Episode 5: Tom Alexander

Sinsemilla Tips was the catalyst for many advancements in the Cannabis growing community. Through Toms’ magazine, a new generation of growers learned about techniques like Sea of Green, Screen of Green, organic nutrients, lighting advancements and many other innovative cultivation practices. Sinsemilla Tips was worth its weight in gold to the growers lucky enough to get their hands on a copy.

Operation Green Merchant was a new approach in the war on drugs. The primary focus of the raids were aimed at licensed business owners who sold indoor growing supplies such as HID lighting, watering systems and other accessories. These raids were conducted under the premise that these products, with legitimate legal uses, were being used to grow illegal Cannabis, making the shop owners just as guilty as the street dealers.

On Oct. 26, 1989, Federal Agents executed Operation Green Merchant with raids on hydroponic stores in 46 states. By nightfall, 119 people had been arrested, over 6,500 cannabis plants destroyed and seven businesses were seized. Tom Alexander was one of those business owners.