Highlands Ranch defendant in marijuana-growing case changes mind, will fight federal charges

[ccharles000]

A man charged with operating a large marijuana-growing operation in his Highlands Ranch basement abruptly reversed course Friday and said he intends to fight the charges.

Chris Bartkowicz had been scheduled to sign off on a plea agreement with prosecutors Friday during a "change of plea" hearing in federal court. Instead, Bartkowicz's attorney told federal District Court Judge Philip Brimmer that Bartkowicz has decided he wants to argue his case at trial.

The next step is for the U.S. attorney's office to formally indict Bartkowicz, which the prosecutor in the case called "very likely."

http://www.denverpost.com/news/frontpage/ci_14902004

[Taverner]

1. Go Chris!!!!

[Rex]

2. You've got to fight the power!

Goodluck, fearless warrior.

[asdjrocky]

3. Hang in there Chris!

The farmers all over the country are with you!

[ccharles000]

4. kick

[Richard Steele]

5. K&R

[kentuck]

6. I was reading an ad in a Colorado Springs paper this morning...

Where a medical marijuana dispensary had a doctor on sight to approve your referral if you needed some "medicine". You could purchase anywhere from a gram, to an eighth-ounce, and upwards.

[XOKCowboy]

7. Check out Westword.com

Our local alternative newspaper. Last issue I picked up there were 8 two sided pages of dispensaries in the classified. The ad sellers for WW are making a ton off of this. See how real free enterprise works?

[here_is_to_hope]

9. lolz, we have ads in our local thrifty nickel and

a paper called the shopper, competition between three providers.
One even delivers.:wow:

[XOKCowboy]

11. I kinda like the competition. :)

What's funny is that with such a robust local market there is no reason for any cartels or gangsters to get involved. The Mexican weed is nowhere to be found. It's all local, fresh commerce. Of course it's supposed to be for "medicinal" purposes ;) but I HEAR that even those without medical cards are very happy with the situation.

[here_is_to_hope]

12. So true about the 'cartels', everything here is local

and that just won't change. The prices are low, the quality is good and you usually know the grower!
I can't see any one changing the market here.

[uncle ray]

10. yeah, it's legal here.

our local indy paper's latest issue had 7 pages of dispensary display ads. many dispensaries have "doctor days" where they have a doctor on site, usually in a office next door to the actual dispensary.

you think it's a trip to read about, you should see what it's like to see dispensaries on main streets in colorado springs!

colorado is proving right now that marijuana isn't the suicidal political issue it has been made out to be, it is in the face of the conservatives and they are helpless to do anything about it, we actually have a few politicians sticking up for users. most important, the dispensaries are everywhere, but there is not rise in crime, they are safer than liquor stores or pharmacies.

[XOKCowboy]

13. Gotta watch out for our AG though..

The people vote for it, the cops would rather not be chasing pot smokers, it's bringing in tax money to a very stressed State government, yet our state AG is against it.

http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2010/03/john_suthers_colorado_attorney_1.php

The guy's a typical Republican scumbag. Worried about our well being and is sure we'll thank him in 10 years.

[Warren DeMontague]

8. Hopefully the state will spare no expense in vigorously prosecuting this miscreant.

I mean, if our tax dollars aren't meant for massive drug war outlays to keep people from smoking pot, or to spend on thinly veiled Jesus-preaching "abstinence only" education, what are they for?

Thank God they're not pissing it away on some idiotic, wasteful thing like space exploration, that's all I can say.




ps. :sarcasm: