Pubdate: Fri, 18 Jul 2003 Source: Daily Sentinel, The (Scottsboro, AL) Copyright: 2003 The Daily Sentinel Contact: http://www.thedailysentinel.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1681 Author: Mazie Aldrich Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) FIGHTING A GOOD FIGHT Pot, weed, grass, marijuana, hashish, hash, sinse-milla, or hash oil. It's all the same, all are derived from the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa). The Alabama Department of Public Safety Governor's Marijuana Eradication Task Force spent two days along with the Jackson County Sheriff's Department flying the skies and searching for the plants. Tuesday, the Task Force found a total of 39 plants located in a field off County Road 174 between Stevenson and the Flat Rock area. "The plants ranged from 9 to 10 feet tall," said Agent Robert Saffold, of the Alabama Bureau of Investigation. By Wednesday afternoon, the task force had only found an additional 75 plants, relatively low numbers compared to what is usually yielded during the eradication. According to Jackson County Chief Investigator Chuck Phillips, two arrests were made just off County Road 159 near Flat Rock. "They were taken to DeKalb County Jail because the location was just across the county line," Phillips said. "Ten plots were found behind the home with a trail leading to the house. A two-year-old was removed from the home by DHR." While the weather in Jackson County has seemed to be good for marijuana farmers, who need ample rain, the weather caused a delay in flying for the helicopters used by the Task Force to spot the plant grown in fields and woods of the area. According to Phillips, eradication usually takes place in May or June when plants are small. The first attempt at eradication was approximately one month ago, but rains delayed the flying. The helicopters are used to spot the plant from the air, other members of the task force are then given a location and go in either on foot or four-wheelers to locate and remove the plants. Last year during eradication, more than a thousand plants were found in the area. . "Marijuana is not a benign drug. Use impairs learning and judgment, and may lead to the development of mental health problems." - - American Medical Association . "Smoking marijuana can injure or destroy lung tissue. In fact, marijuana smoke contains 50 to 70 percent more of some cancer causing chemicals than does tobacco smoke." - - American Lung Association . "Teens who are high on marijuana are less able to make safe, smart decisions about sex - including saying no. Teens who have used marijuana are four times more likely to have been pregnant or gotten someone pregnant than teens who haven't." - - National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy . "Marijuana use may trigger panic attacks, paranoia, and even psychoses, especially if you are suffering from anxiety, depression or having thinking problems." - - American Psychiatric Association . "Marijuana can impair concentration and the ability to retain information during a teen's peak learning years." - - National Education Association . "Recent research has indicated that for some people there is a correlation between frequent marijuana use and aggressive or violent behavior. This should be a concern to parents, community leaders, and to all Americans." - - The National Crime Prevention Council Compiled by the Office of National Drug Control Policy - --- MAP posted-by: Josh