Association of Oklahoma Narcotic Enforcers
Smoked marijuana is not medicine. So concludes the definitive study by the Institute of Medicine (March 1999) on the medical potential of marijuana. While the report supported evidence-based research into the effects of cannabinoids, it emphasized that smoked marijuana is a crude drug-delivery system that exposes patients to a significant number of harmful substances. This from a panel of experts that included those inclined to accept the anecdotal testimony of marijuana users. In the end, they could not recommend marijuana's use as medicine.
While scientific research suggests that THC, one of the hundreds of chemical compounds found in the marijuana plant, may be beneficial for some symptoms, medical science as a whole has rejected the idea of self-medication by way of a burning plant. The American Medical Association (as well as the Florida Medical Association), the American Cancer Society and many other professional medical organizations reject marijuana as medicine. Prescription drugs (such as Marinol and Cesamet) containing synthetic forms of THC are available to alleviate identified symptoms without exposing the patient to the risks posed by smoking marijuana.
Science continues to research the effects of smoked marijuana, and the results continue to show the damage done by it -- weakened immune systems, the lessened ability of the lungs to fight off fungi, bacteria and tumor cells, pulmonary infections and pneumonia. Other studies (e.g., Professor John Henry, Imperial College in London) have indicated that regular marijuana use increases the likelihood of schizophrenia (fourfold) and the chances of suffering major depressive illnesses. At the same time, other studies have disproved many of the claims for marijuana's "curative" potential (e.g., for glaucoma, anorexia nervosa, spastisity, etc.).
While we must be compassionate to those suffering from illness and pain, we must be careful not to advance unsafe and unproven claimed "medical" remedies. The Food and Drug Administration's primary mission is to promote and protect the public health. For prescription drugs, it employs a clinical trial process that must document both efficacy and safety for any new drug. Its systemic, scientific procedures guard against unwanted public health consequences. Considering the many claims of supposed miracle drugs that prove in the end to be disastrous, we would abandon such a process only at great risk
Nor should we forget the social and political implications of prematurely declaring marijuana a medicine. Clearly, there are well-financed factions that seek the legalization of marijuana not just as medicine but also as a legal substance for recreational use. They do not hesitate to exploit the extremely ill in order to garner support for their otherwise untenable position. They would move the issue to popular referendum instead by appealing to the humanity in all of us for those who are clearly suffering and who believe their relief lies in smoking pot. But the acceptance of marijuana as a benign drug (despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary) would invariably lead to more widespread use (and not just by those who are ill) of marijuana and other illegal drugs. Our citizens, neighborhoods and communities would suffer the consequences of that outcome in short order.
America has a high-quality medical system in place, one that has established
safeguards and procedures through the years to ensure that it reflects the
best medical and scientific values. We would do well to allow that system to
function as it has and not define medicine by anecdote, political agitation
or momentary popularity.
On July 13, 2004, Deputy Sheriff Ricky Snider of the Comanche County Sheriff's Department was dispatched to a Lawton residence to assist the landlord with an eviction execution. For those unfamiliar with that term, it means that all legal steps have been completed and the landlord in taking possession of the rented real property and the renter is moved out.
Deputy Snider and the landlord "knocked and announced" at the residence but received no reply. They then entered the residence and Deputy Snider cleared the residence to insure the house was unattended. While checking the kitchen area, Deputy Snider detected the odor of suspected marijuana and then observed a small quantity of marijuana on the cabinet. The landlord then asked Deputy Snider to check the residence for any other controlled substances before the landlord began inventorying and moving personal property from the residence into a storage facility for safekeeping.
Deputy Snider then opened a kitchen cabinet and discovered what appeared to be a pound or more of marijuana. Deputy Snider then notified the Comanche County Sheriff's Department Special Operations Section and requested narcotics investigators to come to the location.
As the landlord stated that he had to inventory every item taken for safekeeping, he directed a locksmith to open the gun safe. The safe was then opened with investigators observing. As the door of the safe came open, it was clear that the house was now a crime scene. The safe held approximately 208 pounds of marijuana and $56,265 in cash.
To date, no one has claimed the cash or the marijuana. Go figure! Forfeiture action on the money is, of course, now pending.
Why was the guy getting evicted? He owed less than $300 in rent! There's a reason they call it dope! $56K in the safe and they were too stupid to remember to pay the rent! Just goes to show you that a really good deal can come from the most routine law enforcement activity if the officer keeps his attention in the game.
Investigators Ray Pyeatt and Luis Maldonado arrived at the scene and took possession of the suspected marijuana found by Deputy Snider as well as items of dominion and control. As the landlord continued his inventory of the residence, the landlord observed a small room had been constructed in the garage in violation of the lease. The landlord opened the room and observed a large gun safe had been installed in the room. It was also noted that the small room had been reinforced with metal plating.
It has been said that marijuana is Oklahoma's number one cash crop. While no statistics are available to back up that statement, Oklahoma is traditionally among the top ten states in terms of domestically grown cannabis (marijuana). For many years, law enforcement agencies across the state have dedicated money, man power and sweat to keep as many of these plants as possible from reaching the streets, homes and schools. Now, aerial herbicide spraying is being implimentedas a weapon that will put Oklahoma in elite company when it comes to eradication of our outdoor cultivation.
Eleven years ago, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics started the Narcotics Air Assault program. Under the program, federal, state and local agencies are trained on aerial eradication techniques.
This type of operation involves officers rappelling from Black Hawk helicopters, into hostile environments to eradicate cultivated marijuana fields and serve arrest warrants. This program targets marijuana fields that are not easily accessible by ground vehicles. Rappelling allows agents to clear a field in a matter of minuets, instead of driving several hours to a location, then hiking several miles to and from patches.
Once the plants are gathered and arrests are made, the aircraft hovering above the agents lowers two additional ropes to the ground, to pull the officers from the patch. They are then flown by STABO (Stabilized Tactical Air-Borne Operation) to a safe location, where the re board the aircraft for another mission. Although risky, this program is recognized nationally as one of the most effective programs in the country.
This program, along with tougher federal penalties for cultivation, has been very successful. The number and quality of plants has continued to drop each year. Many growers are planting less marijuana to avoid aerial detection. Fields are often neglected because growers do not want to get caught tending their fields. As a result, Oklahoma law enforcement agencies are spending less time eradicating huge pot fields. In fact, many patches contain fewer than 50 plants and some are as low as two or three. As these fields shrink, we began to question whether or not it was worth the money, man power and risk to send rappel teams into potentially hostile situations all for a hand full of low quality plants. It became clear that a new approach was needed.
Several years ago, law enforcement agencies in Hawaii started a marijuana eradication program called "Operation Wipe out". Under the program, officers clear pot fields using aerial herbicide spraying techniques. This involves a helicopter with a large spray tank. Attached to the tank is a 120 foot hose and applicator ball. The pilot hovers over the plants and with pin point accuracy, sprays each plant individually with glyphosphate ("Round UP") weed killer. Within a matter of days the marijuana is killed off, but Hawaii's sensitive tropical vegetation surrounding the plants is unharmed. Additionally, the herbicide contains a red dye to indicate the plants that have been treated. Although the herbicide has been proven safe, the red dye helps insure that no one tries to smoke or sell the sprayed marijuana. In more than eight years of utilizing this method, officials do not have one single case of human of environmental harm created by this method of eradication.
After seeing this program's effectiveness first hand, OBN representatives approached the state legislators about adopting this method in Oklahoma. State Representative Danny Hilliard of Sulpher and State Senator Sam Helton of Lawton were instrumental in getting legislation approved at the Capitol to begin a similar program in Oklahoma. Oklahoma is now the only state in the continental United States utilizing spray eradication.
OBN will still use successful air assault operations and hand spraying of
wild marijuana fields in Oklahoma, however this new aerial technique
should disrupt marijuana grows even further. When other states see the
effectiveness of this operation in Oklahoma, we expect it to be
eventually adopted all across the country.
