PRINCETON, Ind.—Someone’s alleged grow operation bit the dust yesterday in Princeton, across the Wabash river from Mt. Carmel here in Illinois.
Gibson County, world-famous for their sandy soil and thus primo melon-growing conditions, also seems to have a thriving pot production at about this time every year…but the one busted up yesterday (Wednesday, June 5, 2013) at approximately 5 p.m., was said to be indoors, not out anywhere near the melon fields.
Arrested yesterday at a residence east of Princeton were Robert Spore, 45 and Sheila Spore, 44. Authorities located at their 145 S. Co. Rd. 180 East residence 22 healthy marijuana plants (each about 2 feet tall, and with the total “street value” of said weed estimated to be in the neighborhood of $20,000, although the two were probably producing just for themselves), after a search warrant was issued and served. There’s been no reason given as to how authorities became suspicious enough to ask for a warrant to search the place, but the plants were located in the basement of the structure, along with some grow lights.
Photos in local mainstream media showed police toting out “items of drug paraphernalia” (in actuality, one healthy plant and one of the UV grow lights.)
The Spores were taken to the Gibson County Jail and, according to reports, held without bond, despite the evil couple being currently charged only with Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, Cultivating Marijuana, Maintaining a Common Nuisance (all Class D felonies, the equivalent of our Class 4 in Illinois) and one misdemeanor Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; hopefully bond has been or will be set today.
Medical marijuana, which has passed now in Illinois and must be regulated and implemented, won’t help situations like these if they occur in our state; only people approved by the medical industry can handle the pot grow operations, and we’re just about ready to bet that many of the land and property disputes in Hardin, Pope and Gallatin counties downstate are based on the foreknowledge of some parties that medical marijuana was ultimately going to pass. Unfortunately, people like the Spores will never benefit from any law except one that decriminalizes marijuana and allows small grow operations, although in their case (at least in Illinois), having more than 20 plants is cause for a “distribution” charge; less than 20 is still considered “personal use” (go figure.)
As always, your thoughts on the marijuana issue are always appreciated…keep it criminal, decriminalize, use only for medical purposes…what do you think?