Pubdate: Tue, 12 Sep 2006
Source: Goldsboro News-Argus (NC)
Copyright: 2006, Goldsboro News-Argus
Contact:  http://www.newsargus.com/index.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/969
Author: Renee Carey, Editor
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

YOU CAN HELP: WANT DRUGS OUT OF YOUR COMMUNITY?

Keep Watch

It is staggering to think that millions of dollars of marijuana has been 
growing in Wayne County, but, unfortunately, probably not all that out of 
the ordinary.

Many rural counties deal with this sort of problem.

As criminals become more clever and more diverse, it gets harder and harder 
to make sure they are stopped before they are able to get drugs into Wayne 
County's neighborhoods and schools. And there is a cost involved, too. 
Staking out a field is not a very efficient use of a deputy's time when 
there are other, more serious threats to public safety and much more 
dangerous drug dealers to locate, catch and put out of business.

So, while we need to catch those responsible for planting marijuana, there 
is not really much we can do that is cost-effective.

But that doesn't mean property owners should be off the hook, either. They 
have a responsibility, too.

There is nothing wrong with asking property owners to keep an eye on their 
land and to educate them on what to look for. If they find something 
suspicious, they can call the county sheriff's office and give the deputies 
the heads up that there could be a marijuana crop that needs to be eradicated.

If dealers and growers know more people are watching, they might think 
twice about locating fields here. And that means less tax money will need 
to be spent locating and destroying fields - and deputies can concentrate 
on other criminal activity.

In this case, the more eyes watching, the lower the bill.