Operation Frozen Timber Changed The Marijuana Scene Forever
Operation Frozen Timber was the most significant marijuana bust in American history. Although it is not the largest (a bammer operation in Arizona takes that title), it certainly had the largest affect on American marijuana supplies. Operation Frozen Timber was a 2 year investigation involving helicopter pilots flying TONS of BC marijuana from the Canada side to the Washington State side (see the attached story). You can read the story for all the dirty details, because what I am interested in is the after affects on American marijuana policy and the marijuana industry.
Back in the day, most of the super nugs on the West Coast originated in Canada. Some in California might try to argue that they have never let Canada weed infiltrate their state, due to the awesome weed that is grown in Northern California. I am going to have to ask those people to put their pride aside. Northern California produces a significantly smaller amount of ‘super’ nugs, even to this day, when compared to Canada in the late 1990’s to 2006. ALL of the BC nugs were grown indoors, and although they weren’t uniform ‘super’ across the board, EVERY nug I saw from Canada was superior to the outdoor I see coming up from California now.
In this time period that I refer to as the ‘BC era,’ the farther north you went on I-5, the better deal you got. So if you lived in Eugene you went to Portland, if you lived in Portland you went to Seattle, or if you were really smart you just skipped everything and went straight to Seattle no matter where you were at. The weed came in heat sealed bags, with mysterious numbers written in the corner. I remember the best weed always had the number ‘5’ in the corner. I’m not sure why they chose that number, but I know I was really excited every time I saw it on a heat sealed bag.
Things changed in 2006 DRAMATICALLY. Everyone I ever knew up north went out of business. They didn’t know why they were so unlucky finding anything, until I explained to them what Operation Frozen Timber was about. At the time, these people figured it would pick up, as there HAD to be many other routes across the border. The last four years have proven them wrong. I literally have not seen 1 piece of BC weed since that bust. Many have tried to pass their weed off as BC super thunder, BUT I AM NO ROOKIE. I can sniff out a BC bud from a mile away.
So what are the effects on American marijuana policy? Although law enforcement essentially won the war on the Canada border, it has resulted in a nightmare they could have never imagined. Instead of smugglers doing risky operations over international borders, ALMOST all of the weed on the west coast originates in the ‘State of Jefferson.’ This is the area of Southern Oregon and Northern California, where marijuana activity has exploded since Operation Frozen Timber. This is much worse for law enforcement, as every state on the West Coast now has medical programs, and it is much more difficult to regulate than ever before. Now instead of BC bud on the West Coast in spurts, I-5 is flooded with outdoor weed that comes in turkey bags all year long. NEVER, and I mean NEVER have I seen super nugs come in a turkey bag…Not in four years. I’m sure there are super nugs in this area, but the locals keep it for themselves. The only thing that gets out to the masses is the outdoor ‘fake dank.’
The end result of Operation Frozen Timber is a system that is more broken than before, way crappier medicine for the weed fans, a problem that is growing exponentially, and a government that now has virtually no options but to maintain the status quo. I have done a lot of research on marijuana over the last decade, both academically and in my daily life, and I can honestly say that Operation Frozen Timber was the most significant bust in American history. If anyone doubts that, just go get a turkey bag of medicine and see if you aren’t convinced!
https://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003095414_border30m.html
