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Edited by Noah Shachtman | Contact

White Phosphorous vs. White Widow

"Canadian troops fighting Taliban militants in Afghanistan have stumbled across an unexpected and potent enemy -- almost impenetrable forests of marijuana plants 10 feet tall."

white-widow_p1.jpg"The challenge is that marijuana plants absorb energy, heat very readily. It's very difficult to penetrate with thermal devices. ... And as a result you really have to be careful that the Taliban don't dodge in and out of those marijuana forests," General Rick Hillier said in a speech in Ottawa, Canada.

"We tried burning them with white phosphorous -- it didn't work. We tried burning them with diesel -- it didn't work. The plants are so full of water right now ... that we simply couldn't burn them," he said.

Even successful incineration had its drawbacks.

"A couple of brown plants on the edges of some of those [forests] did catch on fire. But a section of soldiers that was downwind from that had some ill effects and decided that was probably not the right course of action," Hiller said dryly.

One soldier told him later: "Sir, three years ago before I joined the army, I never thought I'd say 'That damn marijuana'."

Latest Comments

I wish I would have been there when they burnt it all up!!!!!!!

Posted by: budlung07 at January 27, 2007 10:31 PM


I use Cannabis sativa medically to treat my anxiety and depression, I find sativa varieties very effective while also being non lethargic without the usual tiredness the next day experienced from indicas. Indicas can be very relaxing with warm body sensations but I find that if I need too accomplish something I'm best to stick with a sativa. Cannabis Rudralis(sp?)although an early producer is usually not as potent and some of the top notch indica and sativas but some varieties are autoflowering and mature months earlier than some of the traditional varieties.
I've heard that cedar trees have a similar heat signature to cannabis whether this is true or not (i'll have to get back to you on that one)but planting next to cedars requires more soil maintenence due to higher soil acidity in traditionally wet bog like environments, but a bit of dolomite lime (or a bunch of ground up limestone helps to counteract this effect. If you're growing short dark indicas growing next to spruce trees etc. should help to conceal them. I'm speaking not from experience but knowledge passed from those with cannabis horticultural experience, the big busts that are covered in newspapers that reveal techniques of concealment for some reason always seems to be asians that grow too big trying to maximize profits. All I can say is supply and demand, economics profs often use cannabis as lecture examples of how drug prohibition, boosts market value making it more lucridive and attractive to students and the like trying to make it through school etc. with minimal debt. Say goodbye to student loans cannabis is a great alternative although a risky endevour if you plan on pursuing a career that requires no criminal record I'd say avoid it or start plants from seed or clones and partner with friends willing to take more risks. If you are an American I strongly suggest buying led growlights they are the future of illegal cannabis horticulture using a fraction of the energy consumed by MH and HPS ballasts. theres a company from Florida that carries the best bulbs as far as lumens per sq foot http://ledgrowlights.com/

Posted by: wonko at January 20, 2007 1:29 PM


I can't believe this crap...You want to get rid of a green (as in wet) field of plants (regardless of legality?) Of course diesel and phosphorus didn't work. If it's all that important, call in napalm strikes. Also, you flag-wavers, this aren't, for the most part, 'dopers' cultivating. These are dirt-poor farmers that are smart enough to recognize that they can grow 1 acre of pot (or opium, for that matter) and make the same money that they would growing 10-20 acres of something the US occupying force finds acceptable. Let me guess you 'soldiers' are good conservatives all around and ask you: what about free markets? There is a market, and if there wasn't, the cultivation would stop. Maybe the US should have made sure the job was 'done' in Afghanistan before it bailed and left the citizenry to fend for itself. And by bailed I don't mean left, I mean that the forces left aren't (obviously) enough to get the job done, if patches of marijuana are really such an issue.

Posted by: fluxtatic at January 16, 2007 6:01 PM


smoke weed everyday

Posted by: john at October 30, 2006 10:18 AM


What have we just learned ? A justfiable means for marijuana use?,Think of using that plant as use in military usage for protection,building its cells for applications such as fire protect garments, disguising heat signatures.In the old days it was common use for ropes and such as the fibres are very strong.In reference to the plants use there for cover, Id induct fast robot mowers/cutters remote controlled and slash down the so called forest for they use it for cover.Not sure about the plants use for using from air detection for with no light signature no other detection known that I know of can penetrate.They might show a light spot but I doubt it. Maybe flyovers with high speed cameras over known or perceptable positions.Its a tough one but a lesson that this plant as its shown has practical usage and not the one thats against the law, good luck and keep your head down.

Posted by: michael at October 20, 2006 2:14 AM


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