In an unfortunate turn of events, Federal and State agents have arrested 83 people and have charged them with growing $1.2 Billion in Marijuana in the Sierra Nevada range.  It was difficult enough scoring a bag of pot before, this will make things substantially worse. 

More than 318,000 marijuana plants were destroyed in the operation, which also netted nearly $41,000 in cash, 25 weapons and two vehicles, Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims said Thursday.

Source: www.msnbc.msn.com

Wow, 318,000 marijuana plants is quite a bit.  However, under closer examination, it looks like the 1.2 Billion Dollar figure seems a little high, no?  By my count, assuming the cars are not some limited edition Rolls Royces that value in the millions, each plant is supposed to net about $3700.  At street value, assuming high grade marijuana which is unlikely considering they are outdoor plants, that assumes that they have about 11 ounces per plant selling at around $350 per ounce.  Now, unless these dealers are sadists, I highly doubt that they will be selling this type of quantity on a per-ounce basis. 

Well, fortunately for me, this bust is apparantly just a drop in the bucket.  Last year DEA authorities netted over 5.2 Million plants ... and I didn't have too difficult a time scoring some pot.

What confuses me most of all, why all the fuss?  With so many people dying from prescription drugs, alcohol and cigarettes, I think that the DEA is focusing on the wrong thing.