I think we are about 6.5 million. But, it only takes one to screw you up. Every bust you see, they show the whole plant with all the leaves and if they mention a weight, it is either an estimate or the total bulk. The proposed bill doesn't distinguish wet from dry or stalk from flower. It all counts when a cop raises their hand in court.
I can personally verify that.....at least, in 1990. When 'this guy"'s case was called, the back doors of the court opened, and several deputies came in carrying a 1000 watt light, and bags of plants. Included, was the waste buckets of dead leaves, stems, and debris accumulated over a couple of grows. The cop on the stand, testified that the total pot seized was well over a pound, which surprised the defense attorney [ who was extremely ignorant about pot ]. The attorney leaned over and whispered to the defendant, " You said there was only 6 - 7 ounces max. ", to which the defendant explained "buds" vs unusable material, using the tomato plant as an example.
On cross examination, the defense attorney asked the vice cop, ' Detective ______, isn't the marijuana plant much like a tomato plant, in that only the flower buds are used, and the rest discarded? ' -- [ the defendant thinks to himself, "I'm paying 2 grand, and I have to tell him what to say!" ]. Without hesitation, the cop answered, "No, that's not true at all. Dealers grind up the buds, leaves, and stems to maximize their product, and maximize the money when they sell it."
The defense attorney, at that point, believed his client was a liar. It was only because the prosecution could not produce anyone who had bought from 'this guy', that the cat didn't receive a felony conviction w/ 25 years maximum sentence. Instead, the 'intent to sell' was dropped, and the cat was convicted of a misdemeanor, receiving the 'max' sentence of 30 days in jail and a $500 fine.
The first page of Ed Rosenthal's 1980's instryction book on Indoor Marijuana Cultivation began with a paragraph that said essentially - 'Marijuana is illegal to grow and posess in every state in the United States. Should you choose to grow, exercise this rule without exception - show no one your grow. Period. Friends, wives, and girlfriends often become ex-wives, friends, and girlfriends, with axes to grind.'
Still the best advice to this day. If they never see it, they can't testify as a witness.