Midwest Freelancer archive article
Bad weed: Government working to eradicate Marijuana
(Published Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2006)
By Chris Post/Midwest Freelancer
While some segments of society view marijuana as a recreational drug that should be legalized, members of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are working to do away with what they consider a “bad weed.”
Since 1985, all 50 states have taken part in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression Program. According to the DEA, marijuana is the most widely used and readily available drug in the United States. It is also the only major drug of abuse grown within the borders of the United States.
In 2004, nationwide eradication efforts resulted in the destruction of 3,200,121 cultivated outdoor marijuana plants and 206,896 indoor plants. While national statistics for 2005 are not yet available, the Missouri State Highway Patrol has released the state’s most recent totals.
Through the program known locally as Operation Cash Crop, officers operating in Missouri destroyed over 10,000 cultivated and sinsemilla plants from indoor and outdoor operations and over 4.5 million wild marijuana plants.
Officers also seized 104 pounds of processed marijuana, made a total of 450 arrests and seized 147 firearms used by people involved in the growing and trafficking of marijuana.
In Missouri, the eradication effort includes personnel from the Highway Patrol, Missouri National Guard, Missouri sheriff’s departments, city and county police departments, Missouri Conservation Commission, U.S. Forest Services and the Drug Enforcement Agency.
Col. Roger D. Stottlemyre, superintendent of the patrol. said that while the combined effort of law enforcement offices is continuing locate and destroy illegal drugs, ordinary people are also lending a hand.
“Citizens have also assisted us in locating marijuana and we appreciate their involvement,” he said.
Anyone wishing to report marijuana activity can call the “Bad Weed Hotline” at 1-800-223-9333. The call is free and confidential.
By Chris Post/Midwest Freelancer
While some segments of society view marijuana as a recreational drug that should be legalized, members of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are working to do away with what they consider a “bad weed.”
Since 1985, all 50 states have taken part in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression Program. According to the DEA, marijuana is the most widely used and readily available drug in the United States. It is also the only major drug of abuse grown within the borders of the United States.
In 2004, nationwide eradication efforts resulted in the destruction of 3,200,121 cultivated outdoor marijuana plants and 206,896 indoor plants. While national statistics for 2005 are not yet available, the Missouri State Highway Patrol has released the state’s most recent totals.
Through the program known locally as Operation Cash Crop, officers operating in Missouri destroyed over 10,000 cultivated and sinsemilla plants from indoor and outdoor operations and over 4.5 million wild marijuana plants.
Officers also seized 104 pounds of processed marijuana, made a total of 450 arrests and seized 147 firearms used by people involved in the growing and trafficking of marijuana.
In Missouri, the eradication effort includes personnel from the Highway Patrol, Missouri National Guard, Missouri sheriff’s departments, city and county police departments, Missouri Conservation Commission, U.S. Forest Services and the Drug Enforcement Agency.
Col. Roger D. Stottlemyre, superintendent of the patrol. said that while the combined effort of law enforcement offices is continuing locate and destroy illegal drugs, ordinary people are also lending a hand.
“Citizens have also assisted us in locating marijuana and we appreciate their involvement,” he said.
Anyone wishing to report marijuana activity can call the “Bad Weed Hotline” at 1-800-223-9333. The call is free and confidential.