RECAP: Operation Green Sweep, Part 1
The Time Armed Soldiers Invaded Humboldt
The Posse Comitatus Act is in place in America to specifically forbid military personnel from executing the laws or having any direct involvement in civilian law enforcement activities. Doing so is considered Martial Law and needs to be officially declared when utilized by U.S. leadership.
H.W. Bush wanted to curb the cocaine being funneled into the U.S. from South and Central America, most of it through Mexico. It was an embarrassment when leaders of “cocaine countries” called H.W. out on the thriving marijuana market and exports.
In reaction, Bush Sr. and Dick Cheney (Sec. of Defense at the time) blueprinted Operation Green Sweep, a multi-agency federal and state battle of eradication utilizing uniformed military personnel, equipment, and supplies from both the National Guard and Army. They budgeted $2.4 billion for the entire interdiction in all 50 states.
Operation Green Sweep in Humboldt was designed as a gravitas event—a 10-day endeavor setting the stage for this program to roll out nationwide. The heavy hand of the government would show those hippies who was in charge once and for all.
Despite their dreams of heroic optics for the POTUS, and about $150k/day on the eradication extravaganza, only about 1,200 plants were seized and no arrests were made.
The gov’t forfeited the battle after just 5 days in the wake of local residents protesting so loudly, the operation became a national PR nightmare. Marijuana supply was still strong in EmTri, the farmers here maintained a healthy share of the black market…risk was high, and the price of weed kept increasing due to prohibition.
To save face, the BLM boys immediately claimed Green Sweep was a success. Days later, the Civil Liberties Monitoring Project and several residents would file a lawsuit against those involved.
And now, for Operation Green Sweep: Part 2…
Although law enforcement strives to represent that agencies work cooperatively as a team, it’s obvious the federal grandstanding of Operation Green Sweep really got under the skin of our local Sheriffs. Instead of receiving an “attaboy” and more money, funds were being fed to the feds.
The SOs were thinking, “what the hell do the feds know about marijuana eradication?! At first they didn’t want anything to do with it, now suddenly they’re trampling (and hovering) over the hillsides, getting money that should be ours, creating a firestorm of local outrage.”
Instead of caring about his constituents’ rights being violated, Sheriff Renner of Humboldt took his opportunity with the media to brag about how the Sheriff’s eradication efforts were better than the feds. A pissing match.
As they watched $150k/day being spent on Operation Green Sweep, all 3 Emerald Triangle Sheriffs threatened to quit eradicating weed altogether.
While notably not helping their constituents, local Sheriff Offices were doing their best to downplay their involvement, at first saying they had no participating personnel.
When a reporter asked Mendocino County SO why one of their deputies was on site at the Green Sweep base camp, they were forced to admit they DID have an officer there, but it didn’t count if he was being pimped out to BLM on contract.
The people of Humboldt are peaceful folks by nature. They are self-sufficient and don’t expect, nor ask, for much from others, including the government. The Sheriffs were more interested in preserving their budgets and bruised egos than hearing resident complaints about Operation Green Sweep.
Residents whose properties were in the path of the military agenda near the King Range National Conservation Area, or whose recreational activities (like hiking) used those trails, were met with a variety of federal aggressions throughout the operation:
Constant military helicopters hovering with no regard for noise pollution (early in the morning, late at night)
Illegally low-flying choppers
Residents illegally detained or questioned by soldiers on public land
Armed soldiers in full camo with painted faces trespassing (hiding) on private property
Soldiers holding children and residents at gunpoint with MR16s on private property
An assumption of guilt labeled on locals (BLM head, Cy Jamison, flippantly dismissed local protesters saying, “maybe we’ve pulled up some of their plants” )
A total disregard for the ecosystem on private ranches (disturbing the horses, cattle, etc.)
A total disregard for the wildlife ecosystem in a National Conservation Area (hundreds of people trampling over a raw, yet delicate, landscape)
Heavy trucks, bulldozers, and equipment destroying local roads
“I feel for people who were surprised by this, but it goes along with the territory in a drug raid.” - Head of BLM, Cy Jamison
Created by Humboldt locals in 1983 as a response the government intrusion from the War on Drugs, the Civil Liberties Monitoring Project was headed by Ron Sinoway (God rest his soul), a man who holds legendary status in both Humboldt and cannabis history.
Ron served as The People’s attorney time and time again against the government’s unabashed actions during the War on Drugs. He suffered a stroke a year or two before Operation Green Sweep which affected his speech and physical ability, but Sinoway didn’t let it slow him down much.
Ed Denson was Sinoway’s right hand for years prior to Denson himself passing the Bar and becoming an attorney in the latter half of his life. He’d spent the first weekend post-military invasion in 1990 meeting with residents. Meanwhile, BLM met with the media to tout the operation’s banner success, and how excited they were to expand it across the country » Mission Accomplished!
Shortly after conducting depositions with locals (some of them children, who were traumatized by the government’s conduct), CLMP retained attorneys willing to take the case on a pro-bono basis. Damn good attorneys, too.
On Dec. 21, 1992, (Republican) federal judge, Fern Smith, allowed the lawsuit to proceed for the following allegations:
Illegal military activity
Invasion of privacy by low-flying helicopters
Illegal force against innocent residents
Lack of environmental impact studies and filed reports
At this time, the judge ruled out any possibility of financial restitution. She did, however, leave the door open to change. There was room within the scope of the case to argue the points above on behalf of residents to effect procedural and fundamental change to future marijuana raids. In other words: control. Power. The People had a shot.
The way the laws are written, it would be a tough case. Well worth trying, though. After all, if the government can use optics as a method of persuasion, so can the People. And their lawyers.
Judge Smith was of the opinion to let private citizens enforce the legal ban on undeclared Martial Law. The people of Humboldt were ready.
According to Bernadette in her 1997 update in Humboldt Area Archive, “Judge Smith was highly offended at the roughshod approach the government took in this instance.”
Prosecuting Attorneys:
Jonathan Hayden - Pro-bono litigator
Jonathan Leo - Pro-bono, environmental muscle
Kevin Zeese - Drug Policy Foundation
Marshall Krause - Krause & Baskin
Ronald Malcom Sinoway - (Ed Denson worked closely with Ron Sinoway)
Susan B. Jordan - Law Offices of Susan B. Jordan
Operation Green Sweep Plaintiffs:
Civil Liberties Monitoring Project
Blossom Edwards (a minor represented by her mother, Bernadette Webster)
Karen Pergens
Don McGreevy
James Martin Lynn
David A. Taylor
Bernadette Webster (on behalf of herself and others similarly situated)
Drug Policy Foundation
Operation Green Sweep Defendants:
William Bennett - Individually and as Drug Czar, and as Director, National Drug Policy Council [RESIGNED 4 MO’s AFTER THE GREEN SWEEP FIASCO]
U.S. Dept. of Interior, Bureau of Land Management
Jamison Delos - National Director, BLM
Ed Hastey - State Director, BLM
Roger Bruckner - Incident Command Chief, Operation Green Sweep
Craig McGill - BLM Chief of Eradication Surveillance
A. L. Wright - BLM Ukiah District Manager
Walter Johnson - BLM National Law Enforcement Agent
Chris Brong - BLM California Law Enforcement Agent
US Atty General Richard L. Thornburgh
Robert Bender - Individually and as Special Agent in charge of the DEA
US Marshal, Glen Robinson - Northern District, California
Admiral J. William Kime - Individually and as Commander of the US Coast Guard
Karen McDonald - Airspace Technician of the Federal Aviation Administration
Paul R. Andrews - Individually and as Regional Director of the US Customs Service
Lou Bristol - Individually and as Group Supervisor of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms
Defense Secretary Richard B. Cheney - Individually and as Secretary of the US Dept of Defense
Major General, Jerry White - Individual and as Commander of US Army 7th Infantry Division (light)
Paul Barker - Individually and as Regional Forester of the US Forest Service
General Robert C. Thrasher - Individually, and as Commander of the California National Guard
George Deukmejian - Governor
Hal Walt - Individually and as Director of the California Dept of Forestry and Fire Protection
Carolyn McIntyre - Incident Command Chief for the California Campaign against Marijuana Planting (CAMP)
Maurice Hannigan - Commissioner of California Highway Patrol
Tim Shea - Individually and as Mendocino County Sheriff (TERMINATED: 11/04/1991)
Major General Charles Armstrong
Dean Bibles - State BLM Director
Major General Raymond F. Reese
Interior Sec. Manuel Lujan, Jr.
Phil Ward - National Park Service
George J. Doane - Chief, Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement
It took 8 years, but the People of Humboldt changed federal law through activism, passion, and persistence. A new protocol was developed BY and WITH the people and the Department of Interior officially adopted it in 1999. It’s still used today.
Ironically, the fight-until-you-win character of Humboldt is a result, in part, of the War on Drugs. Residents aren’t looking to battle, but they will not back down when provoked. Strong minds and tender hearts, the Humboldt way.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Seth Ferranti and Outlaw Films’ Tangled Roots Humboldt docuseries on Vimeo. It’s so worth the $10, you guys. I’ve already watched it twice! This is the kind of documentary that explains the people, counterculture, and generational wisdom that made Humboldt what it is today. It’s extremely well produced in cooperation with dozens of local farms and residents. If you’re from here, you’ll definitely see some familiar faces!
Seth Ferranti will be the focus of Inside The Emerald Triangle in a couple weeks. His story is truly unbelievable. Before you balk at the $10 price, consider this homey spent 24 years in prison for non-violent cannabis crimes, where he became a successful writer, filmmaker, and producer FROM BEHIND BARS. His movie, White Boy, made it into the Netflix Top 10. So consider the $10 toward the cause to create the other 3 parts of this series, which are already filmed but not yet funded. Power to the people!
Here’s a recent interview with Seth on Humboldt’s KMUD radio.
All my recommendations are personally curated, authentic, and unsponsored. Feel free to tag me in pics! @norcalweedgal
If you like murder mysteries and podcasts, check out my new Emerald Triangle’s Murder Mystery Podcast on YouTube! Uninterrupted, professional murder mysteries that keep you in suspense until the last scene. Always a twist ending!
NEW EPISODE NEXT SUNDAY!
Hi, I’m Kerry Hurley, aka “NorCalWeedGal” (thanks to my lifelong stonership). Thanks for reading! A little about me…I consciously decided to become a regular cannabis consumer at 16 years old. I wrote about that here, if you’re interested to read more.
Anyway, I grew up, and currently live in, the Emerald Triangle. A perfect place to be a teenage stoner! (except the War on Drugs was raging here then) My friends and I, including a retired Sheriff Sergeant from Trinity County, have some wild stories from that time. And in my 6 years of research and interviews, I’ve discovered so much more to share about the dark side…the corruption, scandals, murders. And the inspirational side…the talented innovators, artists, and multi-generational farmers. I hope you’ll subscribe and join me!
Stories from Inside The Emerald Triangle are all true, to the best of any witness recollection. I also do my best to verify information through public records, additional first-hand accounts, photos, archives, and media reports. This isn’t bullshit. It’s 100% human written and human lived! I don’t use AI, even for editing. (as you may notice by the occasional human error)
The purpose of this publication is to document and distribute true history about Mendocino, Humboldt, and Trinity Counties (mostly during the War on Drugs from 1979-1996) in order to preserve it, while at the same time, sharing it to entertain and educate others in a modern context.
I appreciate your interest in this slice of American history, and your kind consideration of upgrading to the paid version (even if just for a month or two) to help me continue this work. It really does help. Thanks so much for reading!
In high regards,
Kerry, NorCalWeedGal
» on Facebook & Instagram, I’m @NorCalWeedGal
Sorry, no space for the GLOSSARY this week!
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