End of the rainbow.

• Author: Sullum, Jacob
• Position: Soundbite - Burning Rainbow Farm - Interview

Tom Crosslin didn't envision a violent confrontation with the government when he started holding cannabis-themed music festivals in rural Cass County, Michigan, in 1995. But he faced a local prosecutor, Scott Teter, who was determined to shut down the gatherings on Crosslin's property, known as Rainbow Farm.

Teter got the legal justification he needed after a May 2001 raid, ostensibly aimed at payroll records, found a marijuana grow room in the basement of the home Crosslin shared with his lover, Rollie Rohm. Teter immediately moved to seize the property and arranged to put Rohm's 11-year-old son in foster care. In response to these aggressive tactics, says Dean Kuipers, author of Burning Rainbow Farm (Bloomsbury), Crosslin "just snapped." After he and Rohm missed an August 2001 court date, the police came looking for them. In September a five-day standoff left Rainbow Farm in flames and both men dead.

Senior Editor Jacob Sullum interviewed Kuipers, a Michigan native who is deputy editor of Los Angeles City Beat, by phone in October.

Q: What did you find compelling about this story?

A: People were lining the streets holding signs saying, "Don't Kill Our Friends," "We Support Rainbow Farm," "Tom and Rollie Are Innocent." One of the signs said, "Remember Waco, Ruby Ridge, Rainbow Farm," before the guys were even killed. For people who are criminals, that doesn't happen. It seemed like this event turned the whole county upside down.

Q: What sort of crowd was...