life...nor do I ever care to.
I read about this book in numerous Huffington Post comments. Thought I would read it because I know nothing about marijuana or the people involved with it. I am ecstatic that I did. Funny, Funny, Funny!!!
The chapters are like short stories. Stories about unloading boats with helicopters, close encounters with law enforcement, traveling through the jungles of South America. The chapter about the author's first time smoking marijuana made me feel like I was with him...coughing.
All of the characters were just a group of loveable, nice guys and girls. Not what I had been raised to believe...hysterical maniacs high on pot bent on death and mayhem. They were nothing like that.
If you have ever read any of David Sedaris' books, and like them...you will love Shoulda Robbed a Bank.
And the crazy things happening reminded me of Holden Caufield in 'Catcher in the Rye' and the way he staggered through life.
The way the words are put together are like nothing I have ever heard. I am sure I will use many of the sayings found in this book just to dazzle my friends. A terrific read. I love this book.

"This is somewhat ironic....the owner of the Lake in the Hills business, Big Grow Hydroponics, was arrested on Monday and charged with selling marijuana." Really? Is it ironic or expected?!
Perhaps the above mentioned book (in the comments) is good but I highly doubt it is comparable (in content or literary quality) to The Catcher in the Rye! But then again, I also don't think breaking the law and living dangerously are very glamorous or advisable.

OH HANG EM... HANG EM HIGH..OOPS!!

First off all stop wasting our tax dollars prosecuting small time pot smokers!! 2nd the cops acted on a tip and then went and searched the place? How did they get the probable cause to get the search warrant? I thought hear say didnt count? You mean anyone can just say hay that guy over there is a drug dealer or rapist or whatever etc and they can just go get a warrant??? Huh?? Now thats the scary thing about this. They just need a good lawyer all will be dropped unless they sold to an undercover agent.

Yeah just found out a minute ago through the local vine they did sell to an undercover. Dumb ass! Still I wish they would prosecute real criminals what a waste of time and $ as if our state didn't waste enough!

@FlyingTooLow nice self promotion. :)

I agree mchenry county sheriffs could be focusing their attention on more pressing matters, but 1200 grams isn't insignificant. That's over 2.5 lbs.

Change the law if you don't like it... The sheriff's office is just doing their job (got a tip and acted on it. They didn't go searching for pot dealers).

I personally think it should be legalized, BTW.

I was recently charged with possession of marijuana, possession of canabis sativa plants, manufacturing and what ever else Mchenry county sheriffs could throw at me. They said they had a report that I was growing marijuana. I never believed it. And it just so happens all the gardening supplies were bought at Big Grow Hydro in Lake In The Hills. It is all making sense how they busted me now. I kept telling my lawyer that is how they caught me. But he insisted they didn't because it is illegal for them to watch a business. Maybe now when I call him Monday and tell him about this he will believe me. I to have never harmed anyone or sold drugs to kids or anything close to that. But they act like growing pot is like selling crack. I am being charged with 4 felonies and 3 misdaminers. I go to work every day to support my family. And due to the fact that they want treat marijuana like its a killer drug. If convicted I will lose my job and struggle to find a new one. I will have no means to support my family. When will they wake up and see they are destroying lives over a weed. I have seen the affects of a horrible drug. It's called alcohol but its legal so it's ok. Another top killer tabaco but that ones legal too so it's ok. I pray my lawyer uses this new info to totally scre the Mchenry county sheriff.

@ Jeff they said they had a report that I was growing. I wasn't home at the time and they scared someone to let them in the house. There were very few people that knew of what was going on. People that would of never ratted me out. So until now how they caught me has been a mystery. Until now. If anybody else has been busted with no reason as to why and shopped at Big Grow. We need to get together because if that's how they are busting people it is illegal. So please post here if this has happened to you too.

2 lbs of weed, some of that was making it's way to the local HS. Illegal is illegal, until you get the laws changed, it is what it is. I do agree the punishments for weed are out of whack, but the problem with distributing will always be that you can't control who the end users are.
Grow it yourself, for your own use and chances are you won't have any issues. When you start selling it, whether it's a non harmful drug or not (in your opinion), it lands in the hands of kids and becomes a gateway drug. It does more harm indirectly than we can could ever measure.

I get the freedom and of course I'm not saying everyone that buys or sells will move on to hard drugs....what is with you? But, it is obviously a gateway, it's a high, just like your first beer, then you figure out you can get drunk quicker by doing shots. The problem is with illegal drugs like pot, for many kids the next step is coke or the now cheap and very available heroin.
Maggie do you have kids? Do they have friends? Good kids sometimes make bad decisions....I'd rather have them throwing up with a hangover than dead from a heroin od. I know it seems like a big step but that's what's happening all over our country.

I empathized thier situation and had them explain to me and themselves how the trial use was worth it and told them they had to chose for themselves if that is where they wanted to stay for the rest of thier lives. Be it booze, beer, or drugs. I asked them what they wanted. I took them to an AAA meeting to see what actually goes on there. I took them to meet people who had thrown their lives away for the sake of drugs and I prayed that I told them enough.. Why? because when you get down to it it is a decision that each person has to make on their own. Thier own conviction thier own goal for their way of life. Yes I have kids. All grown barely taking aspiren and none of them drink other than an occasional social cocktail. I don't have all the answers If someone thinks they have nothing else to look forward to yep I can see where they may make repetitive bad decisions it's the core beliefs and solid belief in themselves that will guide them in the right direction. Quite frankly I didnt want to see my kids barfing from booze anymore than I wanted to see them flying on crack or meth. Who paved your path Rob. Who made your decisions for you? I was striving for leaders not followers. As I said it starts in the home. The freedom to make some mistakes and the help to be sure the lesson is learned. Lets not forget example..!!!

Yes Rob I have kids and I raised them myself and they were wild as wheat. I was always honest with them. Told them that the high they might get off pot could cloud their judgement at the same time it was pleasant. Told them that if they got in trouble there was no such thing as blaming it on a substance whatever it was because they chose to use that substance and they tried a couple of things and they got in trouble and they paid the consequences to the fullest.

And in case you were wondering they all have families of their own, excellent fathers, successfully started their own business and are very active in their communities. I couldn't be more proud of the people they decided to become.

What about when your child becomes an alcoholic and can't even function without a drink. And don't say it doesn't happen because it does. Why do you think A/A is such a big program. I've never seen a person who smokes pot not be able to function with out it. Or go through withdrawals that are so bad that they can kill you. But that is from a legal drug. You talk about heroin wouldn't you rather see the police spending their resources to find this than pot. I wonder how many people die yearly from alcohol and nicotine vs pot?

That last post was directed to Rob.

@maggie sounds like you may have had some kids that tried pot and possibly still enjoy it. And they turned out to be productive members of society.

Marijuana is only a gateway for people to complain about stupid crap! Its going to get legalized and is already de criminalized get use to it or move to another country!

Me too and I totally agree with your thoughts and actions....the problem is there are too many unresponsible parents and unsupervised kids to just let everyone make their own decisions. A large part of our society needs and depends on big brother. I don't like it, but that's the way it is.
I say legalize for your own use. You want it, you grow it, you smoke it. If you sell it, you pay the price, whether that's jail or fines. If your growing more than a couple plants, you lose your right to grow and pay the fine. Much like having a drivers license, it's good till you abuse it.
I don't think it should be readily available to every kid that has $10 bucks in their pocket, without some consequences.

@Jeff, lol do some research on the "legalized" pot laws. Superseded by federal laws, medical only or filled with loopholes.
Guys there are examples for every point of view, be it alcohol (which is already legal, in case you didny know), pot or heroin. I'm sure there are a few very successful heroin addicts too....what's your point? Doesn't mean it should be readily available and legal to the general public.
You have to look outside your little world and look at the big picture and societies behavior as a whole.

Oh yeah @Jeff I have several homes in several different countries I visit them all frequently. Thanks for the advice, I'm heading out in January, I'll send you a postcard from Belize.

We research every day since 1989 Im not even a smoker most people have no clue about the damage of the legal drugs vs pot where there are none proven yet. Stick with your alcohol then and do the damage.

Hey every one Rob is giving HJ'S in Belize!

We have several homes but there here we keep our $ in the our country!

Actually I lied I do have a home in SK, Canada too.

Yep, about what I expected! Thanks for your approval Jeff, it means a lot.

Jeff it's people like Rob that are the problem. He says our government says its illegal so it's a bad thing. Our government says alcohol and nicotine are legal so that's ok. How many kids start smoking at a young age. I remember most of my friends starting when I was in 8th grade. I know first hand the dangers of alcohol and nicotine vs marijuana. I've seen people not be able to leave the house or do anything for that matter because they had the shakes so bad. How many people are out there in prison because they can't stop drinking and driving and are on their 3rd or 4th DUI. If rob has so many homes in so many countries he must of been to places like Holland and Canada where they have a totally different outlook on marijuana. If people have the choice to drink alcohol or smoke cigarets what can't they choose if they want to smoke pot. I smoked it for over a decade then I got a job with random drug testing. I quit. No physical withdrawal no need to go to meetings and get a sponsor no patch or prescription. I can go into a room with 100 people smoking pot and not even have the faintest problem with it. How much tax payers money would be saved if they quit arresting, prosecuting , and incarcerating harmless pot offenders.

D they could pay off the deficit for one. Look at Colorado they legalized and now will spend 40 million on there schools same with Washington. If your kid wants to smoke weed he can get it just as easy as if it was legal anyway so why not create millions of jobs with it.

Now the tourism in those 2 states will quadruple and create hundreds of thousands of jobs. The other states will all follow suit and get there piece then the Feds are going to say wow now we don't have to send all this $ and subsidize any more thus we will have a surplus like non other than we have ever had! The info is out about the affects of marijuana and its mostly positive sure dont drive on it no different than alcohol and how many millions will we save not prosecuting some poor kidd and his girl friend for smoking a joint!

Wow that sounds like a tuff decision. More money for our schools to educate our children. Or continue to let police (like the Mchenry county sheriff) get paid to watch customers who shop at a legal store like Big Grow. Then violate their rights and go to their homes and tell lies to get inside and destroy their lives. I think I'd much rather see our money go to our children's education. Considering the middle class is dying an a good education is going to help you succeed.

Yeah the twisted law enforcement around here has always been that way. The other 17 states were it legal for medical purposes most of those on the next vote will get legalized for recreational use too it will be taxed and all will be well. Again if your kids want to go by grass they can do it just as easy as walking into a licensed store anyway. At least a lot of people are seeing the light.