KOMO news broke a story on March 7 of this year. The headline: “10 arrested after almost $10 million worth of illegal marijuana found in King County.”

Their story states law enforcement “served 18 search warrants last week at illegal grow operations…” It also states that 10 homes were seized. One of the cities listed was Federal Way, where I live.

What does 10 homes seized mean? I’m not a lawyer, so I don’t necessarily understand the nuances of legal interpretation, but the state of Washington has laws on the books that deal with “civil forfeiture.” As a matter of fact, in Washington state, the authorities don’t need a criminal conviction to seize property under the civil forfeiture law.

Another important part related to the KOMO story that may or may not be relevant is an article that appeared on the Daily Mail online website on March 2, 2018. “New York crowned marijuana capital of the WORLD with locals consuming double the pot of Los Angeles where it is legal.”

So, the question becomes, what do New York City, Federal Way, Washington and King County have in common and how does King County differ with other counties in Washington state?

An organized crime family in New York is purchasing homes in Federal Way and perhaps other cities in Washington for the purpose of supplying New York City with marijuana. There are only two police officers assigned in Federal Way (the ninth largest city in Washington) to take down grow operations. There have been over 100 homes seized by the authorities in Federal Way. There have been a dozen homes in my middle class neighborhood that were seized. There are more in my neighborhood operating freely at this moment. Depending on who you speak with, in some cases, arms are being confiscated. Yet today’s conversation is about my Second Amendment right to my AR15? Sorry, I digress.

The houses are being purchased from New York. “Renters” are “living” in the homes. The word “renters” is in quotes because they are not really renters. The word “living” is in quotes because they are not really living there. When they “move in,” there is construction that takes place. The word “move in” is in quotes because they really don’t move in. In my neighborhood’s case, these are 2,000- and 3,000-square-foot homes. There is not a semi that comes onto the street with movers that unload the furniture. There is not even a U-Haul that shows up. Construction takes place even though the houses are newly remodeled. The actuality is there are false walls being constructed and then lined with foil so the bright grow lights can be lowered and raised easily to speed harvest time. They use hydroponics. They utilize hybrid marijuana that can be harvested in a short period of time. The rest of the neighborhood knows because it stinks. It smells like skunk kind of? I am not fooled. We are not fooled.

Do the police know about them? Yes. Do the police do their job? Yes. However, we in Federal Way are on a waiting list. There is so much of this going on in King County that the police can’t keep up. It’s a “cat and mouse” game. As fast as the police shut them down, others open up. Why is that? What happens to these homes that are “seized” under existing civil forfeiture laws? Where does the culpability lie?

What happens to the “renters” when they are caught in the house at the time of the search warrant? Nothing! What happens to the house that is “seized” under civil forfeiture? Nothing! The renters are considered “low-hanging fruit” and they are let go.

I’ve got a couple more questions for Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell. Why do I have to be put on a waiting list for action to be taken in my neighborhood? Couldn’t more resources be put into helping the only two officers working these cases? Why does it seem there are two sets of laws? Should I be speeding in my car if I know I’m going to get a ticket and have to pay a fine? Yet, if I turn my house into a marijuana grow operation, I know that I’m not going to be prosecuted in King County, nor lose my home. What is the message from our elected leaders?

The property values of my home and my neighbors’ homes are at stake. I’ve lived here for over 30 years, and I am not going to take it anymore. I’m willing to fight for my neighbors and my neighborhood.

I can’t stand the stink and I want my neighborhood back! Let the fight begin.

George Adams, Federal Way