Pubdate: Wed, 29 Aug 2001
Source: Herald-Dispatch, The (WV)
Copyright: 2001 The Herald-Dispatch
Contact: http://www.herald-dispatch.com/hdinfo/letters.html
Website: http://www.hdonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1454
Author: Tim R Massey
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

3,000 POT PLANTS DESTROYED IN WAYNE SO FAR

WAYNE -- More than 3,000 marijuana plants have been eradicated in 
Wayne County by state troopers so far this month, State Police Sgt. 
Mike Watts said Tuesday.

The harvest of the illegal plants is down from last year when 
troopers found and destroyed about 10,000 plants in Wayne County, 
Watts said.

"We find marijuana cultivation is cyclical," he said. "Usually, a big 
year is followed by a down year. We were scheduled for a down year."

Wayne County led the state in marijuana plants eradicated in 2000, he said.

About 15 to 16 troopers, assisted by the National Guard, took part in 
the eradication program in the county. The search for plants included 
helicopter flights over sparsely populated areas south of Wayne, 
coordinated with officers on the ground, Watts said.

The plants harvested over the past two weeks have been burned, Watts said.

"We're not finished yet," he said. "We will probably fly again. We 
are getting more reports of places where marijuana is being grown, 
and we're checking them out."

Some arrests are planned, and some charges will be brought before a 
grand jury, he said. Cultivation of an illegal substance is a felony 
under state law.

The eradication program involved troopers in the district that 
includes Logan, Lincoln, Mingo, Cabell, Wayne and Mason counties. 
About 14 to 15 arrests are expected in the six-county sweep, Watts 
said.
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