Dozens in Indiana arrested for possessing GINSENG out of season

[green73]

http://www.policestateusa.com/2014/i...est-crackdown/

INDIANA — A number of Hoosiers are facing charges and potential jail-time for merely possessing ginseng plants without government permission.

According to media reports, a total of 25 residents were caught up in a government crackdown to ensure compliance with the state’s onerous regulations on the natural plant, desired for its roots.

Indiana dictates every aspect of ginseng cultivation, including the issuance of a state license to “deal” ginseng; prescribing the dates of permissible harvesting; specifying the required plant characteristics before harvesting; controlling where and how it can be grown; controlling when and how it can be harvested; and controlling when, where and how it can be sold.

“It is ILLEGAL to buy, sell, or possess any ginseng out of season without written authorization from the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Law Enforcement,” states an official brochure from the Indiana DNR.

Individuals are only allowed to harvest ginseng between September 1st and December 31st each year (some restrictions apply). Selling ginseng is only permitted by licensed individuals between September 1st of the current year through March 31st of the following year (some restrictions apply).

Penalties for violating the various prohibitions on ginseng range between Class A and Class B misdemeanors, with maximum penalties of 1 year and 180 days in jail, respectively. Indiana Code 14-31-3 covers ginseng regulation and enforcement.

The recent police crackdown involved state conservation officers “acting on tips” regarding unlicensed ginseng growers, and with search warrants they shook down citizens for contraband plants. Officers arrested or cited individuals in Clark, Harrison, Martin, Orange, Scott, and Washington Counties. Names of those facing charges, as so far released, includes:

• Derek Durden, 40, Hardinsburg, possession of ginseng during closed season.
• Kyle Sneed, 34, Paoli, possession of ginseng during closed season.
• David Pittman, 56, Paoli, possession of ginseng during closed season, theft.
• Dustin Walton, 33, Hardinsburg, possession of ginseng during closed season, theft.
• Parker Mullins Jr. 18, Hardinsburg, possession of ginseng during closed season.
• William Yockey, 37, Eckerty, possession of ginseng during closed season, resisting law enforcement.
• Michele Reitz, 43, French Lick, possession of ginseng during closed season.
• Starla Enlow, 32, Shoals, possession of ginseng during closed season.
• Randy A. Stidham, 44, Austin, possession of ginseng during closed season.
• Randy L. Stidham, 26, Austin, possession of ginseng during closed season.
• George Stidham, 68, Austin, possession of ginseng during closed season.
• James McCurry, 43, Hardinsburg, possession of ginseng during closed season, theft.
• Devon McCurry, 19, Hardinsburg, possession of ginseng during closed season, theft.
• Daniel Arnold, 30, Salem, possession of ginseng during closed season, theft.

The plant is desired around the world and has a number of professed medicinal benefits, including stress relief, immunity support, blood sugar control, among other things. Its rarity, usefulness, and black market restrictions enable ginseng to fetch prices between $500 and $1000 per pound.

The black market has also driven people to commit property crimes such as stealing ginseng and secretly growing/harvesting ginseng on land belonging to someone else (to obscure blame for unlicensed cultivation). Of the listed charges this week, theft was a minority — most people were charged just for possessing ginseng out-of-season.

Setting aside the property violations, would people in a free society be imprisoned for merely possessing a naturally-occurring plant?

[brushfire]

Thank goodness for hallway monitors. Now I can understand busting people for infringing on property rights, but if you grow/use/sell your own, BFD? Who are these people who have nothing better to do?

[libertyjam]

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/...s-prices-soar/

[CaptUSA]

Whew. That was close.

I feel safer now.

[Kotin]

Thanks government.

[Rond]

Heaven forbid we have Ginseng-fever to spread throughout the land. Thank you almighty overlords.

[oyarde]

Meh , lots of people probably possess out of season what was taken legally or cultivate.So the list of " criminals" would be much longer than this .Most of the complaints would likely be people who know who was poaching it off lands that do not belong to them .What I really want to know is what judge would sign off on this $#@! ?

[TheTexan]

It's important that these rules be followed, because its for the protection of the ginseng. If people were allowed to grow, cultivate, harvest, and sell ginseng all willy-nilly-like, the ginseng plant would become endangered, because ginseng is in such high demand.

The $100 from each ginseng dealer license is instrumental in protecting the ginseng. Without it, the ginseng in the state would most certainly cease to exist.

[oyarde]

Around 1777,'78 , Daniel Boone lost 12 to 15 barrels of ginseng in the Monongahela .Recovered some , redried it over a fire pit.Ended up with only half the money he would have .

[oyarde]

It's important that these rules be followed, because its for the protection of the ginseng. If people were allowed to grow, cultivate, harvest, and sell ginseng all willy-nilly-like, the ginseng plant would become endangered, because ginseng is in such high demand.

The $100 from each ginseng dealer license is instrumental in protecting the ginseng. Without it, the ginseng in the state would most certainly cease to exist.

That is $100 per year for that license.

[presence]

[sparebulb]

Do we have to assume that these arrests are for harvesting on public lands. If so, regulation is to be expected. The original article seems to omit some information. Draconian laws concerning cultivation of anything on private property are abhorrent.

[TheTexan]

Do we have to assume that these arrests are for harvesting on public lands. If so, regulation is to be expected. The original article seems to omit some information. Draconian laws concerning cultivation of anything on private property are abhorrent.

Only a small part of the state's ginseng laws seem to apply exclusively to public land. For private land, it's very important that you follow the state's instructions with regard to harvesting at the correct time, re-planting in the proper manner, and selling at the correct time [with the correct license]. It's for the safety of the ginseng, after all.

[presence]

Only a small part of the state's ginseng laws seem to apply exclusively to public land. For private land, it's very important that you follow the state's instructions with regard to harvesting at the correct time, re-planting in the proper manner, and selling at the correct time [with the correct license]. It's for the safety of the ginseng, after all.

Yeah but there's no restrictions on how many 2 ply squares I use to wipe my ass. So what's the issue?

[Root]

Yeah but there's no restrictions on how many 2 ply squares I use to wipe my ass. So what's the issue?

Reported, just in case. Sorry presence, you know I like what you contribute here but it had to be done.

[oyarde]

I used to sell this crap when I was about 16 , I did sell it all in season to a buyer , harvested off my own properties , but I cannot remember if I may have got some of it early.It is worth more now , but I do not fool with it , may though , when I retire .I will have more time then .

[John F Kennedy III]

Thanks Hobby Lobby.

[Suzanimal]

Whew. That was close.

I feel safer now.

Me too, I worry about children getting their hands on out of season ginseng.

William Yockey, 37, Eckerty, possession of ginseng during closed season, resisting law enforcement.

Good for William Yockey, I just hope the poor bastard didn't get tased.

[Czolgosz]

I am entertained.

[oyarde]

Me too, I worry about children getting their hands on out of season ginseng.





Good for William Yockey, I just hope the poor bastard didn't get tased.

Probably got wailed on by conservation officers .I doubt Eckerty would have anything more than a town marshal .Probably closest I have been there is Marengo ( same county , another small town , maybe 800 pop.) , there is a cave there. Marengo was leveled by a tornado in '04

[tangent4ronpaul]

This reminds me of of the seed laws written into the Iraqi constitution... Illegal to save seed, must purchase new seed each year, etc.

I'll give you one guess as to who wrote that in... Hint: starts with a "M" and ends with a "o"...

we have regular and asian grocery stores out here. last I was in there ginseng was abundant and not that expensive. weird...

-t

[green73]

West Virginia cops tout major bust for illegal ginseng harvesting

BECKLEY, WV — Prohibitionists are boasting about arresting a number of people for harvesting ginseng plants before the government-sanctioned “ginseng season” had officially begun.

Within the last two weeks, agents from the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR) followed through with arresting at least 11 people for possessing and/or harvesting ginseng, called “sang” on the black market.

cont.
http://www.policestateusa.com/2014/w...-ginseng-bust/

[Origanalist]

called “sang” on the black market.

Really? I'm speechless for once, it really doesn't get any more friggin ludicrous than that.

[green73]

Really? I'm speechless for once, it really doesn't get any more friggin ludicrous than that.

Look at these bozos!

[Valli6]

American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius)

…Find a shady area on your land (forest or shade garden) where there is good drainage, scrape the leaf mulch away, plant the seeds singly 6 inches apart and 1 inch deep, and cover back up with leaf mulch.* This should be done with STRATIFIED SEED in the FALL OR EARLY WINTER.* The seed we offer has been stratified for an entire year.* You plant this seed in the fall and it will come up in the spring, pretty much without fail....

...We begin selling as soon as we have it, and stop selling when we feel the seed is too mature to give good results...

Open Pollinated 10 g packet of seeds (Fresh, undried seed prestratified and delivered moist. (Sow immediately upon receipt.)
There are about 120 seeds in a 10 g packet.

Note:* Ginseng seed not available internationally, due to CITES regulations.

$14.85 (per 10g packet)
https://www.horizonherbs.com/product.asp?specific=480

[Anti Federalist]

Noy a good day in AmeriKa if there is not a "crackdown" on something.

[invisible]

They need to put a fake swimming pool over the top of that.