I read an article my buddy Carl forwarded me about the Mexico’s largest marijuana plantation bust in the country’s history. It cracks me up to see this stuff and Reuters had some great pictures of the plantation. Fascinating stuff if you like that kind of thing (which I do). I’ve long been an amateur student of drug policy, from my times as a political science minor as an undergraduate. Couple that with some touching episodes of America’s Dumbest Criminals, you can find pure comedy of the highest order in some of what these dudes do.
More than that, I’ll let you behind the curtain about the way my mind works a little bit here. I see an article like that and I see lessons for us. I’m not talking about the obvious legality or morality questions associated with it. I’m talking about lessons for work and how we get things done. As some of you know, for example, I have an affinity for the role of risk in the workplace. When I read an article like this one, I get inspired. So much so, I put together a little PowerPoint slideshow for your viewing pleasure. This is an overview of risk management told from the Marijuana plantation project manager’s perspective. It is a module of learning I seriously doubt I’ll ever get to give as a lecture; but, hey, why not share it with you guys? Careful with it, it is intended to instruct as well as entertain!
After looking at all this, I’m reminded of the classic Cheech and Chong movie Up In Smoke (I pay homage to it as the title of the slideshow). This plantation that was busted had a huge black tarp over 300 acres of pot plants. Wow. Several of the comments to the article said, hey, why not make the tarp beige or camouflage so it would cover up better? My response: Nope, you needed to make it a mural of a swimming pool like Cheech and Chong. Because if you are going to fail with 300 acres of pot, why not have fun with it as you go?
