cannabisnews.com: Marijuana State's Top Illicit Drug





Marijuana State's Top Illicit Drug
Posted by FoM on November 08, 1999 at 07:29:47 PT
By Robert Medley, Staff Writer
Source: Oklahoman Online
Unseen and mostly undetected, marijuana moves across the state under car seats, floorboards, inside gas tanks or steel wheels, and wrapped in honey- or grease-coated packages. 
The most popular illicit drug in Oklahoma -- and in the nation -- it passes from smugglers to smokers. The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs seized 3,984 pounds of marijuana in 1997 and 3,085 pounds in 1998. On Wednesday, state drug agents pulled 2,300 pounds of marijuana from a tractor-trailer on Interstate 35 in Oklahoma City. Despite those numbers, Oklahoma City police Lt. Larry Baker figures state law officers find less than 10 percent of the illegal drugs imported into the state each year. About 75 percent of confiscated pot is imported, mostly from Mexico, and the rest is homegrown. Baker has been field supervisor for the Oklahoma County district attorney's office drug task force since 1996. Three city police officers and three sheriff's deputies have already seized 513 pounds of pot and $1,032,267 cash this year. The money is split between the city and county for drug enforcement. The FBI says 44 percent of all drug arrests in 1998 were for marijuana. The National Institute on Drug Abuse says there are up to 12 million marijuana smokers in the country. About 43,000 people are incarcerated for marijuana offenses nationwide. Most of Oklahoma's marijuana comes from northern Mexico. For the past 18 months, marijuana trafficking from Juarez, Mexico, to Oklahoma City has been under close surveillance by officers. So far, at least a dozen people have been arrested, and more than a ton of pot seized, including last week's major find.Lonnie Wright has worked as an undercover agent for the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs since 1977. He thinks there is more marijuana flowing into Oklahoma from Mexico than ever. Not all drug money is seized. Sometimes authorities monitor the flow to catch bigger dealers later. "I've personally seen about $3 million go back to Juarez in the last three months," Wright said. Routine traffic stops that net large amounts of marijuana lead to the arrest of "mules," the ones who transport but usually provide little information about the leaders of the operation, Wright said. Marijuana is smuggled across the Mexican border in cars, trucks or on foot by adults, children and teen-agers. "We can't do anything about production in Mexico or stop it at the border; that is for the feds. The bigger prize to us is catching the local distributors and wholesalers who actually make it available to Oklahomans," Wright said. Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel said about 20 percent of the people in the county jail were arrested on marijuana- related complaints, the highest percentage of people jailed for any illegal drug. The demand for pot is greater than the supply, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) says. Norma Sapp, director of the state NORML chapter, said legalizing marijuana would stop a lot of crime. "We could stop illegal commerce if people could possess their own plants. And when you stop the commerce you can stop the black market and all the criminal elements of it," said Sapp, of Norman. Sapp said she thinks marijuana should be taxed, regulated and available in stores. Robert Mitchell, Oklahoma County first assistant district attorney, is the central Oklahoma drug task force director. He said as long as marijuana is illegal in Oklahoma the laws will be enforced. "I don't worry about whether it is legal or not. That is for the Legislature to decide," Mitchell asid. Baker has a collection of gasoline tanks with hidden compartments welded inside that were pulled from vehicles that hid marijuana inside. Even metal wheels can stash contraband with metal welded pockets, he said. People wrap drugs or money in honey, grease or anything to try to mask the smell. The efforts rarely fool the highly sensitive nose of a drug dog, he said. Marijuana possession is a misdemeanor for first-time offenders, a felony on the second offense. Being caught with 25 pounds or more is considered trafficking, and fines can be up to $100,000 and jail time. Trafficking 1,000 pounds or more could cost up to $500,000 in fines and jail time.Mitchell doesn't expect pot to be legal in Oklahoma any time soon. "I've seen many lives ruined by drugs. In Oklahoma I don't think it ought to be legal." Mitchell said. There's a picture of a murdered man named Mel on the wall of the Central Oklahoma Metro Interdiction Team office where Baker works. Mel was arrested with more than $200,000 in drug money then bonded out of jail. He was found shot dead a few days later in a Chicago alley. His eyes and mouth were covered with tape."This is what we tell people will happen if you continue to be a drug dealer," Baker said. Published: November 8, 19991999 The Oklahoma Publishing Co.Related Article & Web Sites:NORMLhttp://www.norml.org/Oklahoma NORMLP.O. Box 12545 Oklahoma City, OK 73157Phone: (405) 840-HEMPFax: (405) 447-4619Contact: Michael PearsonE-mail: oknorml swbell.netThe Story Of Will Foster:http://www.gnv.fdt.net/~jrdawson/willfoster.htm County Jail Inmates Test High for Pot - 11/08/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3598.shtml
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Comment #1 posted by Doug A on November 08, 1999 at 11:00:37 PT:
Money, money, money...
>Three city police officers and three sheriff's deputies have already seized 513 pounds of pot and $1,032,267 cash this year. The money is split between the city and county for drug enforcement. And we wonder why the cops are against legalization? They couldn't have it better!>Marijuana is smuggled across the Mexican border in cars, trucks or on foot by adults, children and teen-agers.Those who insist on prohibition for the CHILLLDRUNNN are doing themselves a disservice. If it were regulated and legal, children wouldn't see it any easier than they see booze now! The government has some nerve calling drugs "controlled substances." Due to the black market prohibition has caused, they are among the least controlled substances known!>Mitchell: "I've seen many lives ruined by drugs."What about the people whose lives your task force has ruined by enforcing prohibition of an HERB?! (Then in the VERY NEXT SENTENCE we learn about someone who was killed due to effects of the black market created by the inane DRUG LAWS!)These idiots keep parroting the same old pablum, shifting the blame from the drug laws to the drugs themselves, and justifying their draconian activities by saying "well, we just have to do what the Legislature says." Pot is one of the most benign substances known to man, so the only way it can cause harm is if some stigma is attached to it.
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