Pubdate: Sat, 24 Dec 2005
Source: Sampson Independent, The (NC)
Copyright: 2005, The Sampson Independent
Contact:  http://www.clintonnc.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1704
Author:  Chris Berendt
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

MARIJUANA USE, DISTRIBUTION, STILL PREVALENT

As much as the use of methamphetamine has grown -- authorities in 
Sampson County said that arrests on meth-related charges this year 
have increased by more than half over those in 2004 -- marijuana 
remains just as much of a problem.

Considered by many a drug that leads its users to stronger drugs, 
marijuana is prevalent in Sampson County, as can be seen from arrests 
and drug seizures made by the Sampson County Sheriff's Office's 
Special Investigation Division. In 2005, nearly 100 people have been 
brought up on marijuana charges and more than $5 million worth of the 
drug has been seized and destroyed by SID agents.

"It's going to always be there," said Sheriff Jimmy Thornton. The 
sheriff said that young people often choose to try the illegal drug 
in an experimental fashion because they believe the risk, compared to 
that of other "mind-altering drugs," is not as great. "They'll still 
get that high."

And, the sheriff said, marijuana is easier to obtain and may be 
perceived as "not as scary" as other drugs like meth, heroin and 
cocaine. But, he said, experimenting with marijuana could lead to 
those other drugs.

"It probably starts there," said Thornton.

The SID commander, who acts under anonymity, said that marijuana 
serves as a "gateway drug" for a large number of its young users. "A 
majority of them start with marijuana," the SID commander said. "Some 
go straight to crack, some go straight to heroin.

"A small percentage stay with marijuana," he said. "A high percentage 
start there and go on."

The SID commander said he believed that the law has "something to do 
with" the number of people who choose to use marijuana.

While being in possession of any amount of cocaine is a felony 
offense, one has to be in possession of at least 42 grams (1.5 
ounces) of marijuana to constitute more than a misdemeanor. That is, 
unless the marijuana is packaged in a way that would indicate it was 
for sale or distribution, then a lesser amount could also bring a 
felony charge. According to statistics compiled by SID, approximately 
$5.3 million worth of marijuana has been seized this year, which is 
approximately 530 kilograms of the drug, the SID commander said. 
There have been 97 arrests on marijuana charges to go along with the 
seizures, statistics show.

And the seizures come as a result of a variety of different 
circumstances, whether a lengthy investigation into suspicious 
activity or a complaint from a concerned citizen.

Earlier this month, SID arrested a man at his home on Substation 
Road, Dunn, following a report of a domestic disturbance at the residence.

Deputies discovered a clandestine lab housing approximately $265,000 
worth of marijuana, seized by SID agents. Also seized were assorted 
lamps, fans, reflexive plastics, smoking devices, fertilizers and 
firearms. The total value of the marijuana, firearms and 
paraphernalia at the home was said to be approximately $320,000.

The large amount of marijuana ranged from large stalks to smaller 
plants kept in plastic cups.

That, the sheriff said, is how the community can help law enforcement 
and play a role in getting drugs off the streets. Reports of 
suspicious activity or domestic disturbances may lead to bigger 
problems, he said.

"It may identify other problems that may be directly associated with 
drug activity," said Thornton. "If people keep calling us, we'll keep 
checking it out."

He said that the citizens of Sampson County have played a large role 
in notifying the proper authorities to get drugs out of homes and off 
streets in the county.

"We're doing a good job, and it's due in large part to them," said 
the sheriff, who called those concerned citizens the "sixth player" 
for the Sheriff's Office's enforcement team. "Without their help, the 
success we've had would not have been accomplished. Their vigilance 
helps us learn other things."

Of the $5.3 million worth of marijuana seized by SID, a large amount 
- -- more than $4.5 million -- has been seized by SID since the 
beginning of November, a month during which the division made several 
notable marijuana busts in the county.

On Nov. 6, agents seized and destroyed approximately $4.25 million 
worth of marijuana plants found in a wooded area off of Fleet Cooper 
Road in the Roseboro area. The seizure of the 1,700 marijuana plants, 
some as high as 12 feet tall, was called the largest seizure of 
marijuana plants in the county in the last five years.

On Nov. 13, sheriff's deputies arrested two men in connection with 
the discovery of approximately $7,700 worth of marijuana in their 
Mathis Road, Clinton, home. And, on Nov. 22, about $9,500 worth of 
marijuana was seized from inside a Hayne Stretch Road, Roseboro, 
residence, with one man arrested in connection with that seizure.

The large presence of marijuana is not just limited to Sampson 
either. Duplin County has made similar busts, including one of the 
area's largest marijuana seizure in recent memory.

On Sept. 18, Duplin sheriff's deputies discovered a large pot farm 
near Wallace, in a wooded area not far from the Sampson County line. 
They found stalk after stalk of marijuana plants, some as tall as 13 
and 14 feet, over about 20 acres of land.

The marijuana weighed in at more than 4,000 pounds, having a street 
value of nearly $10 million, authorities said. No arrests were made 
in connection with that seizure.

The SID commander said that, in recent years, the division has 
averaged seizures of between approximately $4 million and $5 million 
worth of the drug a year in Sampson County.

And this year was no different.

"Any and all we can get off streets in the county, that's marijuana 
they can't get," said Thornton.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman